Lacter/margin/june1/dt1st/mike2nd

One way of measuring how L.A. has changed over the last 10 years is to look at the Business Journal’s list of 100 largest public companies.

Back in 1988, there was still a Security Pacific (fifth on the list), along with First Interstate, Wickes, Carter Hawley Hale Stores, First Executive and Gibralter Financial. Back in 1988, Disney was only at No. 19 on the list and Foundation Health and Amgen weren’t even on it. This year, Disney is at the top spot by more than $3 billion in revenues.

Staff writer Jason Booth and researcher Edvard Pettersson (fast becoming our chief number crunchers) examine not only this year’s names and numbers, but how they have changed over the past decade. It’s the kind of reporting that meshes well with our mission: providing analysis and perspective on what’s happening in the L.A. business community not just rewritten press releases on some snapshot event.

I think you’ll find our stories and lists interesting reading.

Mark Lacter

Editor