SAN DIEGO COUNTY
Cox Communications Unveils Wireless Service
Cox Communications Inc. rolled out wireless service to the San Diego market on Sept. 29.
Cox brings several Android handsets to market, as well as a lineup of calling plans. They include a “MoneyBack Minutes” plan, which lets customers receive up to $20 back every month for unused minutes.
With its new service, Cox is able to offer customers a four-product bundle, including cable television, Internet and landline phone service.
Cox also offers wireless service to customers in Orange County, the Palos Verdes peninsula and Santa Barbara.
— Brad Graves
SOLANA BEACH
Restitution Ordered For Employee Firing
Scott Landow, former chief executive of Bond Laboratories Inc. and the company itself were found to have violated the whistleblower protection provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act for improperly firing an employee, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Due to the findings, Bond, formerly based in this city, and Landow were ordered to rehire the employee and pay about $500,000 in back wages, interest and compensatory damages, OSHA said.
The agency said that Landow and Bond allegedly terminated the unnamed worker after he objected to the manipulation of sales figures that misrepresented the company’s value to investors. OSHA determined that the complainant repeatedly objected to the manipulations over an eight-month span in 2008, and because of those objections, he was terminated. The agency’s findings may be appealed, OSHA said
Bond, now based in Omaha, Neb., makes nutritional supplement beverages and related products.
— Mike Allen
SANTEE
Agreement Reached on Landfill Expansion
City officials and landfill operators have reached an agreement covering dump heights and frequency of truck visits, among other disputed issues relating to a proposed expansion of Sycamore Landfill near Santee.
The agreement was reached Sept. 15 and stemmed from an eight-year dispute involving the cities of Santee and San Diego. The landfill is in eastern San Diego, about 100 feet from the border with Santee, and operator Republic Services has proposed expanding the facility.
Santee went to court challenging an environmental impact report approved by the City of San Diego in 2008. The impact report was overturned by a court in 2010, and Santee officials have since been working to settle the dispute with San Diego officials and the operator.
In a statement, Santee City Manager Keith Till said the parties were able to reach terms preferable to a potentially costly prolonging of litigation. Republic has agreed to reduce the height of the expansion by 95 feet and install berms to protect the view for nearby Santee residents.
— Lou Hirsh
CHULA VISTA
City Celebrates Its Centennial With Party
The city is throwing a party for itself Oct. 15 to celebrate its 100th anniversary of incorporating as a city.
The daylong, free event will be held at the U.S. Olympic Training Center and features a full day of musical entertainment starting at noon on two stages, culminating with an appearance by local rock group, P.O.D.
Among the top sponsors for the event are Viejas Casino, SGI Construction Management, San Diego Gas & Electric and Barona Casino.
In addition to music, the event includes a car show, carnival, craft beer and margarita garden, and a wide array of food booths, organizers said.
The event is being organized by McFarlane Promotions.
— Mike Allen
