CALLING THEIR BLUFF: Perhaps if you are a global investment firm with more than $800 billion in assets under management — such as AllianceBernstein (AB) — then maybe you are excused for never having read Dale Carnegie’s self-help classic, How to Win Friends and Influence People. But considering AllianceBernstein’s conspicuous absence at this Tuesday’s council meeting, I’d say they might give it a quick read.
After six hours of watching the hearing, one thing was clear: The council was not going to be intimidated. Some sought to teach the art of “How to Santa Barbara” to the team of architects, lawyers, and developers AllianceBernstein paid to be present. Others — Kristen Sneddon and Meagan Harmon come to mind — seemed more inclined to kick ’em in the nuts.
