Pacific Coast Business Times

01/31/2025

🚨 NEW EPISODE! 🚨

For this month’s episode, we sit down with Ryan Grau, Executive Director of the Ventura County Taxpayers Association, to dive into some jaw-dropping local government issues! From outrageous pay for street sweepers in Oxnard to a power grab for street lights in Ventura, we’re breaking down the stories that have you questioning where your taxpayer dollars are going.

Tune in to hear Ryan’s insights on these and other pressing issues involving your hard-earned money! 🎧

Listen NOW!
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/270dh2t1b4mPFcD4Pk4vbt?si=f0fd67142d4b465f
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speaking-up-for-taxpayers/id1743300015?i=1000687538222
Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/92d3aa95-03c5-4fe2-b7dd-226657030810/episodes/5e5a23ec-b897-4168-bb36-259c5084b1bc/speaking-up-for-taxpayers

01/29/2025

COMING NEXT MONTH!

Our February podcast guest is British historian, Sir Niall Ferguson.

He will be speaking at UCSB Arts & Lectures on February 8th.
To attend this talk, purchase tickets here:
https://lnkd.in/gArjhKsz

One of the world’s foremost historians and provocative commentators on global politics and economics, Sir Niall Ferguson is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and a senior faculty fellow of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard. He is the author of 16 books chronicling a wide range of political and socio-economic topics, from how the West handles disasters to the life of Henry Kissinger. With erudition, eloquence and humor, Ferguson puts today’s economic shifts, social changes and political disruptions into historical perspective, using the past as a roadmap to the future.

Keep an eye out for our conversation with Sir Niall Ferguson airing next month.

01/29/2025

More than one-third of Americans now work from home at least part of the time, enjoying the perks of flexible schedules, reduced commutes and the comfort of their own spaces.

But working from home can also bring challenges: isolation, household distractions, and limited access to professional amenities.

These downsides can make even the most motivated individuals feel unproductive and disconnected.

By Pamela Tanase More than one-third of Americans now work from home at least part of the time, enjoying the perks of flexible schedules, reduced commutes and the comfort of their own spaces. But working from home can also bring challenges: isolation, household distractions, and limited access to pr...

01/28/2025

Excited to announce our February podcast guest: British historian, Sir Niall Ferguson. He will be speaking at UCSB Arts & Lectures on February 8th. Tickets: https://artsandlectures.ucsb.edu/events-tickets/events/24-25/niall-ferguson/ One of the world’s foremost historians and provocative commentators on global politics and economics, Sir Niall Ferguson is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and a senior faculty fellow of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard. He is the author of 16 books chronicling a wide range of political and socio-economic topics, from how the West handles disasters to the life of Henry Kissinger. With erudition, eloquence and humor, Ferguson puts today’s economic shifts, social changes and political disruptions into historical perspective, using the past as a roadmap to the future.

With erudition, eloquence and humor, historian and commentator Niall Ferguson puts today’s economic shifts, social changes and political disruptions into historical perspective, using the past as a roadmap to the future. Get tickets for Sir Niall Ferguson on Feb 8, 2025 at The Granada Theatre in S...

01/28/2025

Mark your calendars! 2025 is full of special events that you won't want to miss.

01/28/2025

Santa Barbara-based American Riviera Bank saw net income take a slight dip to end the fiscal year.

Announced Jan. 24, ARB noted net income of $8.7 million for the year, down from net income of $10.2 million in 2023.

In the fourth quarter of 2024, American Riviera had $2 million in net income, down from $2.2 million in the same quarter a year ago.

Santa Barbara-based American Riviera Bank saw net income take a slight dip to end the fiscal year. Announced Jan. 24, ARB noted net income of $8.7 million for the year, down from net income of $10.2 million in 2023. In the fourth quarter of 2024, American Riviera had $2 million in net income, down f...

01/28/2025

Two of the three counties on the Central Coast saw their unemployment rates continue to fall in December with the only exception being Santa Barbara County, according to the latest data provided by the California Employment Development Department.

Released on Jan. 24, the unemployment rate for Santa Barbara County was at 4.5% for the month of December, up 0.2% from the previous month.

Two of the three counties on the Central Coast saw their unemployment rates continue to fall in December with the only exception being Santa Barbara County, according to the latest data provided by the California Employment Development Department. Released on Jan. 24, the unemployment rate for Santa...

01/22/2025

The Pacific Coast Business Times is proud to announce the 10th annual Central Coast Innovation Awards, where we honor the region’s leaders in innovation, disruptive technology, and social ventures. This prestigious event showcases the incredible impact of our local visionaries shaping the future.

March 20th: The celebration continues with an exclusive event to recognize this year’s honorees.

✨ Advertising and sponsorships are now available! This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your brand alongside the brightest innovators on the Central Coast.

🏆 Nominate an innovator today and be part of the region’s growth! https://www.pacbiztimes.com/nominations-ccia/

01/20/2025

Central Coast nonprofits and companies are stepping up to support those impacted by the devastating Los Angeles County wildfires.

Thousand Oaks-based biotech giant Amgen announced Jan. 14 that it and the Amgen Foundation have committed $10 million in disaster relief.

“Southern California has been Amgen’s home for more than four decades and we are standing tall to support our community through this difficult time,” Robert Bradway, the company’s chair and CEO said in a press release.

Central Coast nonprofits and companies are stepping up to support those impacted by the devastating Los Angeles County wildfires. Thousand Oaks-based biotech giant Amgen announced Jan. 14 that it and the Amgen Foundation have committed $10 million in disaster relief. “Southern California has been ...

01/20/2025

Santa Barbara-based ShelterBox USA is used to delivering aid to those in need, particularly those in third-world countries.

But after multiple fires broke out in Los Angeles County beginning on Jan. 7 and scorched thousands of homes, and left many people without shelter, the nonprofit didn’t hesitate for a second about providing a helping hand to its neighbors just two hours south of them.

Thousands of evacuees from the Eaton Fire gathered at the Santa Anita Park Racetrack looking for supplies and important information. (courtesy photo) Santa Barbara-based ShelterBox USA is used to delivering aid to those in need, particularly those in third-world countries. But after multiple fires b...

01/18/2025

In 1988, my former colleague at California Lutheran University, renowned entrepreneurship scholar Bill Gartner published a seminal article in the American Journal of Small Business titled “Who is an entrepreneur is the wrong question.”

In the article, he argued that the focus on identifying the personality traits of entrepreneurs is misguided and limits the understanding of entrepreneurship as a process.

By Gerhard Apfelthaler In 1988, my former colleague at California Lutheran University, renowned entrepreneurship scholar Bill Gartner published a seminal article in the American Journal of Small Business titled “Who is an entrepreneur is the wrong question." In the article, he argued that the focu...

01/18/2025

Consequences of Sonos’ decision to overhaul and release a new version of its app — one that was riddled with bugs and missing key features — came to fruition on Jan. 13 after the company announced it would be looking for a new CEO to start the new year.

Sonos, a maker of speakers, headphones and other products based in Santa Barbara, announced Jan. 13 that its board of directors has accepted Patrick Spence’s resignation as CEO, effective immediately, after eight years on the job.

Sonos former CEO Patrick Spence. (courtesy photo) Consequences of Sonos' decision to overhaul and release a new version of its app — one that was riddled with bugs and missing key features — came to fruition on Jan. 13 after the company announced it would be looking for a new CEO to start the ne...

01/17/2025

Every new year brings an opportunity for entrepreneurs to evaluate the state of their business and adjust their strategies to prepare for success in the year ahead.

Here in the tri-county region, Ventura County’s 2025 GDP is estimated to be markedly higher than in previous years according to a recent California Economic Forecast, and a new study from SmartAsset ranked Santa Barbara County as the highest in business growth rate for all of California. Also, tech, tourism and real estate are expected to buoy the Central Coast economy in 2025.

By Melissa Macias and Brenda Cervantes Every new year brings an opportunity for entrepreneurs to evaluate the state of their business and adjust their strategies to prepare for success in the year ahead. Here in the tri-county region, Ventura County’s 2025 GDP is estimated to be markedly higher th...

01/17/2025

The costliest fires in modern times in Southern California are going to be with us for a long time.

Recovery will take years, home insurance will get more expensive and harder to get, and some people who lost everything will never come back.

We may never really know what caused the Eaton and Palisade fires, but arguing about whether climate change contributed to the extremely dry conditions and hurricane-force winds is not going to bring back thousands of houses.

The costliest fires in modern times in Southern California are going to be with us for a long time. Recovery will take years, home insurance will get more expensive and harder to get, and some people who lost everything will never come back. We may never really know what caused the Eaton and Palisad...