Looking for the economy’s silver lining
With the economic forecast season about to get underway, two things are absolutely certain: 1. The experts are going to have strong opinions. 2. Most of the time they’re going to be wrong. So, with the knowledge that my amateur views are likely to be better than at least a few of the pros, let’s Read More →
Editorial: Don’t let parking stunt downtown Ventura’s progress
A few months ago in this space, we took the managers of Ventura Harbor to task for their shortsighted plan to charge for parking at the harbor. Revenues were much lower than expected, merchants complained of depressed business, and the harbor went back to free parking before the summer was up. Now it’s the Ventura Read More →
Editorial: Get out the vote
Tuesday is Election Day — as you must know, if you’ve turned on a television, opened your mailbox or picked up a newspaper lately. There are scores of candidates and propositions on the region’s various ballots, more than we could ever hope to cover in the Business Times. We’ve tried to bring you the highlights Read More →
Totaling up the hefty price tag of Mozilo
The lifetime ban against former Countrywide Financial Corp. CEO Angelo Mozilo serving as an officer or director of a public company may be the most positive result to come from his settlement of a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission complaint. But Mozilo’s company and his conduct created a decade-long road to economic ruin that reached Read More →
Editorial: Clean-air rules can be a disruption
News that J.W. Bailey Construction Co. in Santa Barbara was closing its doors after 60 years came as a surprise. The company had a reputation for building high-quality buildings, often in the classic Santa Barbara style. But after years of suffering with the growth curbs that are the hallmark of doing business on the South Read More →
Editorial: Toward a unified West Ventura County chamber
Tom Kelley’s announced departure from the Camarillo Chamber of Commerce raises a prospect worth considering — the creation of a larger and more impactful business organization for West Ventura County. That’s why we’d encourage the boards of directors of the Oxnard, Ventura and Camarillo Chambers to consider creating a West Ventura County Chamber of Commerce. Read More →
From the editor: Mozilo’s ban a true black mark
The lifetime ban against former Countrywide CEO Angelo Mozilo serving as an officer or director of a public company may be the most positive result to come from his settlement of a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission complaint. As reported over the weekend, the SEC settled with Mozilo and two top lieutenants in a case Read More →