Watching church moves
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles has a much greater impact on the area economy than you might think. High schools, hospitals, missions, colleges and seminaries make it one of the largest employers in the Santa Barbara-Ventura county area. And it was not always apparent that the outlying counties were a priority for outgoing Los Angeles Read More →
Hwy 101 may have a smoother road ahead
Just when it looked like Highway 101 was headed for a legacy of potholes and traffic jams, things are showing signs of improvement. The region’s major trade corridor is more than just a lifeline for goods and services — in many ways it actually defines the tri-county economy. And to make major changes on Highway Read More →
Three steps to state solvency
Orange County Register small-business columnist Jan Norman has put California’s budget woes into some facts and figures anybody can understand. Quoting from U.S. Census Bureau figures, she says the state’s individual income tax collections fell 20.4 percent or more than $10 billion from 2008 to 2009 and corporate income tax collections fell about $2 billion Read More →
Drug lord crackdown may be Oxnard
Ventura County District Attorney Greg Totten made a splash in the newspapers on March 30 when he announced plans to extradite a jailed Mexican drug lord known as “Don Pepe” for trial on charges related to drug trafficking. If the extradition proceeds as planned, Jose Antonio Medina, 36, will face numerous charges in a Ventura Read More →
A green future
The green economy holds great promise for the tri-county region. With thousands of jobs at stake, some interesting new players are emerging on the economic development scene. Sen. Tony Strickland, the Republican who won the narrowest of victories in a contested district, scored points when he backed a bill to exempt green manufacturing equipment from Read More →
Can the government make health care work?
With speed that seemed amazing for a Congress that never seems in a hurry to do anything, nearly $1 trillion in new spending on health care has become the law of the land. While most pundits are focused on the upcoming political season and what it might mean for the Democrats and control of Congress, Read More →
A new Santa Barbara can lead rebound
Among the region’s larger cities, Camarillo probably has the strongest retail environment — and a much better-than-average fiscal position. Oxnard, Santa Maria and Paso Robles probably have some of the best long-term growth prospects, thanks to affordable housing and a pro-business attitude. San Luis Obispo has a dynamic new city manager with a laser-like focus Read More →
