
CEQA rollbacks face stiff reality test
This article is only available to Business Times subscribers Subscribers: LOG IN or REGISTER for complete digital access. Not a Subscriber? SUBSCRIBE for full access to our weekly newspaper, online edition and Book of Lists. Check the STATUS of your Subscription Account.
Arroyo Grande escrow firm alleges former manager stole $546k
An Arroyo Grande escrow firm is suing its former escrow manager for allegedly embezzling $545,557 from it. Opus Escrow’s suit also names a second defendant, Qualia Labs, a digital real estate closing platform. Qualia had a contract to provide Opus with accounting, reconciliations, fraud protection, and more, according to the civil complaint filed in San Read More →
Tri-county unemployment rate down from April, up year-over-year
The unemployment rate in each of the tri-counties saw continued declines in May from April, but the jobless rate is still higher than at this time a year ago. According to the latest data provided by the California Employment Development Department on June 20, the unemployment rate for the Central Coast was 3.8% in May, down below 4% for the Read More →

TicketManager prepared to accelerate growth
This article is only available to Business Times subscribers Subscribers: LOG IN or REGISTER for complete digital access. Not a Subscriber? SUBSCRIBE for full access to our weekly newspaper, online edition and Book of Lists. Check the STATUS of your Subscription Account.
805 pride: Central Coast merchants see gains from being out
The decision to be visibly out as a business owner is a personal one, often influenced by culture, personal history and questions of safety. Along the Central Coast, several out business owners have reported an overwhelming amount of support from their communities — but also the occasional bout of harassment. John Newberry, the owner of Newberry’s Read More →
F&M Trust hires new director to head fresh Santa Barbara office
A couple of months after Farmers & Merchants Bank of Long Beach announced its intention to grow its tri-county presence, Farmers & Merchants Trust company is doing the same thing with a new hire to head its fresh Santa Barbara office set to reopen next month. Salvatore “Tory” Milazzo was appointed to be F&M Trust’s newest senior vice president, trust and investment manager, the organization announced Read More →








