OCC shows it lacks transparency
We were disappointed to learn that a representative of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency backed out of a recent speaking engagement at Coastal Business Finance, the Santa Maria-based leader in small business finance. Such a talk might have done a lot to help bankers and borrowers meet face-to-face with one of the Read More →
The three-step tax fix for California
Here’s a simple, three-step fix to California’s budget. First, cap the flat tax on individual income at 7.5 percent. Use a 10-year history to estimate what the average level of revenue will be with taxes at that level. That plus the state sales tax and other levies should really be California’s baseline for spending. It Read More →
Shout-out for a university leader
On a happier note, we’re pleased to add our own congratulations to Howie Wennes, president emeritus of California Lutheran University and recipient of the institution’s Christus Award, for bridging the gap between CLU and the communities it serves. Wennes came to the university just four years ago after a distinguished career in the Lutheran Church. Read More →
Green dollars bolster our sagging economy
Green is not exactly the new black. But federal stimulus grants are offsetting some of the serious shortfalls in the tri-county economy. For example, University of California, Santa Barbara, officials announced late in September they will receive a total of $36 million in stimulus money — mainly for research into energy efficiency and alternative energy Read More →
Ventura County Business Bank gives hope to area banks
It might be the understatement of the decade to say that raising capital has been extremely difficult for area banks. But in a very difficult environment, President Jerry Lukiewski at Ventura County Business Bank has found a way to increase his bank’s capital and perhaps set the stage for the acquisition of assets or other Read More →
Rejecting Measure B is crucial to city
We’ll go ahead and put the Business Times officially on the record as opposing so-called Measure B height limits for the city of Santa Barbara. We’ve generally been opposed to the more onerous of these measures, whether they cropped up in Ventura or San Luis Obispo. And there are really sound business reasons why unreasonable Read More →
Your right to know
The Business Times Web site received quite a bit of flak from our recent story on a bankruptcy filing involving Montecito’s Klink family. We’ll take a minute to state something that should be obvious — a bankruptcy filing is a public document, which provides any media outlet with an absolute privilege to publish the information Read More →
