What’s Inside: Our CEO Speaks on Current Biotech Issues in New Podcast; President Biden’s Executive Order on R&D; San Diego Holds Supervisorial Special Election; Join a Roundtable with Rep. Mike Levin; and more.
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Biocom California President & CEO on Biotech Landscape
Biocom California President & CEO Joe Panetta discusses the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act and the need to regulate Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) in a new podcast hosted by Vital Transformation. Listen to the conversation here.
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Congress Takes on Pharmacy Benefit Managers
Congress has recently undertaken several efforts to reign in Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) to reduce overall costs for government spending on drugs. There are several proposals in the House, but the Senate is coalescing around the Modernizing and Ensuring PBM Accountability (MEPA) Act. View a summary of Congress’ actions on PBMs in the past several months.
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New Assembly Speaker Signals More Hands-On Approach
For the first time in seven years, the California Assembly has a new leader, Democrat Robert Rivas. The Assembly speaker helps determine not only the composition of California’s budget but also which policy proposals stand a change of making it to the governor’s desk. Among other issues top of mind for California voters, Rivas has thrown his support behind addressing California’s housing crisis.
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San Diego
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Life Science Development at University City Nears Approval
On July 24, San Diego City Council gave final approval to BioMed Realty’s Towne Centre View. The project, located at the terminus of Towne Centre Drive in UTC, plans to develop 1 million square feet and produce 3,000 jobs. Biocom California’s Facilities Committee (our local policy committee) voted to lend our support and our staff was on hand to speak in favor of the project, which passed unanimously.
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San Diego Planning Commission Advances Pro-Housing Policies
The San Diego Planning Commission voted unanimously to advance ten pro-housing policies to the city council in an effort to make housing more available to people of all incomes. While some policies include incentives to house certain populations, the commission chose to withhold support for SB 10 at this time. The policies will now move on to the Land Use and Housing Committee on September 21, before going to city council for consideration.
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Supervisorial District 4 Special Primary Election
Tuesday, August 15 was the final day for District 4 residents to vote in the special primary election for Board of Supervisors. The election will fill the seat left vacant by Nathan Fletcher in May. Early results show Councilmember Monica Montgomery Steppe in the lead with 40% of the votes; she will advance to the runoff. It’s too early to say who will join her between Republican Amy Reichert and Democrat Janessa Goldbeck. There are 20,000 votes left to count, with the next results dropping on August 17.
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Los Angeles
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Pasadena Committee Members Support Zoning Code Amendments
Biocom California has been working with the City of Pasadena over the last year to explore ways the city can encourage life science industry growth and retention. On July 18, Pasadena City Council Economic Development and Technology Committee members took up a set of policy changes to advance that work. The next step in the process to approve the changes was a Planning Commission study session on August 9. Our staff was present to testify at both meetings. The proposal includes simplifying the definition of R&D, increasing the allowable rooftop area for equipment, adjusting open space requirements, allowing additional building height, and reducing minimum parking requirements.
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Recent Changes in LA City Council
Two big changes occurred recently within the LA City Council as it continues to confront a series of scandals. Imelda Padilla was formally welcomed as a voting member, certifying her District 6 victory in the special election replacing Nury Martinez. In a 12-1 vote, the council approved recommendations to revamp its committees in the wake of City Councilman Curren Price surrendering his committee assignments in June amid criminal charges.
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Westlake Village BioPartners Launches $450M Fund
Westlake Village BioPartners announced the launch of its third fund of $450 million to incubate and grow early-stage next-generation biotechnology companies in the LA region and beyond. The new funds will be used by matching the promising technologies these companies are developing with world-class talent to create transformative therapies that will change patients’ lives.
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Bay Area
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Redwood City Approves CEQA Process
On July 26, Redwood City City Council gave approval to begin the CEQA process for Longfellow Real Estate Partners’ Redwood LIFE Evolve Project. The project is proposing to redevelop 84 acres in Redwood Shores, converting the current office park into a life science campus with over 3 million square feet, giving companies room to grow. Biocom California spoke in favor of the project and moving forward with the CEQA review.
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Grants Awarded to East Bay Regional Growth Areas
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission awarded pilot grants to the East Bay Economic Development Alliance and Contra Costa County to advance their Priority Production Areas (PPA). These are areas that have been prioritized for economic development investments and are a key part of MTC Plan Bay Area’s broader effort to achieve a better jobs-housing balance across the Bay Area.
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SF Officials Move Forward with Business Tax Reform Initiative
Mayor London Breed, Board President Aaron Peskin, and Supervisor Rafael Mandelman announced next steps in the process to reform SF’s business taxes, the first being a request to convene a process with the business community and other stakeholders to develop specific reform recommendations. This was due to a report released by the treasurer and the city’s chief economist that analyzed the key vulnerabilities of SF’s business tax system in the context of our post-pandemic recovery.
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Upcoming Committee Meetings and Events
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Zoe Bilis
Associate Manager of Regulatory Policy
Washington, D.C.
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Emily Cassel
Govt. Affairs Events & Project Manager
San Diego
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Laure Clark
Sr. Director, Federal Policy & Govt. Affairs
Washington, D.C.
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Melanie Cohn
Sr. Director, Regional Policy & Govt. Affairs
SD, LA, Bay Area
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Jimmy Jackson
Senior Vice President
& Chief Policy Officer
San Diego
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Biocom California Advocacy
Biocom California is the largest, most experienced leader and advocate for California’s life science sector. Our public policy staff is strategically located in the Bay Area, Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento and Washington, D.C. We work with all levels of federal, state, and local governments to collectively pursue outcomes that benefit regional life science growth and contribute to a more innovation-friendly state. With over 28 years of experience, Biocom California works on behalf of more than {{{dynamic_content_1600}}} member companies statewide.
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