NBBJ Insider

Memo to D.C.: Main Street is fed up

A funny thing happened on the way to whatever this so-called economic recovery is: Confidence among the nation’s biggest companies has come back some while that of owners of small businesses – which represent the vast majority of employers – remains depressed.

New paradigm on education: focus on infants

The state’s K-12 system is one of the poorest performing in the nation. More than 30 percent of Latino boys drop out of high school. The number of college entrants is falling behind an ever-expanding need. Trade and other career educational programs are under attack. The state’s school bureaucracy is broken and non-responsive.

The consequence: California’s status as a world-class economy is under serious and immediate threat.

Now a growing number of business and academic leaders, among them the president of AT&T California, Ken McNeely, believe the solution is to reach back to the years before children even enter school.

Kudos to Petaluma; keep going

When compliments are due, they should be made. So congratulations to the Petaluma City Council and its suffering city employees for Monday night’s 5-2 vote to approve the economy-and-jobs-boosting Regency Centers project that will include the locally based Friedman’s Home Improvement store and a Target.

It only took six years.

The real impediment to jobs

The priorities for Sonoma County are “jobs, jobs and jobs,” said Third District Supervisor Shirlee Zane.
“Everyone I talk to says the No. 1 issue is jobs,” said Fifth District Supervisor Efren Carrillo.

Uplifting. But then reality seeps in.

Local officials due for a Scott Brown moment

Memo to the region’s political leaders who have not gotten the jobs-economy message: A Scott Brown moment is likely to be in your future.

Verizon issues downbeat note on jobs

Today’s news on jobs:

From the Wall Street Journal, http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703906204575026803979106926.html?mod=WSJ_hps_LEFTWhatsNews#printMode

Verizon Communications Inc. swung to a fourth-quarter loss as a result of heavy charges, and announced plans to cut 13,000 more jobs as executives cast a downbeat note on the economic recovery.

Petaluma’s obstructionism

What city today would turn away 721 new jobs, $1 million in annual tax revenue to stem ongoing municipal layoffs and the opportunity to support a locally-owned, community- minded retailer?

The answer should be none, but then, this is Petaluma.

Move advances to create split roll

The California Teachers Association may back an initiative that would create a split tax role in California, a move that would push up taxes on commercial property sharply.

Sonoma Mountain Village ‘Community Benefits Agreement’

The text of the Sonoma Mountain Village agreement with the Coalition for Accountable Development has been posted with the Commentary: Praise, questions for Sonoma Mountain Village agreement. See post under commentary section or see below.
 Full text of Sonoma Mountain Village CBA

Health care forum and you

Ordinarily, this space would not be used to tell about an upcoming Business Journal event. But knowing what I know about the Nov. 11 health care conference, I would be remiss if I didn’t let people know about what they can hear by attending.