Toyota—the world’s largest automaker—certainly had its troubles with alleged product liability issues for unintended acceleration of its cars, a National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration investigation and hundreds of private and class action lawsuits.  Yet, to its credit, Toyota recalled its vehicles, made corrections and is back on top as a trusted brand. But the [...]

On December 7, members of the South Coast Air Quality Management District Board of Directors (AQMD) voted to approve its 2012 Air Quality Management Plan (“clean air plan”).  These clean air plans are updated periodically in order to address new federal clean air rules for Southern California. Over the last 20 years, the South Coast [...]

The LA Times recently published an article calling into question the viability of Orange County’s Toll Roads in light of a formal inquiry launched by state Treasurer Bill Lockyer into whether the roads can cover the interest payments to private investors who purchased tollway bonds. This could be a sitcom if it weren’t funny, however. [...]

Have you noticed? Everyone’s asking for more taxpayer funding. For education, Sacramento majority leadership wants voters to approve a seven year tax increase of “billions” in new funding, yet it may not really fund education per se but general state government; a competing, private ballot measure seeks “billions” for the classroom under a status quo [...]

Road congestion wastes 1.9 billion gallons of gas, says US Treasury Department. With federal transportation funding set to expire March 31, House Transportation Committee Chairman John Mica has introduced a three-month extension of the highway and transit program. If adopted by Congress, this would be the ninth extension of SAFETEA-LU, which first expired in September [...]

In the 2002 movie Signs starring Mel Gibson, a 500-foot crop circle is found on a Pennsylvania farm, testing the faith of a local family as it tries to find out the truth behind the strange event. So many signs and strange events occur throughout the storyline that it is clear nothing happens by chance [...]

There has been a lot of media coverage over Governor Jerry Brown’s visit last week to OCBC. Orange County overwhelmingly supported gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman in the last election and it’s not often that the OC business community embraces the policy or politics of Sacramento. Having this Governor visit behind the Orange Curtain was a [...]

I witnessed firsthand on August 30 an amazing display of calm, deliberative and ultimately decisive leadership by Irvine Mayor Sukhee Kang.  The only agenda item was a major development project-Great Park Neighborhoods by FivePoint Communities.  At stake, nearly 5,000 homes surrounding the Great Park, transportation improvements, bringing 16,500 jobs to the City and contributing more [...]

California was a place originally known for its opportunities, beauty,
wilderness, open roads, Gold Rush mentality, freedom, and innovation. Eureka,
the state’s motto, means "I have found it!" 
But this place of dreams is now the land of wishful thinking: a
consummate nanny-state of over-regulation, command and control.  From the profoundly and absurdly huge ideas
(saving the planet from climate change while China and India march to a
different tune) to the silly (mandating fitted sheets in hotel rooms).  And we’re so over-regulated, that I
guarantee, right now, you are breaking some California law this very
minute.  (Did you install your CO2
monitor required in every home July 1? No? $200 fine is on its way.)

Where unemployment at over 12% is one of the highest in the nation–two
million people out of work–the state’s bond ratings flirt with junk status,
and private investors are wary of a constantly changing and uncertain
regulatory environment.  Where governors
from other states proactively seek and invite the relocation of our best
businesses.  And what’s to stop business
from leaving? California has ranked 49th or 50th on numerous national lists as
the worse place to do business for the last several years.  According to Dun & Bradstreet, 2,565
businesses with three or more employees have relocated to other states since
January 2007 and 109,000 jobs left with those employers.

This piece was co-authored by Dr. Wallace Walrod, Vice President of Economic Development & Research, Orange County Business Council.

I serve on a local business advisory committee to the South
Coast Air Quality Management District-folks charged with clearing the air for
better health and visibility. 

They’ve done a good job over the last 40 years.  The air quality of Southern California has
gotten much better even with major population growth and economic
development. 

But there is always one more rule to impose, one more
particulate to regulate, one more greenhouse gas to consider-it’s government’s
job to do that-and one more business fails to grow or simply folds under the
weight and cost of compliance.  Not just air
quality but add the tens of thousands of regulations, fees and taxes coming out
of numerous local, state and federal agencies today.  And millions of folks out of work, a stagnant
economy in California, and a bottom-ranking on any objective list as the
nation’s "worst place to do business."