Daily Business Report: September 16, 2026
San Diego City Council passes resolution to regulate Waymo and autonomous vehicles
By Thaïs Giraudet| Times of San Diego
San Diego City Council took the first step in trying to regulate Waymo and other autonomous vehicle companies in San Diego.
In a unanimous 8-0 decision on Monday, Sept. 14, council members passed a resolution to request local control in the deployment of artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles.
The resolution comes after the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) permitted Waymo to officially launch in San Diego on Sept. 1, without the city having a say in how the autonomous vehicle companies can operate.
California math scores are far below grade level. This screener will test students’ skills early
by Carolyn Jones| CalMatters
California schools will test all kindergartners, first- and second-graders in basic math skills and provide them tutoring if they need it, under a bill on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk.
The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson, a Democrat from San Diego, is expected to boost California’s math scores, which are significantly below the national average. Last year, only 37% of students in California met grade-level math standards, an increase from the previous year but still well below the pre-pandemic level.
“This bill will help more kids so they don’t get stuck at the starting line in math,” said Marshall Tuck, chief executive officer of EdVoice, a nonprofit advocacy group that’s among the bill’s sponsors. “There’s still a lot more to do, but this is an important step.”
FALL 2026 ECONOMIC OUTLOOK ENERGY IN THE AGE OF AI AND WAR
by UCLA Anderson Forecast
The Fall 2026 UCLA Anderson Forecast Economic Outlook, held in collaboration with the UCLA Center for Impact, will analyze the economic outlook amid immense pressure on global energy prices. The economy faces a dual energy challenge: a severe global oil shock triggered by the war in Iran is driving up immediate fuel costs, while the rapid expansion of AI datacenters is straining the domestic electricity grid. Together, these forces are creating a complex inflationary landscape that complicates the Federal Reserve’s next moves and tests the resilience of the U.S. economic transition.
The California session will focus on how the state is navigating these compounding energy struggles. Due to its unique low-emission fuel standards and logistics hub status, California is vulnerable to the high fuel costs stemming from the Middle East conflict. At the same time, as a global hub for AI innovation, the state must find ways to meet the surging power demands of digital infrastructure without compromising its strict climate targets. Our experts will examine whether California’s bifurcated economy can overcome these combined energy pressures, or if stagnant employment and high living costs will persist into 2027.
