November 30 - December 6, 2008
Friday, Dec. 5
Ezri Namvar and his L.A. investment company, Namco Capital Group, face at least 17 lawsuits involving non-payments to his investors.
In case you've lost track, the government is considering a plan that would encourage banks to lend at 4.5 percent.
The former editorial page editor of the LAT and contributor to Time magazine will be in conversation with yours truly on Tuesday.
It makes no sense that stocks take off on the day that saw the worst employment report since at least 1974. Still, there are reasons.
California delinquencies on the rise, Bratz CEO wants to talk to Mattel, toymakers settle lead lawsuit, and gas prices still sinking.
That's way more than most anyone had expected and is the worst monthly loss since December of 1974.
Thursday, Dec. 4
Look for a loss of 350,000 payroll jobs in November, which would be the worst monthly drop since May 1980.
More and more stories are focusing on how even the ultra-rich have put the brakes on spending - at least pointless, obnoxious spending.
Terrible November for retailers, bearish housing bets, new questions about L.A.'s Palmdale land, and the Golden Globes live on.
Valley-based MGA has lost custody of those pouty and still-popular Bratz dolls. But this isn't the end of it.
Wednesday, Dec. 3
Ford CEO Alan Mulally says that he has become more concerned about the viability of GM and Chrysler.
Louisiana's experience with movie and TV production shows why runaway production worries are a little overdone.
Being reminded of folks leading gold-plated lives doesn’t go down well at a time when so many others are trying to save their houses.
It’s the only Virgin Megastore in OC and one of four in California (the others being in Hollywood, SF and Ontario).
New tensions at SAG, airlines cut capacity, investors sue Paramount, and satellite loss means no new local jobs.
Tuesday, Dec. 2
The documentary “Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired” is being cited in the director's request to dismiss the molestation case against him.
A mythology has taken hold about the financial disaster: That only a select group of economists and money managers saw it coming.
By a margin of 129 votes, developer Beny Alagem will be able to build two luxury condo towers and a...
That's the hope among some lawyer/pundits who are up in arms over last week's misdemeanor convictions against Lori Drew.
In the L.A. area, October registrations fell almost 40 percent, with the domestic automakers faring a lot worse than the Japanese.
Closings, consolidations, layoffs, and the elimination of print editions on certain days of the week are the grim prospects for 2009.
More loan delinquencies expected, another Dov Charney lawsuit, and Blockbuster to sell concert tickets.
Monday, Dec. 1
A little-known analyst turned hedge fund manager named Steve Eisman figured out what would happen to the mortgage business.
You have to go back almost four years to find local gas prices this low. It's mostly good news, of course, but there are some wrinkles.
It was bad from the opening bell and just got worse as a bunch of pretty awful economic reports came out.
Think you had trouble getting home yesterday? Passengers on board TACA International #670 could probably top you.
Her real name was Doris Dungey, and she was an influential and often acerbic chronicler of the mortgage collapse.
The official arbiter has declared that the nation's economic contraction began a year ago - in December 2007.
Stocks way down in early trading, more fireworks on Hollywood labor front, and Johnson & Johnson buys Mentor.
© 2003-2015 • About LA Observed • Email the editor
The funeral for Mark Lacter will be held Sunday, Nov. 24 at 12 noon at Hillside Memorial Park, 6001 W. Centinela Avenue, Los Angeles 90045. Reception to follow.
More From Mark Lacter:
After 22 years of loyalty, Baylor is unceremoniously shown the door.
Before I lived in Echo Park, there was a tiny 1920s bungalow-cottage-standalone house on N. Occidental in Silver Lake. I...
