CalPERS, the biggest public pension plan in the United States, said on Monday it would vote against all Exxon Mobil board members at its upcoming annual meeting on May 29, citing the oil major’s legal action against activist investors.

Exxon, which is frequently the focus of critical shareholder resolutions, filed a lawsuit earlier this year seeking to block a vote on a climate proposal submitted by two small activist investors, sidestepping the usual regulatory process to fend off similar measures.

The investors withdrew their resolution but Exxon continued the lawsuit, seeking legal costs and other relief.

CalPERS, which has about $490 billion in assets under management, said in a statement the legal action could diminish investor rights.

Its vote is “more than symbolic”, even though there is no alternative slate of directors, CalPERS CEO Marcie Frost told reporters. She aimed to send a message to the board that “if they don’t want to do the governance they should step aside,” Frost said.

Exxon said in a statement its “efforts are intended to get clarity on the rules to foster an environment for open and meaningful shareholder dialogue.”

The company added it had engaged with CalPERS, which it considered had made a “poor fiduciary decision.”

CalPERS holds 8.45 million Exxon shares, giving it a stake of about 0.19%, according to LSEG data. It has been influential in previous director elections, notably in 2021 when it backed a successful board challenge aiming to position the firm better for the energy transition.

Frost said she had spoken to Exxon CEO Darren Woods and as far as she knew as of now the litigation was still moving forward.

Activist groups have been asking CalPERS to divest from Exxon for years. Frost said she wanted to distinguish between engagement to ask Exxon to change its climate policy, and to encourage it to drop this lawsuit.

“I want to keep our attention on the shareholder aspects of Exxon’s decision,” she said. “The problem with divestment when you are CalPERS is you completely lose your voice.”

Proxy adviser Glass Lewis recommended shareholders vote against re-electing Exxon’s lead independent director, citing what it called the firm’s “unusual and aggressive tactics”.

But Exxon has won support from business lobby groups, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Business Roundtable, which said the case “exemplifies activist groups’ takeover of the shareholder proposal process to score ideological points”.

After an hours-long meeting, the Anaheim City Council early Wednesday gave preliminary approval to a major Disneyland expansion project.

The Disneyland Forward project is meant to expand development and add hotel rooms to the theme park by utilizing about 57 acres of parking and unused land. The plan is essentially a shuffling around of previously approved zoning to allow for more attractions, hotel rooms and other entertainment and attractions without expanding the theme park.

Part of the plan involves using land set aside for hotel room development for the theme park.

The $1.9 billion expansion plan was approved unanimously early Wednesday morning following an eight-hour public hearing that began Tuesday night.

The proposal will return for a final City Council vote on May 7 and would be subject to land-use modifications to pave the way for the Disneyland Forward project to be begin 30 days later.

“When Disneyland grows, Anaheim thrives,” Mayor Ashleigh Aitken said in a statement. “Last night’s vote to approve the DisneylandForward Plan will benefit Anaheim for decades to come. The plan will provide important funding to the City of Anaheim to build affordable housing, enhance parks, and improve infrastructure.”

Aitken also said the project will create thousands of new jobs and allow Disney to further improve their guest experience.

“Our city has a special and unique relationship with the Disneyland Resort, which began in the 1950s and continues to this day. Disney’s commitment to partner with Anaheim and invest billions of dollars is a win for our community,” Aitken said.

During the public hearing, Anaheim residents, Disneyland cast members, and officials from nearby cities spoke about the advantages and problems of the plan.

Part of the proposal calls for Disney to pay $40 million to buy Magic Way, Hotel Way and a part of Clementine Street from the city, roadways around Disneyland.

“The city is transferring responsibility for Magic Way because the road overwhelmingly serves the Disneyland Hotel, Disney employee parking and the south end of the Pixar Pals Parking Structure,” according to a city statement.

Disney officials want to build new theme park attractions next to hotels west of the theme park and Disney California Adventure, and to add entertainment, shopping, restaurants and theme park attractions in what’s now known as the Toy Story parking lot.

The development is expected to be done over the next 40 years. Disney has pledged a minimum $1.9 billion investment in the theme park and its retail businesses within 10 years.

The project also includes $30 million from the company for affordable housing within five years, $8 million for parks in the city in the first year, $40 million from Disney for street and transportation upgrades, and $10 million for sewer improvements along Katella Avenue.

The project would increase zoning for theme park attractions, hotels, retail and dining from 292 acres to 389 acres. Theme park attractions would be added to the Pixar Place Hotel property and on part of the Toy Story parking lot.

New parking would be added in an area east of Harbor Boulevard along Machester Avenue.

There would also be changes in some of the street and roads around the theme park. For instance, a westbound left turn lane would be added at Harbor Boulevard and Disney Way, and northbound and southbound left turn lanes at Harbor Boulevard and Orangewood Avenue.

“Since the project would allow potential theme park uses closer to public streets and residential areas, the amended specific plan would require new criteria called 360-Degree Architectural Treatment for new theme park uses visible from the public right-of-way or abutting residential zones, which would include enhanced architectural treatments at varying heights while utilizing new and existing wall and landscape buffers,” city officials said in a staff report for the city council.

The project “would provide more flexibility to develop a wider range of attractions, hotel accommodations, restaurants and shopping opportunities, which would support the long-term growth of the Disneyland Resort and enhance the success and vitality of the Anaheim Resort,” officials said in a staff recommendation of the plan.

–City News Service

Caltrans crews were expected to conduct a weekend closure of all lanes of southbound State Route 125 beginning at 9 Friday evening until 4 a.m. Monday for concrete slab replacement.

Southbound SR-125 motorists south of state Route 94 will exit using the Jamacha Road off-ramp and reenter the freeway using the on-ramp, a statement from the state Department of Transportation said.

Motorists traveling southbound on SR-125 before SR-94 will be detoured to westbound SR-94 to avoid the closure.

Westbound SR-94 traffic can connect to SR-125 via Interstate 805 south to state Route 54 east to SR-125 north.

The maintenance work schedule is subject to change due to weather, traffic incidents or other maintenance considerations, the Caltrans statement read.

–City News Service

The county’s Tuberculosis Program is working with San Diego City College and SDCC’s Early Education Center Friday to notify employees, students and children potentially exposed to tuberculosis on the SDCC campus.

Exposures to the general public, most SDCC students and faculty and to other employees are believed to be limited, a county statement reads.

The dates of potential exposure are from Sept. 15, 2023 to Feb. 21, 2024. Those known to have been potentially exposed have been directly notified and have been provided direction from health officials. People sick with TB may be sick for many months before they are diagnosed, and as such, exposure periods can be long.

“Symptoms of active TB include persistent cough, fever, night sweats and unexplained weight loss,” Dr. Wilma Wooten, county public health officer, said in a statement. “Most people who become infected after exposure to tuberculosis do not get sick right away. This is called latent TB infection. Some who become infected with tuberculosis will become ill in the future, sometimes even years later if their latent TB infection is not treated. Blood tests and skin tests are effective in determining whether someone has been infected.

“Unfortunately, young children are at higher risk of rapid progression to active TB disease, so complete evaluation and preventive treatment for young children is particularly important,” Wooten said.

Taking medicines for latent TB infection can cure the infection and keep these people from ever getting active TB disease. Young children should complete a TB test, as well as chest x-rays, and in most instances should receive preventive medication until their evaluation is complete.

According to the health agency, there were 192 TB cases in the county in 2020 and 201 people reported with active disease in 2021. In 2022, 208 people were reported with active TB disease in San Diego County.

An estimated 175,000 people in San Diego County have a latent TB infection and are at risk for developing active TB without preventive treatment, health officials said. People who test positive for TB, but who do not have symptoms of active TB, should get a chest X-ray and talk to a medical provider, as they most likely have a latent TB infection.

Tuberculosis is an airborne disease that is transmitted from person-to- person through inhalation of the bacteria from the air. The chance of infection is higher for people with prolonged indoor exposure to a person who is sick. Brief interactions with a person with contagious tuberculosis are less likely to lead to an infection than prolonged or repeated exposures, according to county officials.

Individuals who would like more information on this potential exposure should call the county TB Control Program at 619-692-5565.

–City News Service

Dodger pitchers and catchers will report to their spring training facility in Glendale, Arizona Thursday, one day before becoming the first in Major League Baseball to work out in 2024.

Following losses in their first postseason series in consecutive seasons, the Dodgers were aggressive in the off-season in seeking to strengthen their pitching staff. They first signed two-way player Shohei Ohtani to a 10- year, $700 million contract, the largest in professional sports history, even though he won’t be pitching in 2024 after undergoing elbow surgery in September.

The Dodgers then acquired right-hander Tyler Glasnow from the Tampa Bay Rays and signed him to a five-year contract extension for $136.5 million and signed Japanese right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto to a 12-year, $325 million contract, the largest deal for a pitcher in terms of years and value in Major League Baseball history.

The signings continued in January with free-agent left-hander James Paxton.

Ohtani is expected to participate when the Dodgers conduct their first full-squad workout Wednesday. The Dodgers will begin spring training play Feb. 22 against the San Diego Padres in Peoria, Arizona and begin the regular season March 20 against the Padres in Seoul, South Korea.

The Dodgers are set to play in Southern California for the first time in 2024 on March 24 in a Freeway Series game at Dodger Stadium against the Los Angeles Angels, and play their home opener March 28 against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Los Angeles Angels pitchers and catchers report to their Tempe, Arizona spring training facility Tuesday and have their first workout Wednesday.

–City News Service

USC will face Louisville in the 44th annual Holiday Bowl Wednesday at Petco Park in a matchup of teams missing key personnel, as is typical for bowl games outside the College Football Playoff.

The Trojans will be without 2022 Heisman Trophy-wining quarterback Caleb Williams; MarShawn Lloyd, who ran for a team-high 845 yards; and Brendan Rice, a son of Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice, who led USC with 12 touchdown catches.

Williams is expected to announce he will forfeit his final year of eligibility and be the first choice in the 2024 NFL draft. Lloyd and Rice have announced they will both forfeit their final year of eligibility to make themselves eligible for the draft.

USC has had 17 players enter the transfer portal, including redshirt freshman Malachi Nelson, listed as the No. 1 ranked recruit in the nation by ESPN in 2022, who had been expected to be Williams’ successor.

The Cardinals will be without Jawha Jordan, who ran for a team-high 1,128 yards and 13 touchdowns; and Jamari Thrash, who made 63 catches for 858 yards and six touchdowns, all team highs. Both declared for the draft.

Louisville will also be without eight scholarship players, including seven on defense, who entered the transfer portal.

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Miller Moss will make his first start for the Trojans. Moss has completed 23 of 32 passes for 309 yards and one touchdowns in four games this season without an interception.

“He’s a guy that has really hung in there,” USC coach Lincoln Riley said. “He’s continued to put in work even though that he wasn’t the starter. He’s learned our offense as good as any player on our roster. He really earned the respect of the team. The coaching staff, the players are really excited for him to play.”

The Trojans (7-5) have lost three consecutive games and five of their last six after a 6-0 start.

The Cardinals (10-3) have lost their last two games following a four- game winning streak.

The teams have one common opponent — Notre Dame, which handed USC its first defeat of the season, 48-20, Oct. 14, one week after losing to Louisville, 33-20.

The Cardinals were ranked 16th in the latest Associated Press poll, released Dec. 3. The Trojans dropped out of the Top 25 following their 52-42 loss to Washington Nov. 4.

This will be the first meeting between the teams.

Oddsmakers have made Louisville a 6 1/2-point favorite. ESPN Analytics gives USC a 53.4% chance of winning.

The Trojans will be playing in the Holiday Bowl for the fourth time since the Pac-12 Conference began supplying a team for the game in 1997. USC defeated Nebraska, 45-42, in 2014; lost to Wisconsin, 23-21, in 2015, and lost to Iowa, 49-24, in 2019.

The Cardinals will be playing in the Holiday Bowl for the first time. It is the second time any Atlantic Coast Conference team has played in the game. Under an agreement announced in 2019, the ACC will supply a team for the game at least through 2025.

North Carolina lost to Oregon, 28-27, in last year’s game.

The Trojans have five players from San Diego, but only one has played – – freshman kicker Tyler Robles (La Costa Canyon High School), who kicked the final extra point in the 66-14 victory over Nevada Sept. 2.

The others are redshirt junior punter Michael McAllister (La Costa Canyon High School); freshman receiver Jaden Moore (The Bishop’s School); freshman rush end DJ Peevy (Lincoln High School); and redshirt junior long snapper Nathan Weneta (Cathedral Catholic High School).

Louisville has six players from California, but none from the San Diego area.

The Cardinals will be playing in California for the third time. They tied Long Beach State, 24-24, in the 1970 Pasadena Bowl, and San Jose State, 10- 10, in 1990. Louisville will return to California in 2024 to play at Stanford, which has joined the ACC.

“We’ll pass each other in the air,” Riley told his Cardinal counterpart Jeff Brohm at Tuesday’s news conference, referring to USC’s two trips to the Midwest and one to the East Coast during its first season in the Big Ten.

The game will be televised by Fox. The opening kickoff is set for 5:14 p.m. The game will be followed by the KGB Sky Show.

The first 10,000 fans will receive a ticket to SeaWorld San Diego.

The bowl will try to establish a new tradition of having the winning coach doused with eggnog. Eggnog was the choice of bowl organizers after it topped a nonbinding social media poll with 44.9%. Mini tacos placed second with 28.6%, beach sand third with 16.6% and sunscreen last in the field of four with 9.9%.

–City News Service

The Louisville football team arrived in San Diego Saturday hours before USC, its opponent in Wednesday’s 44th annual Holiday Bowl.

Both teams are set to tour the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln on Sunday and visit SeaWorld on Monday. The Cardinals are scheduled to visit the San Diego Zoo Tuesday.

The Trojans will be playing in the Holiday Bowl for the fourth time since the Pac-12 Conference began supplying a team for the game in 1997. USC defeated Nebraska, 45-42, in 2014; lost to Wisconsin, 23-21, in 2015, and lost to Iowa, 49-24, in 2019.

Louisville will be playing in the Holiday Bowl for the first time. It is the second time any Atlantic Coast Conference team has played in the game. Under an agreement announced in 2019, the ACC will supply a team for the game at least through 2025.

North Carolina lost to Oregon, 28-27, in last year’s game.

This will be the first meeting between the Cardinals and Trojans.

USC (7-5) has lost three consecutive games and five of its last six after a 6-0 start.

Louisville (10-3) has lost its last two games following a four-game winning streak.

The teams have one common opponent — Notre Dame, which handed the Trojans their first defeat of the season, 48-20, Oct. 14, one week after losing to Louisville, 33-20.

The Cardinals were ranked 16th in the latest Associated Press poll, released Dec. 3. USC dropped out of the Top 25 following its 52-42 loss to Washington on Nov. 4.

The Trojans have five players from San Diego — rush end DJ Peevy (Lincoln High School), long snapper Nathan Weneta (Cathedral Catholic High School), receiver Jaden Moore (The Bishop’s School), kicker Tyler Robles (La Costa Canyon High School) and punter Michael McAllister (La Costa Canyon High School).

Louisville has six players from California, but none from the San Diego area.

The Cardinals will be playing in California for the third time. They tied Long Beach State, 24-24, in the 1970 Pasadena Bowl, and San Jose State, 10- 10, in 1990.

Updated at 2 p.m. Dec. 23, 2023

–City News Service

The MiraCosta Community College District’s Board of Trustees convened on Dec. 14, 20 and its Board of Trustees announced a vacancy on the Board following the resignation of Dr. William “Bill” Fischer, Trustee for Area 7, effective January 2, 2024.

The Board seeks a dedicated and qualified individual to fill this important role for the remainder of Dr. Fischer’s term, which ends in November 2026.

Dr. Fischer, who has served with distinction for 13 years, submitted his resignation on Dec. 5, citing personal reasons.

His departure leaves a critical position open, representing central Oceanside. The Board expressed sincere gratitude for Dr. Fischer’s valuable contributions and steadfast commitment during his tenure.

Application Process and Deadline

Those interested in being considered for an appointment to the vacant trustee position for the remainder of Dr. Fischer’s term may submit a letter of interest, resume, and an application packet to Julie Bollerud, executive assistant to the Superintendent/President, MiraCosta College District, 1 Barnard Drive, Oceanside, CA 92056, or via email at jbollerud@miracosta.edu no later than 5 p.m. on Feb. 8, 2024. While not required, candidates may also submit a letter of recommendation as a part of their application package. 

Eligibility Criteria

Interested applicants must be registered to vote and reside in MiraCosta Community College Trustee Area 7, including the central portion of Oceanside. Visit the Trustee Area 7 Map for details. For questions or more information regarding the vacant board seat, please contact the MiraCosta College President’s Office by phone at 760.795.6610 or visit the District website.

Selection Process

The District will schedule qualified candidates for open interviews during a public Board of Trustees meeting on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, between 2-4 p.m.

Nobu Malibu LLC has responded to a hostess’ lawsuit alleging sexual harassment by managers and patrons with new court papers citing multiple legal defenses and urging that judgment be entered in the restaurant’s favor along with an award of attorneys’ fees.

The plaintiff, a 23-year-old hostess identified only as Jane Doe, sued the restaurant in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleging she and her female colleagues were routinely subjected to sexual assault by customers and managers.

“Because of its close proximity to Hollywood’s brightest stars and (due to) Nobu’s `please the customer first’ mantra, plaintiff and other young female hostesses performing the same role, endure outright sexual advances and abuse for the sake of maintaining Nobu’s glamorous reputation and keeping their jobs,” the suit filed Sept. 13 states.

But in court papers filed Thursday with Judge Daniel M. Crowley, Nobu attorneys maintain that Doe’s claims are barred in whole or in part by the statute of limitations and the plaintiff’s “own actions and course of conduct.”

Nobu lawyers also maintain that Doe is bound by a binding agreement to arbitrate any workplace disputes and that her request for punitive damages is unconstitutional. The defense attorneys ask that judgment be entered in the restaurant’s favor and that it be awarded attorneys’ fees.

On Sept. 18, a woman identified only as Jayne Doe II filed a similar suit, alleging sexual assault and battery, gender discrimination, harassment, retaliation, failure to prevent discrimination and harassment and negligent hiring and supervision.

Jayne Doe II “treasures her employment at Nobu, not only for her steady salary, but also for the reputation that comes with an otherwise desirable job that affords plaintiff work flexibility,” the second complaint states.

However, Nobu requires its young hostesses to greet guests in scantily clad black uniforms while not protecting them from “overt sexual harassment” from both patrons and supervisors, the second suit states.

The Nobu restaurants, which include a Gaslamp location, were founded by chef Nobu Matsuhisa, actor Robert De Niro and producer Meir Teper.

– City News Service.

San Diego State will honor its 2022-23 Final Four men’s basketball team before Monday evening’s season opener against Cal State Fullerton at Viejas Arena.

Banners commemorating the Aztecs’ Mountain West Conference regular- season and tournament championships and first Final Four appearance will be raised.

San Diego State returns two starters and two reserves from last season’s team that earned the fifth seed in the South Regional, upset top- seeded Alabama, 71-64, in the Sweet 16, defeated Creighton, 57-56, in the Elite 8 as Darrion Trammell made a free throw with 1.2 seconds left and overcame a 14- point second-half deficit for a 72-71 victory over Florida Atlantic in the Final Four on Lamont Butler’s buzzer-beating shot.

Butler was the first player to make a game-winning basket in the Final Four with his team trailing.

The Aztecs lost to Connecticut, 76-59, in the national championship game, concluding their season 32-7.

Butler and Trammell are San Diego State’s returning starters.

The Aztecs were 17th in The Associated Press’ season-opening poll, their second-highest ranking in the initial poll behind the No. 16 ranking in the 2014-15 preseason poll. The Titans are unranked.

San Diego State leads the series, 23-10, including an 80-57 victory in last season’s season opener for both teams.

Cal State Fullerton returns three starters, including Big West Conference Defensive Player of the Year Tory San Antonio, and two reserves from last season’s team that was 20-13, ending its season with a 72-62 loss to UC Santa Barbara in the conference tournament’s championship game.

The 7:30 p.m. game will be televised by FS1.

–City News Service