Low gas prices great for consumers but not necessarily for the economy
At close to $33 per barrel, crude oil has dropped more than 60 percent since June 2014 — which is great for our economy because it significantly reduces the average price of gas and heating oil. Regular gasoline now averages $2 per gallon nationally. This translates to cheaper costs to transport goods and run your Read More →
Retired business leaders have a lot to teach
Learn by listening to leaders. It is a widely known and accepted belief that one can learn leadership qualities by listening to those who have successfully demonstrated such attributes in their careers. A group of such highly accomplished leaders lives at the same address in Ventura County. Collectively, these individuals possess a gold mine of Read More →
North Santa Barbara County great location for spinout tech
The Third District Supervisor race in Santa Barbara County caught our eye recently when the topic of finding new homes for UC Santa Barbara spinout technology companies came up. Bruce Porter, a West Point alum and stockbroker, has suggested a more comprehensive effort to link UCSB technology startups to communities in north Santa Barbara Read More →
Water rights require balance of interests
As a water lawyer, I am frequently asked, “Who owns the water in California?” In jest, I sometimes respond, “Is that a trick question?” The question is often a charged one that is underlain by personal views that there is either too much or too little government control over water use. The political adage that Read More →
UI fund deficit requires multipronged approach
While California’s political class is salivating over the thought of tax windfalls and a spending spree, the state’s employers are coughing up $1.7 billion in payroll taxes this month to put a small patch over the state’s insolvent unemployment fund. That enormous haul was enough to close just a fraction of the $8 billion the Read More →
Apprenticeship programs give employers competitive advantage
Something old is new again. Apprenticeships, an ideal means to train future workers, have been around for centuries throughout the world. A formal statewide apprenticeship system was created in California back in 1939. Yet today, apprenticeships do not readily come to mind as people plan for careers or employers look for skilled workers. That mindset Read More →
Expand public-private partnerships to increase affordable housing
More than 1.5 million low-income California renters spend more than half their income on housing, according to a recent Center on Budget and Policy Priorities report. That’s up 28 percent since the housing market crash. There is a role for federal and local policy in trying to address this issue, but we cannot hope to Read More →
