Author: Charles Crumpley

Ever since the first Arab oil embargo in 1973, we’ve heard a line of reasoning that goes something like this: The United States is running

What’s the brightest spot in L.A.’s economy right now? That’s easy. It’s technology. If you want evidence, look no further than the current issue of

When the California Air Resources Board a couple of weeks ago passed the nation’s first cap-and-trade tax on businesses, the chairwoman, Mary Nichols, gushed. “We’ve

Competition is cruel. It unmasks poor performers. On the other hand, competition is wonderful. It reveals those who’ve made good decisions. If you’re in the

I took a ride in L.A.’s subway system one time a few years ago. It wasn’t bad. Well, true, there were three thuggish guys in

The West Hollywood councilman who proposed that his city ban sales of fur apparel, John D’Amico, was quoted in the New York Times last week

"Jobs" must be the word of the year. Republicans are debating about it. Our president gave a speech about it last Thursday. There’s so much

This may be an unpopular opinion in California, but I’ll say it anyway: I like shopping at Wal-Mart.

Wal-Marts are clean, bright, safe places that stay open late. Their shelves are bountiful and stocked with good-quality merchandise with low prices. For everyday stuff – socks, toothpaste, tires – you can’t top Wal-Mart.

Now that I’ve confessed that, let me say something that may be heresy in California: I don’t feel guilty about shopping there. Not one bit.

Wal-Mart and similar superstores are blamed for destroying Main Street shops, but that’s a silly argument. The superstores have done exactly what businesses are supposed to do: They’ve brought efficiencies to their industry, resulting in lower costs and longer hours for their customers.

If you have a business in the city of Los Angeles, you probably have two big complaints with City Hall.

One is the absurdly long time it takes – 18 months, in some cases – to get routine permits to start and operate your business. The other is the city’s gross receipts tax.

On the first complaint, the city has made some moves to pare back the permit-waiting time. Granted, they are grudging moves and have spotty results so far, but at least there’s been some effort.

As for the second complaint, the city this week could take a big step toward resolving it.

That’s because a report that analyzes reform options put forward by the city-appointed Business Tax Advisory Committee is to go to the council this week. And a preliminary draft of that report all but concludes what business operators have known for years: The city would be better off without the gross receipts tax.