North Bay Business Journal

Managing your workplace within the law

There are a multitude of laws that tell us how we can and cannot treat our employees. Mistakes in this area can be very costly, in terms of both time and financial impacts. Human resources laws that apply to you will vary based on where you do business. There are both Federal and State Laws that apply to your business. In addition, some cities have local ordinances as well. Here in California we have a lot of human resource laws that go well beyond the Federal requirements.

BEST and Lucasfilm: Going after the big one

Under the leadership of BEST (Building Economic Success Together), a new regional economic development initiative and a public-private partnership designed to facilitate business success in Sonoma County, seven incentives to attract Lucasfilm to Sonoma Country quickly appeared.

This time is different: A transformative recession

This recession (and the subsequent slow recovery) is different. It is a transformative event. The economy that ultimately emerges from these difficult times will be fundamentally different from the economy that existed before the recession.

Lucas’s Grady Ranch: A huge missed opportunity for Marin County

Marin County as a place to do business took a huge step backwards on April 10, 2012. On April 10, Skywalker Properties decided not to continue the pursuit of its Grady Ranch project. Not only did a major project with great potential economic benefit for the County get derailed and ultimately canceled, an influential landowner trying to generate business on his land was thwarted unnecessarily. Marin County supervisors are now trying to broker a solution as one leadership step forward; Marin Economic Forum has asked our state legislators to step in as well.

At $300,000 for the Human Race and running

Am I dreaming, or is it really time for the Human Race (yes, May 5, 2012)? Hopefully, this is not your recurring nightmare to receive my annual letter asking (groveling) for your help ($), to stop cancer and save lives.

Hiring military veterans proves good for businesses

New tax incentives for hiring veterans could mean tax savings, but in order to take advantage of these incentives, businesses need to have the know-how.

Dissecting the latest effort to upend Proposition 13

The issue of a split roll property tax, which has been raised seemingly every year since the passage of Proposition 13 in 1978, was back for another go-round during a March 12 hearing of the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee. No votes were taken at the hearing, which was held to take testimony from critics and supporters of Proposition 13 alike. Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, who is not a member of the committee, attended and provided comments in favor of a split roll.

Change to rule on sales tax would hurt state economy

The CMTA opposes AB 1500, which calls for the single sales apportionment factor (SSF) to be used by all qualified taxpayers.

The bill would raise taxes on employers operating in the state in order to fund college tuition and fees. The laudable goal of increasing access to college should not be achieved by selectively imposing higher taxes on manufacturers, retailers and other employers who already bear one of the highest tax burdens in the nation and are struggling to maintain operations in the state.

If there’s pot, what is the lender’s responsibility?

Lenders throughout California today face the risk of losing real estate collateral if that collateral is associated with illegal drugs.

SSU aims to lead transformational economy

(Following are the opening remarks delivered by by Dr. William Silver at the Feb. 23 2012 Sonoma State University Economic Outlook Conference. Dr. Silver is the dean of the SSU School of Business and Economics. The Business Journal is a co-presenter of the conference.) On behalf of the faculty, students, staff, and alumni of SSU’s [...]

Positive signs for North Bay commercial property on horizon

In the fourth quarter, U.S. gross national product has been revised upward to 2.8 percent — not great but better than the 2 percent GNP growth rates of the previous two quarters. Are we pulling out or falling back? What does either mean for the North Bay?

Distressed sales continue to dominate Marin apartments

MARIN COUNTY — More than half of all small apartment sales in Marin County (two to four units) were distressed sales in 2011, according to a recent survey by the Apartment Investor’s Advisor.

Santa Rosa office rents rise amid absorption

SANTA ROSA — The office market in the North Bay’s largest city appears to have stabilized as tour activity and closed transactions have increased substantially compared to 2008–2010 levels. Property owners continue to compete for tenants at rental rates 10 percent–20 percent below the market peak, but competition appears to be that of a more typical market rather landlord desperation seen in recent years.

Window of opportunity opens for downtown Napa

NAPA — If ever there were a window for opportunity in downtown Napa, it’s now. More retailers and restaurants have set up businesses and more are coming.

Southern Marin tight office market driving rents upward

SOUTHERN MARIN — The best office spaces in southern and central Marin County are filling up, and the rest of the market is not far behind.

Napa-Solano industrial property market recovering

SOLANO and NAPA COUNTIES — The industrial real estate markets of Solano and Napa counties showed modest improvement in 2011 over 2010, as several significant leases were completed and some significant buildings sold.

A year for big transactions in Petaluma

PETALUMA — 2011 was a year of significant transactions in Petaluma’s commercial real estate landscape.

Sonoma County apartment occupancy holds as rents, sales grow

The Sonoma County apartment market gained momentum in 2011. In terms of actual performance of properties, number of sales and pricing, apartments returned to the spotlight locally and nationally with big gains in most markets. In a nutshell: Rents grew by 2 percent to 3 percent. Occupancy stabilized at 97 percent. Number of sales for properties with [...]

Marin, Napa shopping space tightens; Sonoma, Solano retail stabilizes

NORTH BAY — Shopping centers in Marin and Napa counties have very little available space overall, moving rents higher. Larger-population Sonoma and Solano counties have vacancy rates two to four times as high, but the markets are expected to stabilize.

Central, northern Marin office markets strengthen

MARIN COUNTY — Central and northern Marin office space markets have strengthened significantly in the past 12 months, with vacancy rates finally dipping below 20 percent for the county.