Our view: Common sense key trait for city council candidates
Editorials, Latest news, OpinionAs Goleta, Santa Maria and other municipalities contemplate district elections for city council — with dire predictions about anti-business bias among candidates — James Fenkner has a better idea. Fenkner, a self-described “radical centrist,” has launched a talent search for candidates in the upcoming Santa Barbara city elections. He is hoping that through informal networking Read More →
Dubroff: Towbes created his own recipe for success in banking business
Columns, Latest newsWhen Mike Towbes stepped down as chair at Montecito Bank & Trust on April 3, he deftly handed the reins of the region’s largest banking company to incoming Chair Janet Garufis and President George Leis. As with just about everything Towbes does, the move was carefully calibrated. At age 87, Towbes has earned the right Read More →
Dubroff: East Ventura County should focus on creating a biotech cluster
Columns, East Ventura County, Health Care & Life Science, Latest news, TechnologyWhen the Business Times broke the story that Amgen was cutting roughly 500 support and operations jobs at its sprawling Thousand Oaks campus, there were gasps — and sighs of relief. Gasps because the world’s largest biotechnology company is the economic engine for the Conejo Valley, East Ventura County and, for that matter, a big Read More →
Our view: Infill development critical to meeting housing needs
Editorials, Latest news, OpinionAt a time when hand wringing over the high cost of housing has become more of a political cop out than a panacea, a new study underscores the benefits of infill development. Next 10, a group that relies on interdisciplinary research from UC Berkeley’s law, environmental and business experts, has cited infill housing for many Read More →
Dubroff: Trump’s budget priorities will create tri-county winners, losers
Columns, Latest newsA cardinal rule about covering politics these days is that it’s never too early to speculate. So, with the contours of the Trump administration’s approach to budgeting just coming to light, it seemed timely to begin to try to sort out winners and losers among major tri-county institutions. It’s way too early to predict what Read More →
Our view: Progress on Highway 101 widening welcome sign
Editorials, Latest news, OpinionIn fits and starts, the inevitable widening of Highway 101 from Carpinteria to Santa Barbara is proceeding at a steady pace. The latest sign of progress on the project is the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments’ approval for building HOV lanes in the Linden Avenue to Casitas Pass Road portion of the project. It Read More →
Our view: Ventura creates model for helping homeless
Editorials, Latest news, OpinionAmid the turmoil of November’s election results, it was easy to overlook passage of the Measure O sales tax increase for the city of Ventura. The Business Times took some heat for endorsing Measure O, which clearly struck a chord with voters who rejected a countywide transportation tax measure. A transportation tax initiative in San Read More →
