From the editor: Closing the turkey deficit
There are mega-deficits, there are giant deficits, and then there are smaller deficits that really hurt people in need. Consider, if you will, the turkey deficit facing Foodbank of Santa Barbara County. The deficit was so large that until Nov. 18, some 3,000 local families were in danger of going without this Thanksgiving. Happily, the Read More →
Editorial: Banks turning a big corner
Third quarter results on the banking front hint at a long-awaited turnaround in the region’s financial services industry. Pacific Capital Bancorp., the region’s largest banking institution, posted a profit for the month of September after getting a $500 million infusion from the Ford Financial group out of Texas. The bank has essentially got a new Read More →
Editorial: Get Ventura County on a faster transit track
Ventura County is taking a few baby steps toward developing a comprehensive transportation plan. It’s an effort that’s probably a few decades overdue but one that’s well worth the effort. The initiative is being led by Darren Kettle, executive director of the Ventura County Transportation Commission and a person who’s not afraid to jump on Read More →
From the editor: Regionalism reigns at eco-devo forum
Santa Barbara County should explore an economic development effort to help existing businesses expand and recruit new companies to the area. That was the near-unanimous view of more than 200 business leaders who packed the Reagan Room at Fess Parker’s DoubleTree Resort on Nov. 8 for a South Coast regional economic development forum. I served Read More →
Editorial: Memo to Abel: Keep political options open
As we watched him speed across the state in search of votes for a long-shot bid for statewide office, Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado’s passion for small business and the small-business owner left a big impression. Yes, in the crazy world that is California politics, the former Santa Maria city councilman finished short of the mark Read More →
California’s chips are all in on green
One thing is clear from this year’s election results: California will bet a big chunk of its economic future on alternative energy. The resounding defeat of Proposition 23, which would have rolled back the Golden State’s cap-and-trade regime, came at the hands of a big coalition of venture capitalists, environmentalists and traditional business leaders bent Read More →
