Bill Curbing Prop. 65 Lawsuit Threats Clears Assembly
The Assembly on Friday passed a bill aimed at blocking shakedown letters to businesses alleging violations of the state’s toxic chemical notification law.
Maker of Frozen Cuisine Hot Item for Acquisition
FOOD: Overhill Farms bought for $81 million by Minnesota’s Bellisio.
Investors warmly greet acquisition bid for Overhill Farms by another maker of frozen fare.
Business Holds Up ‘Congestion Fees’
DEVELOPMENT: Groups warn transit levies will lead nowhere.
Business leaders say the county is trafficking in a bad idea with “congestion fees” to fund transit projects.
L.A.’s Unemployment Rate Dips Into Single Digits
Los Angeles County’s economic recovery notched a milestone in April when the unemployment rate fell to 9.9 percent, the first time it was below 10 percent since December 2008, according to state figures released Friday.
Former Biofuels Firm Branches Out Into Wood
ENERGY: Rentech seeks to power up revenue with fiber and pellet production.
Rentech adds another plank to its business with wood fiber and pellet production.
Businesses Seek ‘Shakedown’ Relief
Special Report: Toxic Prop
A legislator and Gov. Jerry Brown both try to put an end to Proposition 65 actions that some business owners call shakedowns.
Home Field
Architect Brenda A. Levin’s business blueprint has included going to the office with her husband every day for more than 30 years.
BNSF Rail Yard Project Approved
The Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday approved a lease agreement with BNSF Railway Co. for the construction and operation of a controversial $500 million rail yard near the Port of Los Angeles.
L.A. Mayor Heads to China
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced Tuesday that he will lead a trade mission to China later this month to focus on boosting Chinese tourism and investment in Los Angeles.
Nuclear Plant Kept in Dark
ENERGY: Edison may pull plug on troubled San Onofre.
Regulatory blackout may push Edison International to pull plug on San Onofre nuclear reactor.
Irani Forced Off Oxy Board
Ray Irani, former chief executive of Occidental Petroleum, was forced off the Westwood oil giant’s board on Friday.
Council Approves Plan to Move LAX Runway
The Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday voted to approve a controversial plan to move the north runway at LAX.
Edison Reports Strong Earnings
Edison International on Tuesday reported strong first quarter earnings that beat street estimates as its electric utility subsidiary profited from higher power rates that kicked in this year.
Oxy Board Moves to Retain Chazen as CEO, Restrict Irani's Future Role
After intense shareholder pressure, Occidental Petroleum Corp. announced Monday that Steve Chazen will continue to serve as chief executive through next year, and announced new governance policies that would effectively bar former Chief Executive Ray Irani from returning to that post.
Greuel Favors Industry Zones
Special Report: The Race For Mayor
The Business Journal interviews the two contenders for Los Angeles mayor in the May 21 runoff. Next up is Wendy Greuel, 51, who has served nearly four years as city controller. Before that, she served seven years on the City Council representing the eastern San Fernando Valley.
Garcetti Hails Green, Tech Jobs
Special Report: The Race For Mayor
The Business Journal interviews the two contenders for Los Angeles mayor in the May 21 runoff. First up is Eric Garcetti, 42, who represents the Hollywood area on the Los Angeles City Council.
State Orders Shutdown of Vernon Battery Recycling Plant
California regulators on Wednesday ordered the shutdown of a battery recycling plant in Vernon for failure to control pollution at the facility.
Villaraigosa Proposes Economic Development Department
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on Monday released his final budget as mayor. The $7.7 billion spending plan would close a previously estimated $216 million deficit and proposes creation of an economic development department.
Investors Pull Plug on Network Equipment Maker
TELECOM: Ixia shares fall after company reduces first quarter guidance.
Ixia’s stock drops as phone companies dial back their spending.
DOWNTOWN L.A.: Asking Rents Decline as New Property Owners Pursue Tenants
Real Estate Quarterly
For years, it’s been the biggest anomaly in the downtown L.A. office market: Despite soaring vacancy rates and much more space being put on the market than absorbed in new deals, Class A monthly asking rents stayed stuck at nearly $3.20 a square foot.
County Unemployment Rate Falls; Jobs Added
Los Angeles County’s jobs picture continued its gradual improvement in March as the unemployment rate dipped to 10.2 percent and employers added nearly 24,000 jobs, according to state figures released Friday.
Compromise Mattress Recycling Bill Moves Forward
After winning changes to a controversial recycling law, mattress manufacturers and retailers have dropped their opposition and allowed a compromise bill to clear a legislative hurdle on Wednesday.
Businesses See Little Gain in Minimum Wage Hike
GOVERNMENT: Proposed state bill seen as ‘job killer’ by some employers.
Employers fear maximum layoffs if Sacramento passes minimum wage legislation.
California Chamber Flags 32 “Job Killer” Bills
The California Chamber of Commerce released its annual list of “job killer” bills on Monday, targeting 32 measures in the state Legislature it believes will have a negative impact on California’s business climate if they were to become law.
New Chief Executive Dives Into Aquifer Project
WATER: Cadiz also raises $17.5 million to fight legal battles over desert facility.
Cadiz names new chief executive as desert pumping program gets ready for flood of challenges.
Advocates Prove Persuasive in L.A.
Lobbying: Land-use projects helped firms’ fees rise in 2012.
Real estate development projects have built up fees for some of L.A.’s top firms.
Mattress Recycling May Pad Bill
Manufacturing: Makers, retailers question program costs.
Some mattress makers and retailers are losing sleep over a proposed state recycling program.
L.A. Economy Improves
L.A. County’s economy improved in February as the unemployment rate dipped to 10.3 percent and the county added 39,000 jobs, according to state figures released Friday.
Massive Hollywood Development Project Clears Hurdle
Los Angeles city planners on Thursday unanimously approved a controversial $664 million development plan with two huge skyscrapers in the heart of Hollywood.
Political Pundit Schnur Drops GOP Registration
Dan Schnur, the longtime Republican strategist and political pundit who now runs the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics at USC, has dropped his Republican Party registration.
Shale Field Sale Fuels Investor Interest in Oil Firm
ENERGY: BNK’s proceeds will allow exploration and payment of obligations.
BNK shares rise as investors dig company’s sale of part of an Oklahoma oil field.
Jobs Program May Not Work
GOVERNMENT: Employers fear loss of hiring tax credits.
Some businesses fear changes to the state enterprise zone program will cost them tax credits and crimp hiring.
Job Losses Hit L.A.
L.A. County’s economy took a big hit in January as more than 81,000 payroll jobs were lost and the unemployment rate edged up to 10.4 percent, according to revised state figures released Friday.
BNK Shares Rocket on Oil Field Sale
Shares of Camarillo oil and natural gas producer BNK Petroleum soared Monday after the company announced it had reached a deal to sell property in Oklahoma to a unit of Exxon Mobil Corp. for $148 million.
Ancient Practice Found Fertile Ground in L.A.
L.A.’s apparel industry has helped factoring find a foothold in the area.
Lighting The Way At Coliseum
LEDtronics takes shine to venue’s sign and donates bulbs.
LEDtronics president has bright idea to donate light bulbs for L.A. Memorial Coliseum’s sign.
Oil Companies Don’t Dig Tax
ENERGY: Extraction levy may leave California in hole.
Cheesecake Factory looks to follow up its Mideast expansion by dishing out licensed locations in Latin America.
Staffing Outlook Improves
The staffing outlook among L.A. area employers shows that layoffs may hit a five-year low during the second quarter, according to a survey released Tuesday from Manpower Group.
CEO Hunt Could Leave Gas-Oil Firm in Hole
ENERGY: Oxy launches search for new chief while industry rivals seek same.
Other gas and oil companies’ CEO hunts could force Occidental to pay top dollar for a new leader.
Angel Investors May Get Tax Break Back
Two state legislators have responded to the uproar over a state tax agency’s decision to retroactively take away a tax break for angel investors.
Mercury Sues Insurance Commissioner
Mercury General Corp.’s insurance unit has filed a lawsuit against state Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones, challenging his order of an 8 percent rate decrease for the company’s 270,000 homeowner policyholders in the state.
ILFC Buys 16 Boeings
Aircraft leasing company International Lease Finance Corp. announced that it had agreed to purchase and lease 16 Boeing jet aircraft to American Airlines.
Driving Issue
Car dealer Frederick ‘Fritz’ Hitchcock looks to improve state’s business climate as chairman of California Chamber of Commerce.
Car dealer Frederick “Fritz” Hitchcock looks to help steer state business issues as California Chamber of Commerce chairman.
Short Order
Eateries, bars tap cities’ speedier permit procedures
Cities across the county try to add speed to the menu when approving permits for restaurants and bars.
Biofuels Firm Pulls the Plug
ENERGY: Rentech closes unit, seeks alternative strategy.
Low gas and oil prices force Rentech to power down its alternative fuels business.
L.A. City Council Votes to Waive TV Pilot Filming Fees
In a bid to stem the outflow of television pilot production, the Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday voted to waive all city fees for TV pilots and first-year series filmed in the city.
New CEO Clicks Off Purchases, Boots Up Earnings
INTERNET: ValueClick’s plan to boost productivity appears to gain traction.
Wall Street likes what it’s hearing from online marketing firm ValueClick.
New Environment
development: Organized labor’s recent opposition could hurt business groups’ efforts to reform CEQA.
Labor unions’ opposition could trip up building momentum to reform the California Environmental Quality Act.
Local Economy Seen Improving Through 2014
The Los Angeles economy is expected to continue its steady improvement through 2014 barring sudden impacts of budget cuts or other unforeseen drags on the national economy, according to a forecast to be released today.
Coelho, Packard Partners in New PR/Lobbying Firm
A public relations and lobbying firm opens this week in Century City with two former California congressmen as founding partners.
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