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
Award Earned by SCV Economic Development Corp.
The Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corp. announced Wednesday that it has received a significant honor from the California Association for Local Economic Development.
Mission Valley Has Record Full-Year Results
Mission Valley Bancorp on Wednesday reported a down fourth quarter but positive full-year results that set an earnings record.
Give Moms a Break or Suffer Costs
I’ve asked a dozen or so business operators in recent months if they’ve created lactation rooms yet.
LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER
The Lists 2020
Editor and Publisher Charles Crumpley talks about San Fernando Valley Business Journal's The Lists 2020
Discovery Cube Gets Backing from Businesses
Valley area businesses and civic-minded people pledged more than $164,000 Tuesday morning to support Discovery Cube Los Angeles.
Post-Midterm Magic for Investors
You’ve heard that if a National Football Conference team wins the Super Bowl in January, it’ll be a bull market that year? Or that when hemlines rise, so do stock prices? Superstitions like those are pretty stupid.
Is Traffic Helping Our Economy?
Can traffic be helping the Valley economy?
Don’t Bank on This Dreadful Idea
ONE MORE THING
Starting a public bank is a combination of contempt and chutzpah.
Prodigious Volunteer Given Fernando Award
EVENT: Nearly 250 attend gala for Mike Quiroga.
EVENT: Nearly 250 attend gala for Mike Quiroga.
Housing Costs Make More Problems
High cost of housing drives homelessness.
High cost of housing drives homelessness.
Ventura County = Economic Slug
Lack of real estate development has hurt Ventura County.
Lack of real estate development has hurt Ventura County.
Here’s A New Retirement Decision
State program for firms to provide retirement plans has merit.
State program for firms to provide retirement plans has merit.
Predicting a Scheduling Nightmare
Proposed predictive scheduling could be bad for business.
Yay for Modern ‘Telephone Booth’
Modern phone booths make sense.
Businesses Still Won’t Get Respect
Maybe now the local business community will get more respect, you think?
Techie Tries Authorship
Entrepreneur pens a humor book.
But if We Build It, They May Come
Impact of a sports stadium in Warner Center.
Inland Empire Forming Up North
Tejon Ranch is a new Inland Empire.
Attorney Blows Off Steam Playing Trombone
Valley Bar’s trombone playing president elect.
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.
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