Are Big Businesses Selling Out Smaller Ones?

The state’s strange impulse to basically kill the thriving gig economy has taken a turn against smaller businesses. It now appears bigger businesses are selling them out. It all started last year with the California Supreme Court’s decision in the so-called Dynamex case. That basically outlawed the use of independent contractors, ending the longstanding rules […]

A Business Group That May Thrive

If you follow the business community, you’ve probably seen a number of single-issue groups form to fight a law or advocate for something. At first, enthusiasm is high, but then they seem to get tired or frustrated or overwhelmed, and the group falls apart. To be honest, I kind of expected that would happen with […]

Will Businesses Pay Unfunded Pension Debt?

It sure seemed reassuring to hear that California expects to have a huge budget surplus this year – $21.5 billion – and even better that the new governor, Gavin Newsom, said he wants to put $3 billion extra into the California Public Employees Retirement System and almost that much into the state pension fund for […]

Don’t Kill the Growing Gig Economy

What was the biggest local business story of the year? With a sigh, I vote for the state Supreme Court’s decision in April that basically outlawed the gig economy in California. I sigh because the ruling truly may disrupt the way business increasingly is being done today, especially here in the San Fernando Valley area. […]

Amazon’s Bad Impact? Overblown

I was taken aback when the local response seemed to be “Whew! We’re sure relieved Amazon decided not to open its second headquarters here.” That reaction, as best I can tell from various reports, derived from the notion that the addition of 25,000 Amazon workers would worsen our already stifling traffic, pressure home prices higher […]

How Prop 5 May Bring Back Kids

I live in one of those very suburban neighborhoods that was built for kids. The schools are great, and they’re set in among the homes, making them mostly within walking distance. Parks are abundant. Funny thing, though. As I walk around my neighborhood built for kids, I seldom see any. Few backyard playground sets are […]

How to Kill Apartment Construction

We are in the umpteenth year of a housing shortage. So let’s ask: Why are so few housing units being built? Seriously. Think about neighborhoods you know throughout the Valley area. Now think of where housing units are being built or were recently opened in those neighborhoods. Chances are, you’re still counting on one hand. […]

City-owned Bank? It’s a Bad Idea

Think of the record of management by the city of Los Angeles. They’ve given us buckled sidewalks, a stinky mess of a trash collection system and billions of dollars in pension obligations with no money saved to pay for them. Now, they want to get into the banking business. You may think I’m making this […]

The End of the Home-Buying Frenzy

You may have seen recent news accounts about how home sales have slowed nationwide. So I got curious: What’s going on in the San Fernando Valley area? I looked back at the local home-sales stats we publish in the Business Journal, courtesy of Redfin. And in the Valley area, home sales have indeed slowed. In […]

In the San Fernando Valley—Most Disliked by ‘Influentials’? Traffic

What do business leaders think is the worst single thing about living and doing business in the San Fernando Valley area? It’s not taxes and regulations. It’s not the relative lack of cultural and entertainment amenities. It’s not even the intense heat (although that gets honorable mention). No, it’s traffic. Traffic got mentioned more often […]