Succession planning critical for business
Latest news, Law & Goverment, Op/Eds, OpinionEntrepreneurs know that businesses are like children. You know they will leave you at some point in the future, but you really don’t want to think about it. Small-business entrepreneurs who think of a business as their favorite child too often avoid the important task of exit planning. It is never too early to plan Read More →
Low gas prices great for consumers but not necessarily for the economy
Energy, Latest news, Op/Eds, OpinionAt close to $33 per barrel, crude oil has dropped more than 60 percent since June 2014 — which is great for our economy because it significantly reduces the average price of gas and heating oil. Regular gasoline now averages $2 per gallon nationally. This translates to cheaper costs to transport goods and run your Read More →
Water rights require balance of interests
Latest news, Op/Eds, OpinionAs a water lawyer, I am frequently asked, “Who owns the water in California?” In jest, I sometimes respond, “Is that a trick question?” The question is often a charged one that is underlain by personal views that there is either too much or too little government control over water use. The political adage that Read More →
Apprenticeship programs give employers competitive advantage
Latest news, Op/Eds, OpinionSomething old is new again. Apprenticeships, an ideal means to train future workers, have been around for centuries throughout the world. A formal statewide apprenticeship system was created in California back in 1939. Yet today, apprenticeships do not readily come to mind as people plan for careers or employers look for skilled workers. That mindset Read More →
Expand public-private partnerships to increase affordable housing
Latest news, Op/Eds, OpinionMore than 1.5 million low-income California renters spend more than half their income on housing, according to a recent Center on Budget and Policy Priorities report. That’s up 28 percent since the housing market crash. There is a role for federal and local policy in trying to address this issue, but we cannot hope to Read More →