Homeless council chief visits
The Santa Barbara City Council’s committee on homelessness July 10 hosted Philip F. Mangano, executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, to present a plan for solving the problem. Santa Barbara County’s 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness, which is led by Executive Director Roger Heroux, infuses business principles by viewing these Read More →
Amgen agrees to $200M settlement
Thousand Oaks-based Amgen, the biggest biotechnology company by sales and Ventura County’s second-largest employer, will pay Johnson & Johnson $200 million to settle an antitrust claim over discounts on Amgen’s drugs for cancer patients, the companies said in separate statements July 11. Amgen officials admitted no liability in agreeing to pay the money to Ortho Read More →
Banks playing it safe in real estate lending
Steer clear of speculation. That’s the name of the game for banks involved with commercial real estate lending in today’s market Kenneth Jacobsen, vice president and the newly appointed Santa Barbara and Ventura county market manager for Rabobank, N.A., said his company is “being selective and cautious” about the deals it is making right now, Read More →
Nipomo developer files $26M Chapter 11
Erik Benham, one of two developers behind Maria Vista Estates in Nipomo, has filed for bankruptcy protection, listing $26 million in debt to Los Angeles-based Security Pacific Bank. Benham, who listed a Santa Maria address in the proceedings, has yet to disclose the precise amount of his assets, declaring only that they range between $10 Read More →
Caution required to fix the mortgage mess
It’s time to be wary about how the U.S. government is charging to the rescue to stem a collapse in confidence in the wake of IndyMac’s seizure and the crises at Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. The yellow light is flashing and storm warnings are up. U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson has asked for Read More →
Wine storage taken seriously at Goleta facility
To do business with Trudi Carey, a visitor has to provide a thumb print, credit card and government-issued ID. Then they will be under the watchful eye of surveillance cameras — after using their personal security code – as they enter the climate-, light- and humidity-controlled building.That’s how it’s done at Goleta-based Santa Barbara Cellars, Read More →
Lead, follow or get out of the way in the Tri-Counties
Lee Iacocca famously said that when it comes to business, you either lead, follow or get out of the way. And in the Tri-Counties these days, there is plenty of evidence that the former Chrysler executive had it just about right. In the lead category, put down Community Memorial Hospital, or CMH, in Ventura. This Read More →
