Oil Company No Longer Digs Expansion Plan
ENERGY: Oxy looks to cut costs by scaling back operations in California.
Occidental’s cost-cutting moves could bury plans to expand drilling in California.
Nailed by Roadblock
Retail: Hardware store owner Jeff Tilem fights looming rent hike by Beverly Hills.
Hardware store owner Jeff Tilem fears getting hammered when Beverly Hills raises his rent.
L.A. Wants Hotel on City Land Near L.A. Live
Joining the rush to develop hotels around L.A. Live and the Convention Center, L.A. city officials on Friday announced a request for proposals for another hotel at the corner of Pico Boulevard and Figueroa Street.
Ex-Wellpoint Chief Gives $25 Million to USC
Former WellPoint chief executive Leonard Schaeffer is giving $25 million toward a USC health policy research center he helped launch three years ago, university officials announced on Tuesday.
City Serves Burger Stand Owner Big Order of Crackdown
REGULATIONS: Tam’s threatened with closure because of local crime.
L.A. City Hall is putting the heat on a South Los Angeles burger stand because it’s seen as a magnet for criminal types. But is the restaurant being punished for its location in a high-crime neighborhood?
Surgeons Win Battle Over Plan To Raise Rates
TAX: Beverly Hills panel cancels proposed hike for Specialty Surgical Center.
Specialty Surgical Center wins appeal of planned increases by Beverly Hills.
Civic Leaders Lobby for L.A. Pension Reform
Nineteen local business and civic leaders have delivered a letter to L.A. City Hall urging the city council to pass Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s pension reform proposal.
Vacancy Rate Remains High Despite Pair of Blockbuster Leases
Real Estate Quarterly: Downtown
Call it a sign of the times. Two huge downtown L.A. office lease deals were signed during the third quarter, totaling more than 425,000 square feet and $150 million in value; both include building-top signage.
Businesses Split On Taxing Issue
Chambers: Boards have heated debates on initiatives.
Chambers: Business groups split on state measures to raise taxes and curb unions’ political contributions. (Sidebar – A range of levy measures go before city and county voters. Page 70.)
Businesses Seen as Easy Tax Targets: ‘They Don’t Vote’
Local businesses are once again in the crosshairs as 10 measures increasing taxes or fees they pay are going to voters next month in seven cities and Los Angeles County.
Down to Earth
When George Pla joined the board of the California Science Center 15 years ago, he never envisioned that it would one day lead to him walking in front of the space shuttle Endeavour along Crenshaw Boulevard.
Jobless Rate in L.A. County Falls
L.A. County’s jobs recovery picked up steam in September as the unemployment rate fell to 10.6 percent and 37,000 jobs were added to payrolls.
Report Says L.A.’s Jobs Market Lagged County, State
The city of L.A.’s jobs market lagged the county and the state in 2011 as employment remained virtually flat through the year, according to a report released Wednesday by the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce.
Insurer Drives Industry Reform Measure _ Again
Mercury’s chairman puts $16 million behind Proposition 33.
Mercury Chairman George Joseph has spent $16 million to drive passage of Proposition 33
Caruso Won't Run for Mayor
After months of speculation, developer Rick Caruso announced that he will not run for Los Angeles mayor.
Label Maker Still Adheres To Plan to Sell Off Division
MANUFACTURING: Avery seeks consumer products suitor after 3M deal flops.
Label maker Avery Dennison is sticking to its plan to sell its office products business.
Street Vendors Cook Up Challenge to Sidewalk Sales Ban
FOOD: Legalization effort turns up heat on Los Angeles City Council.
Street vendors hope to stick a fork in the city of L.A’s ban on sidewalk sales. (Photo Essay – Pavement peddlers push limits of law. Page 32)
Report: Housing Still Too Expensive for Many Angelenos
Despite several years of falling home prices, housing still remains out of reach for many middle income residents in Los Angeles, threatening the region’s economic competitiveness, according to a report to be released Thursday by the Los Angeles Business Council.
City Controller to Probe Billing Practices
Los Angeles City Controller Wendy Greuel said that she will launch an investigation of billing practices at the city’s Department of Building and Safety after an audit by her office found overcharging as well as undercharging.
L.A. City Council Repeals Pot Shop Ban
The Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday voted to repeal a ban on medical marijuana storefront dispensaries.
Cadiz Gets Key Approval in San Bernardino County
Cadiz Inc., the Los Angeles company trying to pump and sell groundwater out of a remote Mojave Desert aquifer, has cleared another hurdle as San Bernardino County officials approved its plan.
Double Trouble For Real Estate?
taxes: City of L.A. looks to up levy 100% on property sales.
Real estate groups are building opposition to a city of L.A. plan to double the transaction levy on property sales.
L.A. City Council Approves Farmers Field Project Agreements
The Los Angeles City Council on Friday approved a series of agreements with Anschutz Entertainment Group to build a football stadium downtown and replace the West Hall of the Convention Center.
Plan to Privatize L.A. Zoo Stopped
The plan to privatize operations of the Los Angeles Zoo has collapsed, officials with the non-profit Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association announced Thursday.
Survey: L.A. Businesses Have ‘No Appetite’ for Tax Hike Measures
L.A. County businesses oppose the three major tax measures on the statewide November ballot, according to a survey released Thursday from the Los Angeles County Business Federation, or BizFed.
Wall Street Digs Pickups By Gas and Oil Company
ENERGY: BreitBurn taps acquisition strategy to offset price volatility.
BreitBurn’s oil and gas acquisitions have fueled a rise in the company’s share value.
County Jobless Rate Dips to 11 Percent
L.A. County continued its summer jobs stall in August as the county lost about 10,000 jobs due in large part to seasonal cuts in education, according to state figures released Friday.
Investors Rushing to Get Piece of Restaurant’s Pie
DINING: Dividend and share repurchase program lift Cheesecake Factory.
Hungry investors push stock of Cheesecake Factory to 52-week high.
Sugary Drink Tax Question in El Monte to be Watered Down
In something of a victory for restaurateurs, a judge has struck down the city of El Monte’s proposed title and summary of a sugary drinks tax measure on the November ballot as too partisan and ordered the city to change the wording, the Business Journal reports.
Local Exec Among State Business Appointees
Gov. Jerry Brown announced a series of appointments to his business and economic development team, including a former development aide with the Los Angeles mayor’s office.
Survey: Local Employment Prospects Weakening
The Business Journal reports that the jobs picture for Los Angeles may be weakening, according to new Manpower Group study, which says 13 percent of companies surveyed intend to cut staff during the fourth quarter – up sharply from the previous quarter.
EPA Fines Three L.A. Metal Plating Firms
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced fines totaling nearly $200,000 against three local metal plating and finishing companies.
Four Anti-Business Laws Await Brown’s Decision
Business groups fail to terminate four “job killer” bills before they reach the governor’s desk.
Parking Lots Seek Brake on Levies
TAXES: City of L.A. proposes up-front payments from owners.
Parking lot operators look to drive off a costly city of L.A. plan to ensure payment of levies.
Office Products Deal May Still Look Good on Paper
MANUFACTURING: Avery Dennison and 3M aim to earn approval from Justice.
Avery Dennison and 3M would like to paper over office products deal to address Justice Department opposition.
Wal-Mart Finding Its Way to L.A.
DEVELOPMENT: Moving into old retail sites is proving successful.
Wal-Mart’s strategy of bypassing union opposition to new stores by moving into spaces other chains have left is paying off despite some setbacks.
Power Company Currently Awaiting Outcomes
ENERGY: Questions over rate hikes loom as Edison wrestles with San Onofre.
Investors have zapped Edison International’s stock as the utility struggles with challenges over rates and the cost of repairs at San Onofre.
Opponents of Pot Shop Ban To Submit Referendum Signatures
Local medical marijuana proponents are expected to announce Wednesday that they have gathered enough signatures for a referendum that would overturn the L.A. City Council’s ban on medical marijuana stores.
From Property to Pageantry and Back
Page 3
For as long as Karen Baldwin can remember, the real estate business has played a supporting role in her life.
NBA Deal Gets Ticket Company Into Resale Game
TICKETING: Ticketmaster courts pro hoops fans with exclusive deal with the NBA.
Clothing Makers Look to Sew Up More Business
apparel: City-supported pavilion boosts L.A. firms’ presence at trade show.
APPAREL: City of L.A. rolls the dice on pavilion to promote local clothing makers at Las Vegas trade show
SolarMax Technology Moving to Riverside
SolarMax Technology Inc., a City of Industry-based solar panel installer, announced Monday that it’s moving its corporate headquarters to Riverside.
Indian Slip-Up Latest Snag for Bioresin Maker
MANUFACTURING: Stock slide continues as Cereplast letter of credit delayed.
MANUFACTURING: Shares of bioresin maker Cereplast continue to slide as an Indian misunderstanding delays letter of credit
Utilities Face Power Struggle
ENERGY: State may open lines for solar electricity.
ENERGY: Utilities are shocked by proposed law that would force them to carry third-party renewable power.
Unemployment Rate Unchanged for L.A.
L.A. County’s jobs recovery stalled in July as the unemployment rate remained unchanged from June and the county lost 44,000 payroll jobs as schools let out for the summer and overall hiring slowed, according to figures released Friday.
Movie Studio Widens Focus
DreamWorks looks beyond animation to parks, TV.
DreamWorks draws up diversification plan to move beyond reliance on animated movies.
Pouring It On
Sugary drink tax among city levies sprung on business
Some business owners aren’t buying cities’ motives for ballot measures to hike sales levies.
Cities Pour on Sales Taxes
Hamburger joint owner Art Meier is mad. The proprietor of Art’s Burgers in El Monte, Meier fears losing sales if the city’s voters approve a tax on sugary drinks that would add 12 cents to the cost of a can of Coke.
DreamWorks Looks Beyond Film-Making
DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc., the studio known mainly for one thing – producing such animated film franchises as “Shrek,” “Kung Fu Panda” and “Madagascar” – suddenly is beginning to look more like an entertainment conglomerate.
What L.A. County Cities are Best for Business?
Ten cities in Los Angeles County have been picked as finalists for the annual business-friendly city competition, the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. the Business Journal reports.
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