California Can No Longer Coast
Poor Gov. Jerry Brown. He apparently still thinks it’s the 1970s. He’s been saying lately that California’s progressive legislation – environmentalism, greater rights for immigrants, wealth redistribution – is setting the trend for the entire nation. A template for all to follow. “We can do a lot of things in California to shift the (political) […]
CEQA’s Union Shop of Horrors
If you operate a business in California, you’ve probably heard of CEQA horror stories – about how it delays construction projects and makes them far more expensive. Heck, you may have passed around a few of those stories, too, since the business sector’s disgust with CEQA has attained an almost mythic status. It’s the state […]
A Jolt of Higher Rates
Electricity and other energy rates in California are going up. That much we know. How much are they going up? Ahh, that’s what we don’t know. In fact, we have no idea. The California Energy Commission has projected electricity will cost 26 percent to 42 percent more by 2020. But it could go much higher. […]
Solar Costs Not So Hot
You may have seen the spoof ad on the Internet in which a well-dressed, middle-age white man plays an executive. “Here at Southern California Edison,” he says, smoothly and confidently, “we’re committed to rooftop solar energy. And by committed, I mean we’re committed to keeping solar panels off your roof.” It’s kind of amusing if […]
Too Many Dumbbells?
Santa Monica has gotten all exercised about fitness classes in public parks. The City Council there hates them, thinks there are too many and now wants to make them pay and pay big. But you have to wonder what it is, exactly, that the city hates. Exercise? I don’t think so. I think there’s something […]
Higher Ed’s Expensive Lessons
Who’s guilty of the most egregious price gouging? In my opinion, it’s colleges and universities. Tuition and other costs at many public and private schools have doubled in the last six years – and have tripled or quintupled since 2000. That’s far more than just about anything you can name. Medical care? It’s up 600 […]
Zapped by Electric Car Buzz
It was unsurprising to read the article in the Los Angeles Business Journal a couple of weeks ago about how L.A.’s Coda Automotive had brought on an investment banker to consider its financial options, which could include bankruptcy reorganization. It was unsurprising because, well, have you seen the Coda? I mean, that car is to […]
See You in 15 Years?
L.A.’s business community can take this bit of solace from last week’s primary election for mayor: Both candidates who are advancing to the general election have vowed to eliminate the gross receipts tax. Those who have to pay that tax generally revile it. It can wipe out all or much of a struggling company’s profits […]
Tax Opposition Crosses Aisle
Maybe the most difficult task in America is to achieve bipartisan agreement. But California’s Franchise Tax Board appears to have pulled it off. Democrats and Republicans alike hate the board’s recent decision that not only revoked a state tax break for small-business investors, but is making everyone who claimed that break in the last five […]
A Case Where Justice Was Blind
Whew, that was close. We almost – almost! – had a frightening situation in which one company could have achieved world market domination in Post-it notes. But thankfully, the Justice Department stepped in and put an end to that threat. In case you missed it, the 3M Co. last week called off its planned acquisition […]