Countrywide's Mozilo accused of fraud
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has filed civil fraud charges against former Countrywide CEO Angelo Mozilo as well as company president David Sambol and Eric Sieracki. Mozilo, who founded Countrywide in 1969, is separately charged with engaging in insider trading of Countrywide stock when he set up his highly controversial executive stock sale plans Read More →
Outgoing Move CEO got millions
When former Chief Executive Officer Michael Long left Move Inc., the company gave him a golden parachute and then some – it paid him for the use of his airplane. Even as shareholders saw losses in recent years, the Westlake Village company paid Long, who left in January, $4.3 million for the business use of Read More →
Assembly fights get serious
Tri-county Republicans will make a grab for three open assembly seats in 2010, and the primary fight for one just got bigger. Assembly seats in the 33rd, 35th and 37th Assembly Districts – which cover the Tri-Counties – will be without incumbents. Republican Jeff Gorell of Camarillo has made an early move for the Republican Read More →
Software helps firms track online activity
For small businesses, dropping a sales lead every now and then used to be part of life – too many e-mails and inquiries, too little time. But these days, every lead counts, and Santa Barbara-based Moonray is targeting small businesses with new marketing software designed to keep potential customers from slipping away. The Web-based system Read More →
Ojai bypassing the buck? Small town looks at having own currency
As the global meltdown continues to put pressure on regional economies, the Ojai Economy Group may have found a way for citizens to keep the area’s economy vibrant, jobs local and economic relationships face to face. Drawing its inspiration from Western Massachusetts’ successful BerkShares program, the group wants to implement an alternative currency system for Read More →
Botanic Garden
It’s been a memorable year for the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, partly for the wrong reasons. Less revenue and a budget shortfall were its initial worries, but severe damage from the Jesusita Fire added grief. Now the popular tourist attraction in the hills above Santa Barbara faces new struggles — yet it also sees new Read More →
