Blog
Family businesses can’t be left holding the bag
In recent months, there’s been a lot of attention paid to some high-profile California businesses who have decided to move some or all of their operations to lower-cost states. Oracle, the second-largest software maker in the world, is moving its corporate...
California lawmakers must protect family businesses in 2021
This op-ed appeared on the California Globe website These days, it is hard to avoid headlines about the latest businesses going under and more lost jobs due to COVID-19 in California. But not only are California’s businesses suffering like most across the country, we...
State Officials and Unions Will Never Have All the Money They Want
By Ken Monroe, FBA Chairman and president of Holt of California The following commentary was posted on Fox & Hounds on October 21, 2020 Proposition 15, the split-roll property tax measure on the November ballot, would seriously affect family businesses throughout...
FBA takes positions on four November ballot measures
FBA has taken positions on four ballot initiatives that will have an impact on family businesses. No on Prop 15 -- an $11-12 billion tax increase at the worst possible time. Public employee unions always want more money. The property tax on property owned 10 years or...
FBA ‘Disappointed’ Newsom Backs Proposition 15
Contact: Robert Rivinius, Executive Director robert@myfba.org, 916-847-2700 The Family Business Association of California today issued the following statement expressing disappointment in Gov. Gavin Newsom's decision to support Proposition 15, the measure on the...
FBA Adopts Oppose Positions on Three Ballot Measures
At the July 29 FBA Board of Directors meeting, “no” positions on three ballot propositions were adopted: No on Proposition 15 – the infamous “split roll” initiative backed by public employee unions would remove Proposition 13 protections for commercial properties and...
Business friend or foe? Lawmakers have a choice for recovery
By Ken Monroe, FBA Chairman California’s 1.4 million family-owned businesses are in the fight of their lives. Some have been shuttered since March, still waiting nervously for an all-clear from state officials. While their revenue stopped, the bills kept coming. And...
Unleash private enterprise to jumpstart California’s economy with these four moves
By Ken Monroe FBA Chairman Two months into California’s economic lockdown, it’s time to start working on creating a V-shaped economic recovery. Gov. Gavin Newsom has shown strong leadership during the past couple months in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Now he...
Outside board members offer fresh, objective perspectives
By Jeanne Reaves Both family businesses and private companies tend to struggle with the decision of when and why they should bring outside professionals on to their boards of directors. It's not uncommon for us to hear things such as: "Should I have a board that...
FBA Names Senator Nielsen Outstanding Legislator for 2019
The Family Business Association of California, the only organization advocating exclusively for California’s thousands of family businesses, has named Sen. Jim Nielsen, R-Tehama, as its Outstanding Legislator for 2019. FBA Executive Director Robert Rivinius said the...
Do Economic Recoveries Die of Old Age?
Elliot Eisenberg, Ph.D. | GraphsandLaughs, LLC The US economy is clearly slowing. After adjusting for inflation, GDP grew by 2.9% in 2018, and by an even better 3.1% in 19Q1. But growth slowed to just 2% in 19Q2, is expected to grow at a similar pace the rest of...
What will cause the next recession?
Elliot Eisenberg, Ph.D. GraphsandLaughs, LLC September 1, 2019 The Great Recession of 2008 is firmly in the rearview mirror, we are now enjoying the longest recovery in U.S. history, the unemployment rate is near a 50-year low, wage growth is pretty good, inflation is...