News that J.W. Bailey Construction Co. in Santa Barbara was closing its doors after 60 years came as a surprise. The company had a reputation for building high-quality buildings, often in the classic Santa Barbara style.

But after years of suffering with the growth curbs that are the hallmark of doing business on the South Coast, the company announced Oct. 15 it would be ceasing operations.

The company fingered California’s greenhouse gas reductions, mandated by AB 32, for making it unprofitable to operate in the Golden State. Proponents of Proposition 23, which would roll back those curbs, jumped on the bandwagon.

We’ve said before in this space that we think we’re too far down the road to roll back AB 32. But the new climate change rules are plenty disruptive to business, and the closing of J.W. Bailey is a reminder of just how troublesome they can be.

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