Los Angeles Business Journal back issues from April 2008:
Gotta fight for right to property: proposition 98 puts restrictions on eminent domain.(POLITICS)
Apr 07, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ken Woods never fancied himself more than a small business owner. But these days he's become the poster child for critics trying to scale back California' s redevelopment law. The owner of a small Baldwin Park sewing-machine repair shop, Woods' ...
Westwood heads in new direction: renewal is coming after years of disregard.(DEVELOPMENT)
Apr 07, 2008; ... A walk in the heart of Westwood Village reveals storefront after storefront of vacant retail space--about a quarter of shops on one stretch of Westwood Boulevard are empty. But the same jaunt one block east on Glendon Avenue reveals something else--construction activity. ...
Hawaiian cruises could sail away federal rule would force ships on lengthier detours.(TOURISM)
Apr 07, 2008; ... The West Coast's largest cruise port may soon be forced to say bon voyage to most of its Hawaii-bound cruises. And it won't be a happy parting. A proposed federal rule change being sought by an operator of inter-island Hawaiian cruises could spell disaster for the ...
Eatery chips in to L.A. history.(PAGE 3)(El Cholo Spanish Cafe)(Company overview)(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008; ... EL Cholo, the venerable Mexican restaurant on Western Avenue, is celebrating its 85th anniversary this year with a slate of menu options that recognize the history of the eatery. It isn't an anniversary special, but the restaurant has a deliciously simple nacho recipe that's ...
Las Lomas curse?(PAGE 3)(Las Lomas Land Co.)(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008; ... While L.A. County Supervisor Gloria Molina was the intended target of pointed barbs at the 11th annual Los Angeles Political Roast benefit for the American Diabetes Association late last month, others came in for their share of insults and barbs. The most unexpected humor, ...
Fashion blogging.(PAGE 3)(Curbed Network)(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008; ... Last week, the Curbed Network of blogs launched a new local site about shopping and the local retail and fashion scene. Called Racked L.A., the site is helmed by editor Tasha Adams a veteran of the local blogging community. "It's territory I'm already ...
Luxury do-overs: hoteliers upgrade old rather than build new.(Up Front)
Apr 07, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] GIVEN the lack of sites for construction of luxury hotels in the prime L.A.-area hospitality markets of West Hollywood and Beverly Hills, hoteliers are scraping the skins off old hotels and building new ones on their bones. "People are finding ...
Pomegranate juice feud spills into court.(Up Front)(Purely Juice)
Apr 07, 2008; ... Pomegranate juice has become popular, but a rival brand tastes especially sour to LOs Angeles billionaire Stewart Resnick. In 2006, Paul Hachigian decided to cash in on the health drink fad by launching his own brand of pomegranate juice, Newport Beach-based Purely Juice Inc., ...
Striking back.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)(Walt Disney Co.)(Writers Guild of America)(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008 ... The Writers Guild of America filed arbitration claims against Walt Disney Co.'s ABC, alleging two soap operas kept replacement writers hired during the 100-day strike. As a result, the two shows, "All My ...
Rock roles.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)(Live Nation Inc.)(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Live Nation Inc. inked two of music's biggest acts to contracts. The Beverly Hills-based concert promoter lumbered its aspirations to sign acts by landing Irish rock icons U2 and later in the week was close to a deal with rapper Jay Z, above. The ...
Talk time.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)(American Federation of Television and Radio Artists)(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008 ... The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists said it will start contract talks with Hollywood producers on April 28. The union decided to push back its negotiations with the Alliance ...
Hedge bets.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)(Third Point LLC)(Maguire Properties Inc.)(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008 ... Hedge fund Third Point LLC increased its stake in Los Angeles real estate investment trust Maguire Properties Inc. to more than 7 percent and announced it wants to take an active role in downtown L.A.'s biggest landlord. The disclosure came less than a week after Maguire ...
Military mindset.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)(Pelican Products Inc.)
Apr 07, 2008 ... Pelican Products Inc., the Torrance-based maker of advanced lighting systems, appointed Peter Pace as chairman. Pace is a retired Marine four-star general and former chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, and will provide ...
Direct approach.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)(DIRECTV Inc.)(Liberty Media Corp.)(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008 ... Liberty Media Corp. borrowed nearly $2 billion to acquire 78.3 million additional shares in DirecTV Group Inc. to increase its stake in the satellite-television provider to 48 percent. In February, ...
Singing harmony.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)(BMG Music Service)(MySpace.com Inc.)(Universal Music Group)(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008 ... MySpace.com said it has started a joint venture with Vivendi SA's Universal Music Group, Sony BMG Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group Corp. to sell music and concert tickets via the popular social networking site. Financial terms of ...
Allen Apparel.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)(Woody Allen)(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Woody Allen asked a federal court to charge Los Angeles-based clothing retailer American Apparel $10 million for using his image on billboards in Hollywood and New York as well as ads on the ...
Record deal.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)(Lefrak Organization Inc.)(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008 ... LeFrak Organization Inc., a New York-based real estate company that is accumulating trophy property in Los Angeles, bought a Beverly Hills medical office building for what is believed to be a record per-foot price in that city. The family company has paid about $55 million, or $862 per ...
Arab care.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)(Health Net Inc.)(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008 ... Health Net Inc. said it was hired by Dubai's government to help the country develop a new health-care funding system. No financial terms of the deal were disclosed. The ...
Dirty water?(NEWS OF THE WEEK)(Southwest Water Co.)(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008 ... Southwest Water Co. said the enforcement office of the California water board may recommend more than $15 million in fines against one of the Los Angeles-based utility provider's subsidiaries. The subsidiary, ECO Resources Inc., is subject to ...
RFID suits.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)
Apr 07, 2008 ... Avery Dennison Corp. filed two suits against rival Alien Technology Corp. over technology used in labels that incorporate radio-frequency identification chips. The Pasadena-based label and office supply maker contends that Morgan ...
Earnings roundup.(NEWS OF THE WEEK)(Abraxis BioScience Inc.)(Financial report)(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008 ... Abraxis BioScience Inc. posted a fourth quarter loss of $5.2 million, compared with a loss ...
Direct line: Vantage's web campaigns generate customer leads for clients.(News & Analysis)
Apr 07, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ADVETISERS are always looking for ways to spend dollars in a way that guarantees their return on investment. Vantage Media, a high-tech lead generation company, which charges a fixed price per lead it produces, offers clients just that. Vantage ...
Fashion week rival reveals plan for downtown event.(News & Analysis)(International Data Group Inc.)
Apr 07, 2008; ... A new fashion event in downtown Los Angeles has popped up, and it will compete with Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Culver City. IDG World Expo will produce Reveal Los Angeles twice a year at the same time as the IMG-produced Fashion Week. Mary Dolaher, chief executive ...
Campaign for lotion applicator a bit of a reach: Inter/Media ads will tout web site until SkinFinity hits stores.(RETAIL)(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IN this age of high-tech, it's comforting to know there are still low-tech solutions to some problems. Encino-based Inter/Media Group of Cos., which specializes in direct response advertising, has planned a $5.2 million campaign starting this ...
Million-dollar video.(ADVERTISING & PR)(YellowPages.com L.L.C.)(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008; ... YellowPages Corp. in Los Angeles has announced an online video contest with a $1 million prize. The company operates the www.YellowPages.Travel site, which allows users to search all the top travel sites--Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz, Priceline and more--with a single click. To ...
Ads address city deficit.(ADVERTISING & PR)(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008; ... With the city of Los Angeles facing a huge budget deficit, Councilwoman Wendy Greuel has proposed an expansion of the bus advertising program that would bring in an additional $378,000. Two years ago, Greuel sponsored a successful bill to get ads on Dash buses. Ad sales brought ...
The Valley Fair, a marketing event in Santa Clarita, won an Addy Award from the American Advertising Federation for its Web site.(Agencies & Accounts)(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008 ... The Valley Fair, a marketing event in Santa Clarita, won an Addy Award from the American ...
Skylab-B.(Agencies & Accounts)(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008 ... Startup agency Skylab-B has picked up its first client, Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center. Skylab-B has two offices, one in ...
Muse Communications.(Agencies & Accounts)
Apr 07, 2008 ... The Asian American Advertising Federation has named ...
Bender/Helper Impact.(Agencies & Accounts)(appointment of Pam Kulik)(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008 ... Bender/Helper Impact, an independent PR shop that specializes in entertainment companies has announced that Pam Kulik has rejoined the agency after 10 years. During that time, she worked with pre-IPO startup companies in Silicon Valley ...
Clash of titans leads to delay of Ticketmaster sale: Diller resists Malone's effort to oust him from IAC board.(ENTERTAINMENT)(IAC/InterActiveCorp.)(Ticketmaster Group Inc.)
Apr 07, 2008; ... Ticketmaster isn't likely to be sold off soon. Barry Diller wants the West Hollywood-based company sold as part of the breakup of IAC/Interactive, a New York-based media company. So do the shareholders, including John Malone, chairman of Colorado-based Liberty Media Corp. But ...
Public Storage's sell-off in Europe feeds U.S. focus: company retains minority interest/ in overseas properties.(INVESTING)(Shurgard Europe)
Apr 07, 2008; ... The $606 million sale by Public Storage Inc. of a majority stake in its European properties, the details of which were announced last week, will allow the company to focus on domestic operations while maintaining a share of the lucrative overseas market. The transaction enables ...
Small businesses click with California projects: placing application process online credited with improvement.(CONTRACTING)
Apr 07, 2008; ... SMALL businesses have traditionally had a more difficult time getting government contracts than their bigger brethren, both nationally and in California. Two years ago, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger issued an executive order to all state agencies to boost small business ...
Food truck crackdown.(REGULATION WATCH)(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008; ... The county is cracking down on food truck vendors who spend too much time in a given area. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] L.A. County Supervisor Gloria Molina has proposed changing the county's business license ordinance to place a 30-minute limit--less than the length of a ...
AB 32 freight workshop.(REGULATION WATCH)(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008; ... The state Air Resources Board has scheduled its first public workshop next week for the shipping and freight industry under AB 32, the state's landmark greenhouse gas reduction law. The April 15 workshop at the California Environmental Protection Agency building in Sacramento ...
Management buys control of metal tubing maker: Vernon-based Hannibal was owned by Japan's Mitsui & Co.(ACQUISITION)
Apr 07, 2008; ... AFTER nine years under Japanese ownership, Vernon metal tubing manufacturer Hannibal Industries Inc. has been acquired by its management. Former owner Mitsui & Co. Ltd., a Tokyo-based metals and natural resources trading company, began seeking an acquirer for Hannibal a year ...
Blade work.(MANUFACTURING)(Ducommun Inc was awarded a contract to supply helicopter parts for United States. Army)(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008; ... Aerospace supplier Ducommun Inc. was awarded a $23 million contract to supply parts to the CH-47 Chinook Helicopter through 2010. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Carson-based company will build titanium blade erosion caps, which help protect the leading edge of helicopter ...
Label love.(MANUFACTURING)(Dennison Corp. acquired DM Label Group)(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008; ... A very Dennison Corp., a Pasadena-based manufacturer of office products, announced last week the acquisition of a Taiwanese label company. Dean Scarborough, chief executive of Avery, said the purchase of DM Label Group will bolster his company's standing in Asia and better ...
Corruption contract.(MANUFACTURING)
Apr 07, 2008; ... Tetra Tech Inc., a Pasadena engineering firm, has been named one of six contractors awarded a $750 million contract to combat corruption in foreign governments. Under the contract, awarded by the U.S. Agency for International Development, Tetra Tech will assess ...
Security deal.(MANUFACTURING)
Apr 07, 2008; ... OSI Systems Inc., a Hawthorne-based manufacturer of electronics for airport security checkpoints and other industries, won a $7.3 million contract last week to supply security devices to the Defense Department. Under the deal, OSI's security division, Rapiscan Systems, will ...
Dutch company dips into scene in United States: Endemol pays $200 million for reality producer 51 Minds.(ACQUISITION)(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008; ... INTERNATIONAL media companies are beginning to pony up big bucks for a piece of the television action stateside and producers all over Hollywood are abuzz with takeover rumors. One of those rumors came true last week. Endemol Group, the Dutch television production company ...
Image change.(MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT)(Martin Greenwald quits at Image Entertainment Inc.)(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008; ... Martin Greenwald, founder and chief executive of Image Entertainment, handed over the reins of the Chatsworth-based movie and music distribution company to long-time senior executive David Borshell last week. Greenwald resigned as president and CEO April 1, the start of Image's ...
Out of L.A.(MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT)(Ben Stein)(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008; ... Ben Stein, economist, Nixon speechwriter and actor, has put together a new documentary film, "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed." It explores why academia shuns scientists who study the taboo topic of intelligent design but it finds itself without exposure in L.A. Randy ...
Homecoming.(MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT)(resignation of Debbi Gutierrez)(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008; ... Debbi Gutierrez leaves her post as English-language host of "A Place of Our Own," the Emmy Award-winning bilingual talk show devoted to caregivers of pre-kindergarten children in May, and will be replaced by Los Angeles native Elizabeth Sanchez, former weekend anchor at ABC affiliate KGTV ...
Media watch.(Statistical table)
Apr 07, 2008 ... <Pre> MEDIA WATCH MOVIE BOX OFFICE Weekend Gross Total Gross Rank Title (millions) (millions) Distributor 1 21 $24.1 $24.1 Sony 2 Horton Hears a Who17.7 117.6 ...
Mixed reviews.(OUTTAKE OF THE WEEK)(Soulwax)(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Soulwax's updated version of the classic Rolling Stones song "You Can't Always Get What You Want" was the theme song for "21", last week's No.1 movie. A ...
Rolling over.(WESTSIDE: Culver City)(AZS Properties LLC )(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008; ... AZS Properties LLC has purchased three retail properties at 9524-9528 Jefferson Blvd from owner Irwin Overbach for ...
Office sold.(WESTSIDE: Culver City)(Sony Pictures Properties Inc.)(Jim House of House & Robertson Architects Inc.)(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008; ... Sony Pictures Properties Inc. has sold 10125 W. Washington Blvd. to Jim House of House & Robertson Architects Inc. for $4.39 million. Built in 1956, the ...
Sound move.(WESTSIDE: Santa Monica)(Nomad Editing Co. Inc. acquires industrial building from Boat Yard LLC )(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008; ... Film and sound production house Nomad Editing Co. Inc. has bought the 7,088-square-foot industrial building ...
Building turnover.(TRI-CITIES: Pasadena)(Allied Walnut Associates LLC)(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008; ... Allied Walnut Associates LLC has sold the 5,352-square-foot building at 1870 E. Walnut St. to Steve Schultz for nearly $3.05 ...
Tuning up.(TRI-CITIES: Burbank)(DIC Entertainment L.P.)(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008; ... DIC Music LLC, a subsidiary of production company DIC Entertainment, has launched an online professional music service at ...
Practice expands.(CENTRAL AREA: Downtown L.A.)(Goodwin Procter L.L.P.)(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008; ... Real estate law firm Goodwin Procter LLP has completed renovation of its downtown office at 601 S. Figueroa St. Since the company ...
Filling up.(CENTRAL AREA: Mid-Wilshire)(Ratkovich Co.)(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ratkovich Co. has announced new tenants for its newly modernized 5900 Wilshire building. Businesses signing leases include PR agency Edelman Public ...
Island generators.(SAN FERNANDO VALLEY: Chatsworth)(Puerto Rico's Energy Systems)(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008; ... Microturbine manufacturer Capstone Turbine Corp. has hired Puerto Rico's Energy Systems of Caribbean as a distributor for its products in the British Virgin ...
Made for TV.(SAN FERNANDO VALLEY: Chatsworth)(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008; ... Production company Image Entertainment Inc. has formed a worldwide TV sales division to focus on distributing its content across broadcast, cable and satellite television, ...
Plane parts.(SAN FERNANDO VALLEY: Chatsworth)(Ontic Engineering and Manufacturing Inc.)(Goodrich Cargo Systems)(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008; ... Aviation components producer Ontic Engineering and Manufacturing Inc. has received a license from Jamestown, Md.'s Goodrich Cargo Systems to ...
Digital viewing.(SAN FERNANDO VALLEY: North Hollywood)(Qube Cinema Inc)(Scrabble Entertainment)(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008; ... North Hollywood-based digital cinema company Qube Cinema Inc, has signed a deal for its digital cinema servers with Indian ...
Under way.(SAN FERNANDO VALLEY: North Hollywood)(J.H. Snyder Co.)(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008; ... The city of Los Angeles and developer J.H. Snyder Co. broke ground last week on the third and final phase of the Nolle Commons project. The Lankershim Boulevard site will ...
Church space.(SAN GABRIEL VALLEY: Walnut)(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008; ... First Evangelical Church of Diamond Bar has acquired a building at the Industrial Commerce Center in Walnut from the Jackson and Sophia Wen Family 2002 Trust for $2 ...
Working the register: attitude positive helps small businesses with high-tech checkout.(Innovation)
Apr 07, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE major chains have always had some advantages over mom-and-pop shops, and some of those have come in the form of technology that improves customer service. But there are certain tools that can help small businesses compete. For example, Attitude ...
Marketing magic.(TECHNOLOGY)
Apr 07, 2008; ... David Reis' company gets people talking-online. Brands such as Kraft, Honda, P&G, Kellogg's and Toyota have turned to his boutique Web 2.0 consultancy in Studio City to engage millions of people in shopping, blogging and social networking online any given day. DEI ...
Asian watch.(TECHNOLOGY)(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008; ... Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc. is continuing its expansion into Asia. Its content will now be shown on cell phones powered by KDDI Corp., Japan's biggest telecommunication provider with ...
Problem wager.(TECHNOLOGY)(Brief article)
Apr 07, 2008; ... The nation's first online horse-race wagering Web site is reeling. Last week, Youbet.com of Woodland Hills received a noncompliance warning from Nasdaq because the minimum price of its common stock had fallen below $1 for 30 ...
L.A. attitude: Michael Govan, LACMA chief executive, says the time has come for local institutions to place their stamp on the art world.(People)(Los Angeles County Museum of Art)(Interview)
Apr 07, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MICHAEL Govan, who just completed his second full year as chief executive of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, has presided over a busy period for the institution. It has seen the construction of a new entrance plaza and the opening of the $56 million ...
Grant Thornton LLP's.(ACCOUNTING)
Apr 07, 2008; ... Damon Frier has been appointed assistant leader of Grant Thornton LLP's ...