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.
Phone: 818-316-3133 Extension: 127
Recent Stories
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
An Artful Way to Boost an Economy
Boosting the local economy through support of the arts.
Report: Iger May Stay On
The Walt Disney Co.’s possible purchase of the entertainment assets of 21st Century Fox may result in Robert Iger staying on as Disney’s chief executive, according to a report Wednesday in the Wall Street Journal.
Sauntering, But It Feels Like a Jog
Valley economy is growing but it doesn’t feel like it.
Uncovering Little Gems Among Us
Small growing companies point to strength of Valley economy.
Retire? I’ll Try Email-Free Weekend
Retire? Not us! Why the Valley 200 plans to skip retirement.
Local Leaders Win Public Service Awards
Seven Valley-area leaders were honored for their community involvement at a luncheon event Thursday at the Hilton Woodland Hills hotel.
Memo to Metro: May We Survive?
ONE MORE THING: Metro bureaucrats address business concerns with indifference.
Disney’s Lack of Corporate Presence
ONE MORE THING: Disney’s so-so performance as corporate citizen.
Metro to Hear from Businesses It May Uproot
Metro said Wednesday it has scheduled an additional meeting to hear the deepening concerns of more than 100 Van Nuys businesses that could be displaced by a proposed train maintenance yard that would be part of an expanded transit system.
In the Dumps Over New Trash System
Winners and losers in L.A.’s new trash hauling system.
Fernando Award Given to Insurance Agent
Paul Davis, a civically involved small-business owner, on Saturday won the Fernando Award, considered the top honor for volunteerism in the San Fernando Valley and one of the top such awards in the country.
Desalination’s Slipping Resistance
ONE MORE THING: Desalination may be on its way.
Housing Shortage to End Soon. Maybe.
ONE MORE THING: Newhall development could end L.A.’s housing crisis.
Political Leader Gets Earful About PAGA
Businesspeople irate about California’s so-called PAGA law got a sympathetic hearing Wednesday from Assemblyman Adrin Nazarian during a breakfast meeting organized by the Valley Industry and Commerce Association.
Storage Firm’s Fate Packed With ‘Ifs’
Public Storage stock: to buy or not to buy?
Let’s Party Till (Almost) Dawn
The business behind keeping bars open longer.
Why State Tax Deduction Will Stand
A likely future of the state tax deduction.
PAGA: Funny Name, Dire Results
The onerous consequences to employers of PAGA lawsuits.
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