AMUSEMENT
At Disneyland Resort’s request, Anaheim City Council voted unanimously to end agreements with the park that would’ve granted tax breaks in exchange for investment in the resort’s hotel and parks. The agreements involved whether tickets to the resort’s two parks would be taxed, and a transient occupancy tax rebate from a luxury hotel Disney separately suspended development of two weeks ago.
— Paul Hughes
Meanwhile, Disneyland will serve alcohol at the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge expansion that opens next year, according to its blog. “Libations for adults” will be available only at the new attraction’s Oga’s Cantina, which the blog notes will be run by an “alien proprietor” who’ll employ a “strict code of conduct” to “keep its unruly patrons in check.”
— Hannah Mitchell
APPAREL
Francisco Morales was named chief executive of 5.11 Tactical, an Irvine-based maker of apparel and gear for members of the military, firefighters and law enforcement officers. Morales, co-founder and president, assumes his role this week and will also join the board of directors. He succeeds Tom Davin as chief executive. Davin will transition to an advisory role. He joined the company in 2010 after a five-year stint as CEO of Panda Restaurant Group.
— Subrina Hudson
EDUCATION
A new institute will be established at the University of California-Irvine, thanks to a $9 million donation by Japanese analytical and measurement system company Horiba Group to UCI’s advanced power and energy program. The Horiba Institute for Mobility and Connectivity will focus on research and education on the environmental impacts of climate change and air quality, energy dependence and security; and the affordability of fuel and electricity for consumers. UCI’s Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Office of the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor will provide funds for staffing and activities. Horiba’s U.S. operations are based in the Irvine Spectrum.
— Subrina Hudson
HEALTHCARE
Newport Beach-based Concierge Key Health, which created a mobile app for on-demand access to medical specialists, named Richard Afable president and chief executive, replacing founder Robert Grant, who retains the board of directors’ chairmanship. Afable, who recently retired as chief executive of St. Joseph Hoag Health in Irvine and executive vice president of Providence St. Joseph Health Southern California, joined the company nearly a year ago as senior adviser. He said he’ll help expand its platform to encompass “the healthcare experience through the entire continuum of care.”
— Sherry Hsieh
RESTAURANTS
El Pollo Loco Holdings Inc. in Costa Mesa named Jennifer Jaffe chief people officer, a new position. She held the same role at Too Faced Cosmetics in Irvine, and worked at Estée Lauder Cos., which bought Too Faced in 2016 for $1.5 billion. El Pollo Loco Chief Executive Bernard Acoca joined the fast-food chicken chain in March and has said remaking its corporate culture is a top priority.
— Paul Hughes
ECONOMIC INDICATOR
UP: Year-over-year John Wayne Airport and Long Beach Airport traffic in July. John Wayne’s passenger count rose about 8% to 991,000 as the international segment increased 2% to 22,000. Commercial flights took off about 5% to nearly 4,000. Passenger traffic at Long Beach Airport totaled about 358,000, up 10% year-over-year. The increase was led by Southwest Airlines, whose traffic rose 27% to 48,000.
