Business Writer, LA Observed
Writer on business at LA Observed, contributing writer at Los Angeles magazine and business analyst for public radio station KPCC in Pasadena, California; former editor of Los Angeles Business Journal
PROFILE
Mark Lacter
Guest
FROM Mark Lacter
Which Way, L.A.?
Encino Residents Fight to Save Local Barnes & Noble Barnes & Noble is one of the big chains that have pushed independent bookstores out of many neighborhoods. But Barnes & Noble tries to be different, with author readings and other events that provide a similar sense of community. It may be hard to escape the irony, but now Barnes & Noble is being pushed out of the San Fernando Valley community of Encino. Recently, a group of angry readers formed Save Our Encino Barnes & Noble .
Which Way, L.A.?
California Economy Improving, but Still Waiting for Jobs Ben Bernanke says the recession is finally over, at least from what he calls "a technical perspective." The UCLA Anderson quarterly forecast says a turnaround has begun in Southern California, even though the state's unemployment rate will rise to more than 12% by the end of this year. Mark Lacter writes about business for the website LA Observed.
Which Way, L.A.?
California Legislators Split over Bailout Package After Congress failed to pass the much-compromised Wall Street rescue today, the Dow took its biggest single point-drop in history—777 points. Speaker Nancy Pelosi blamed Republicans for the bill's failure, but no less than half of California's Democratic Caucus also voted "no."
Which Way, L.A.?
IndyMac Kneecapped by the Mortgage Crisis Because of the sub prime lending crisis, Countrywide , the big lender in Calabassas, is now owned by Bank of America . Now another national powerhouse— IndyMac Bancorp of Pasadena —is in big trouble. New York’s Democratic Senator Charles Schumer —chair of the Joint Economic Committee —set off a minor panic when he warned that IndyMac “could face a failure if prescriptive measures are not taken quickly.”
Which Way, L.A.?
Sam Zell Says He Wants to Sell LAT Building But Does Anybody Want It? “Let’s be honest here. This is a crummy property being put on the market at a lousy time.” That’s from yesterday’s blog LA Biz Observed by Mark Lacter, contributor to Los Angeles Magazine , Fast Company and…that other radio station . The “crummy property” was the LA Times Building, which Sam Zell says just might be up for sale …
Which Way, L.A.?
LA's Shrinking Middle Class "Forget about LA's middle class. It's dead and buried... Los Angeles has boiled down to an economy of the well-off and the far-from-well-off... And here's the weird, almost perverse part: it seems to be working." That's from an article in this month's Los Angeles magazine. It's well known that LA is becoming a two-tiered society, composed of the pretty rich and the very poor, with fewer and fewer people in between. Yet, contrary to ominous predictions, the economy is thriving--despite a shrinking middle class. We get two views on how long that will last.
Recommended
Left, Right & Center
The week that wouldn't quit Will next week get even weirder? (Special one-hour episode)
To the Point
Venezuela spirals into economic and political chaos Venezuela, a country whose potential for prosperity is unmatched, finds itself on the verge of civil war. What sustains the repressive government? With time running out, guest host León Krauze looks at what the international community can do to pull the country from the edge of collapse.
To the Point
Will the Senate write a healthcare bill in secret? While Democrats and Republicans argue White House relations with Russia, another question is being decided behind closed doors: who gets help buying health insurance and who doesn't? We hear how the pros and cons are being shrouded in secrecy.
To the Point
Replacing Obamacare: Now you see it… now you don’t As the Senate deliberates replacing Obmacare, health coverage for millions of people is at stake. There've been no public hearings, and a draft measure won't be made public. Is the House version so unpopular that that Senate is hiding a version that looks much the same?