Charles Crumpley

Publisher & Editor

Charles weighs in each week with his opinion - his "Comment" - about local business. While he pats the heads of those who make prescient or brave decisions, he's not afraid to kick the shins of businesses that make dunderheaded moves or governments that interfere with free markets. It can be newsy, it can be opinionated, or it can be funny, but the Comment column is always about business in Los Angeles County.

Charles Crumpley has been a reporter, writer or editor for 30 years, mostly with daily newspapers. He was born and raised in Kansas City, MO, and worked for years for the Kansas City Star, mainly as a senior financial writer. He was the editor of the business news section for two daily newspapers, including the New Orleans Times-Picayune. He has won four national journalism awards and studied Japanese banking and business practices in Tokyo as a senior Fulbright scholar. He has been editor of the Los Angeles Business Journal since January 2006.

He can be reached at (323) 549-5225, ext. 208, or by email: ccrumpley@labusinessjournal.com.

Email: ccrumpley@sfvbj.com
Phone: 818-316-3133 Extension: 127

Recent Stories

Attorney Blows Off Steam Playing Trombone

Valley Bar’s trombone playing president elect.

Inland Empire Forming Up North

Tejon Ranch is a new Inland Empire.

Now This Is Just Too Frightful

Boy, I have been wrong about you millennials. All this time, I thought you must be the happiest, most carefree generation in our history.

‘Can’t Be Too Bullish’ on Economy

In case you didn’t see our last issue, the one dated March 4, you missed a true day brightener. If you live or work in the San Fernando Valley, that is.

A Business Group That May Thrive

If you follow the business community, you’ve probably seen a number of single-issue groups form to fight a law or advocate for something.

Valley Still an ‘Economic Hot Spot’

The San Fernando Valley’s economy is expected to grow 4.1 percent this year – once again outpacing the rest of Los Angeles County, Ventura County and the state.

A Business Isn’t a Babysitter

Are two of our Los Angeles city councilmembers trying to chase businesses out of the city?

Earnings Roundup: ASGN, NetSol, Cinedigm Report

ASGN gains, NetSol improves and Cinedigm meets Wall Street expectations.

Is Amgen a Different Company?

Amgen Inc. hit a rough patch last week.

Business People Protest California’s PAGA Law

A group of business owners, saying they’re fed up with a particular California law, on Thursday morning took a page from labor organizations’ playbook and staged a public protest.

Don’t Kill the Growing Gig Economy

With a sigh, I vote for the state Supreme Court’s decision in April that basically outlawed the gig economy in California.

Amazon’s Bad Impact? Overblown

Valley lost out with Amazon decision.

Growing Quickly Here in the Valley

Last May I wrote that BlackLine issued a nice quarterly report – it beat expectations on both the top and bottom lines – yet it seemed a bit odd that the stock swooned 5 percent.

Hi-Speed Rail Slows Tutor Perini

The Tutor Perini Corp. on Wednesday reported third quarter earnings and revenue that not only were lower than last year but fell significantly short of expectations.

How Prop 5 May Bring Back Kids

I live in one of those very suburban neighborhoods that was built for kids.

Strong Economy Now, But ‘Signs of Slowdown’ Seen

Even though the U.S. economy keeps humming along and soon may record the longest expansion in modern history, “there are signs of a slowdown,” an economist reported Friday morning at a business forecast conference in Universal City.

Arabian Awards Given to Seven Leaders

Nearly 400 business, political and non-profit chiefs attended the 19th annual Justice Armand Arabian Leaders in Public Service Awards luncheon on Thursday, although it was the first without the former California Supreme Court Justice after whom the awards are named.

Cal Lutheran Gets Big Gift; To Build Management School

California Lutheran University announced Wednesday that it has received $6 million – the largest single gift in its history.

‘Hero Hired’ Job Fair Draws Veterans

More than 500 military veterans were expected to participate Thursday in the Valley Economic Alliance’s annual Hero Hired Veteran Job and Resource Fair at Los Angeles Valley College in Valley Glen.

Why We Shouldn’t Disband BIDs

It’s dispiriting to see business improvement districts attacked by an academic group in league with a homeless advocate.

Changes Coming for Fernando Awards

The winner of the prestigious Fernando Award won’t be the only one honored at the black-tie ceremony on Oct. 6.

Shock’s Coming for Manufacturers

California’s manufacturers are still on the ropes. Yet the legislature seems intent on delivering the knockout smackeroo.

City-owned Bank? It’s a Bad Idea

Think of the record of management by the city of Los Angeles.

Business Confronted with Homelessness

True or false?: The business community in the San Fernando Valley supports the city’s idea to house the homeless temporarily in specified areas in each council district.

Homelessness a Huge Problem for Valley Businesses

The homelessness problem locally ranks as a 10 on a scale of 1 to 10, and the business community in the San Fernando Valley strongly supports the city’s proposal to put temporary homeless shelters in in each council district.

The End of the Home-Buying Frenzy

You may have seen recent news accounts about how home sales have slowed nationwide.

Most Disliked by ‘Influentials’? Traffic

What do business leaders think is the worst single thing about living and doing business in the Valley area?

Why Not Flip Retail to Residential?

I wasn’t surprised by last week’s announcement that the Sears store in the Janss Marketplace in Thousand Oaks will soon close.

It’s Just What the Doctor Ordered

Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong appears to be the ideal owner for Los Angeles Times.

Gas Is a Taxing Matter in This State

Are Californians finally fed up with unreasonably high gasoline prices?

Will BlackLine Stay in the Black?

BlackLine has been a nice story for the San Fernando Valley. It went public more than a year and a half ago, and the stock has been a solid performer. The company generally has gathered nice reviews from the investment community as well as for its products, financial software.

California Exodus: The New Reality

Recently, I got a note from a local business executive telling me he was retiring and moving out of California.

Making the Housing Shortage Worse

We have a severe housing shortage, and last week our mayor said that he’d help make matters worse.

Bioscience Gives Valley Shot in Arm

I’ve been looking over our Stockwatch page, and I couldn’t help but notice a couple of things.

Bullet Train Losing Business Folks

Do you know what really was deflating when California’s High-Speed Rail Authority issued its latest report a few weeks ago?

Hard to Be Generous in Our State

Poor business people. They’re always in a dilemma.

California’s Version of Brain Drain

Housing shortage hurts Valley businesses.

Could Valley’s Promenade Be Home to Amazon? Dodgers Affiliate?

The Westfield Group is moving ahead with plans to remake the Westfield Promenade shopping center into a big mixed-use complex, including a sports facility that could house a minor league baseball team. But there is a small possibility that Amazon.com Inc. could choose the site as its second headquarters, seriously changing those plans.

2017? C’mon, It Was a Good Year

Despite media reports, 2017 was a good year.

DineEquity: ‘Worst Restaurant Stock of Year’

There’s no doubt that Glendale’s DineEquity had a difficult 2017, what with unappetizing earnings, a departed chief executive and slowing traffic. Yet another low point was hit Friday when a leading stock-monitoring website put out a list showing that DineEquity was the worst-performing restaurant stock of the year.

Hands On Experience

2018 Book of Lists

This year’s ‘Valley Visionaries’ say our region can remain an ‘economic powerhouse’ – with some changes