Editorial: Jail tax a necessary pain
In Santa Barbara County, an unusually broad coalition is backing Measure S, a public safety initiative that would at last give the Santa Maria Valley a viable way to lock up criminals. There is no doubt that Measure S has a hefty price tag. It would increase the sales tax by half a cent for Read More →
Read More →Editorial: An able stand-in
Lieutenant governor is supposed to be a largely ceremonial position, with a lot of glad-handing and good will at the top of the agenda. But with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on a trip to Asia, Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado got a chance to do something folks in his position rarely get to do — act like Read More →
Read More →Editorial: Time for UCSB to engineer a new dean
For more than a year there’s been a looming gap in the leadership structure of the region’s technology sector. The departure of Matt Tirrell from UC Santa Barbara, after a decade of exemplary performance as dean at the UCSB College of Engineering, created a void that’s yet to be filled. Tirrell’s term was extraordinary for Read More →
Read More →Editorial: Congrats, Clipper
We’ll take a minute to recognize Clipper Windpower of Carpinteria, once again the fastest growing company in the Tri-Counties. Partly due to timing and to the recession, which has taken the wind out of the revenue growth numbers for dozens of area companies, Clipper has taken top honors in the Business Times’ annual review of Read More →
Read More →Editorial: Three big deals could signal Conejo comeback
The Conejo Valley stretch of the Highway 101 corridor is looking like an early winner as the economy emerges from the Great Recession. We’re basing our judgment on one key factor — capital flows. In just 10 days in late August and early September, capital raises worth more than $200 million were announced for the Read More →
Read More →Editorial: Systemic pension problems
News that the University of California system faces a $20 billion pension shortfall underscores one sobering truth to consider on Labor Day: Public sector jobs are not a free ride. Every job in the public sector is paid for with taxes, fees, tuition or other levies on private enterprise. Public-sector employees have a certain amount Read More →
Read More →Editorial: Ventura Harbor comes to its parking senses
Score one point for small business. After just two months, Ventura Harbor authorities have at least temporarily abandoned their plan to charge drivers for parking during peak hours at the cozy retail and restaurant district that is the main tourist draw for the harbor. The decision to abandon ship on parking fees was officially blamed Read More →
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