What did Mozilo know? When did he know it?
Countrywide Financial Corp.’s name is headed into the sunset, signaling that the once-formidable mortgage giant is now safely tucked into the Bank of America family of product lines. But there’s still plenty of reason to believe that Countrywide and its once high-flying founder-CEO Angelo Mozilo will remain in the headlines. For one thing, it’s clear Read More →
Togetherness, Ventura-style
Ventura County has taken a bold step in addressing the dire financial straits facing thousands of families in our region. The county’s United Way organization, its Community Foundation and others have founded “Ventura County Together,” a relief effort focused on food, shelter and access to health care. In just one example provided by Dave Smith Read More →
Salary hikes highlight exactly what
Perhaps the greatest symbol of what’s wrong about California is what author Joel Kotkin calls the entitled bureaucracy. That’s why it really sticks in our craw that assembly leaders of both parties felt absolutely no remorse about handing out $551,000 in pay increases to the assembly staff at a time when they are literally begging Read More →
Youth more resourceful than ever
A new generation of students is getting ready to graduate from our colleges and universities. The job outlook is grim. The global economy is uncertain. House prices are in a free fall. But it’s also true that this is an incredibly resourceful and tech-savvy generation and that it will be steeled in the furnace of Read More →
Navy League, base score with Stockdale
When the Navy League’s Santa Barbara Council agreed to adopt the destroyer USS Stockdale last year, it did not know that the Arleigh Burke class of fighting ships would make worldwide headlines six months later. But the Stockdale’s sister ship, the USS Bainbridge, was in the news 24/7 over Easter weekend, garnering worldwide kudos for Read More →
Region
The oldest industry in the Tri-Counties once again is proving its worth to the overall economy. Santa Barbara County reports its crops brought in $1 billion in gross revenue for another year, with strawberries, broccoli and wine grapes leading the way. This is important revenue for the region and it underscores the need for sound Read More →
Miramar takes big step forward
When Rick Caruso took over the moribund Miramar Hotel project in South Santa Barbara County a couple of years ago, few people gave him a chance of ever getting a building permit. But Caruso, recently named the Los Angeles Business Journal’s Hall of Fame winner for 2009, patiently chipped away at the massive undertaking. Opposition Read More →
