CEO Show Food For Thought Commentary

BART to Silicon Valley - Full Speed Ahead

2011-12-14T10:35:00.000-08:00

The long-anticipated, longer-needed BART connection to Silicon Valley is on-track. Better than that, it is barreling down the tracks with the first 10-mile segment of the planned 16-mile extension now estimated for completion before the end of 2016.

Yes, that is 18 months ahead of schedule and it’s also $75 million under budget.

Ridership projections just for the first 10-mile extension is estimated at 46,000 daily trips. To put that into context, our popular Caltrain commuter rail system that runs 79-miles from Gilroy to San Francisco carries 41,000 daily trips.

The full 16-mile BART extension from Fremont - with stations in Milpitas, San Jose and Santa Clara - is estimated to carry 90,000 daily passenger trips.

BART will not only help us get to our jobs, but the extension also creates jobs. In a down economy, with regional unemployment still hovering around 9 percent, the BART extension provides 13,000 construction-related jobs over the next four years alone.

In addition to its positive economic impacts, when the line is completed, the positive environmental impacts are equally significant - as the BART extension means 13,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions will not be emitted into our atmosphere.

The Silicon Valley Leadership Group praises the 12-member VTA board for its unanimous vote on Dec. 8 in awarding the construction contract to move BART down the tracks. Yet even more important, our hat is off to the visionary voters of Santa Clara County who voted not once, but twice, to tax themselves to make the BART extension a reality.

The "100 Percent"

2011-12-05T18:10:00.000-08:00

At City Halls across our country, we read about the "99 percent" angry with the federal government, business and the "1 percent" of Americans with the highest incomes.

I am not part of the "1 percent," and while I appreciate the frustration of those calling themselves the “99 percent,” I have but one simple request. Why don't we all work together to strengthen our nation as the "100 percent." United, perhaps we can stop pointing fingers and join arms.

* From the left, I often hear that the "one percent" hold 20 percent of the nation's wealth. Yet they also pay 37 percent of all federal income tax, and closer to 50 percent of California's state income tax.

* From the right, I hear that 47 percent of American adults pay zero federal income tax and zero state income tax.

Here's my view - 100 percent of us benefit when we have good schools; decent roads; and a safety net for our most vulnerable citizens. If you agree, then 100 percent of us should be willing to contribute to funding these priorities.

It's tempting, yet all too easy, to say what we want, but then insist only others pay for it. Let's unite, invest, and strengthen our nation. That's a movement I could get behind - 100 percent.

If You Mess Up - Fess Up!

2011-12-01T11:46:00.000-08:00

Why is it so hard for some people to apologize? This seems especially true for public officials and CEOs.

At our recent Applied Materials “Silicon Valley Turkey Trot”, which I founded seven years ago and still direct through our Silicon Valley Leadership Group Foundation, we had some challenges with traffic and with congestion at our race finish line.

While we have been putting on the Turkey Trot for seven years, the race has grown exponentially every year. This year, the race included 21,000 adult participants and another 1,100 kids. With the larger numbers, we had congestion - both in traffic before the race and for our runners at the finish line at the race.

On Monday, I sent out both a thank you - but also an apology - to all 22,000-plus participants. People don't want to hear excuses, but they do appreciate being heard, and knowing someone is working on solutions to any problems they experienced.

More than 200 participants responded to my letter of apology. As you might expect, the responses were gracious, solutions-oriented and thoughtful.

When you make a mistake; when you mess up; - fess up.

Overwhelmingly, people understand that we are all human and that mistakes happen. Just try not to make the same mistakes twice, and own the ones you do make.

Spirit Intact

2011-11-22T11:20:00.000-08:00

* Right pelvis - broken
* Right elbow - broken
* Positive spirit - intact!

Last Saturday, while riding my bike home from an errand, I crashed with a young boy on his skateboard who dashed across the road. Thankfully, I hit his skateboard rather than him.

The x-rays revealed what my body felt when it hit the concrete. A fractured pelvis and a fractured elbow to accompany the road rash up and down the left side of my body.

But attitude is everything, and angels are everywhere:

* The boy on the skateboard could have instantly darted away. Instead, "Jake" stayed and helped, and his friends went for help.
* On-going motorists and neighbors could have passed by. Instead, they stopped, carried me out of the street where I had laid for many minutes, and brought me to a nearby yard. One brought pillows, another blankets.
* Police and fire fighters arrived, and could not have been more professional and positive.
* 11 hours in Emergency Room are never easy, but the folks at Good Samaritan lived up to their hospital's name.

Healing does not begin now. The healing began the moment my body slammed to the pavement, surrounded by such caring and compassionate strangers.

Happy Thanksgiving. We have much to be thankful for.

Quality Family Time

2011-11-09T17:09:00.001-08:00

Former Minnesota Twins baseball legend Harmon Killebrew tells a story about his father. He and his brother and dad were rough-housing on the front-lawn when his mom came out and said to his dad, "All that wrestling around is pulling up the lawn." He never forgot his dad's gentle reply - "We’re not raising a lawn. We're raising two sons."

I've been traveling a lot lately - more than I would like. My two girls, Jessica - almost seven - and Siena, two-and-a-half, deserve to see more of their dad. Slowly, I am becoming much more selective as I make decisions for my life which impact the lives of my children. Let's ask ourselves the tough questions: Is this business trip really needed? Is that dinner or speech or event a high priority?

When it comes to our kids, it's not just quality time - its also quantity time.

Here's a secret to moms and dads in our always-too-busy silicon valley. If you want to see a lot of your kids when they are older, invest a lot of time with your kids while they are younger. The relationships we build today will be the only foundation standing tomorrow.

And for goodness sakes, don't worry about messing up the lawn. The lawn has a chance to grow back. Our kids only grow-up once.

BART to Silicon Valley

2011-11-02T17:05:00.001-07:00

The recent Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s assessment of the BART to Silicon Valley extension confirms what we at the Silicon Valley Leadership Group have long known to be true: The benefits of the project far outweigh the cost. The assessment compared the benefits of the extension from San Jose’s Berryessa Station, through Downtown San Jose and on to Santa Clara - and the results are in - MTC found that the project’s benefits are five times its cost.

We, at the Leadership Group, have championed the BART extension, recognizing its ability to create jobs and stimulate our economy. The project will increase our productivity, economic competitiveness and livability – through time saved in traffic, greater regional mobility, less dependence on the automobile and oil, and reduced Green House Gas emissions. We are pleased that the MTC’s independent assessment arrives at the same conclusion as Santa Clara County voters, who have twice voted to tax themselves to support this critical project.

Governor Jerry Brown Announces Public Pension Reform Plan

2011-10-27T17:14:00.000-07:00

Jerry Brown proved again that he has the grit and good judgment to be governor of the Golden State.

On Thursday, he unveiled a measured, yet necessary pension reform proposal for California public employees.

This plan constitutes an essential and politically courageous step forward in our collective effort to put our state on firm financial footing, provide needed services, aggressively support job growth, and honor our commitments to our public sector workers. The 12 step proposal includes a provision to raise the retirement age to collect benefits from 50 to 67, with the exception of public safety officers. It would also put new state employees on a hybrid benefit track which would include defined benefits, social security and a 401k program. In addition the plan would require 3 year final compensation to stop spiking for new employees.

Shortly after releasing his 12 point pension reform plan Governor Brown was immediately assailed from the polarizing forces on both the left and right which reinforces that his plan falls right into the sensible center.

The Renewable Energy Industry

2011-10-19T17:49:00.000-07:00

Solyndra’s demise has reignited efforts to sabotage success in the renewable energy industry- an industry that is growing jobs. Let’s focus on the facts. The United States is a net exporter of solar-energy products, and solar jobs have doubled in the U.S. — to 100,000 since 2009. Last year alone, U.S. solar-energy installations created a combined $6 billion in direct value, $4.4 billion of which we accrued.

We need not look far to see an example of a solar company creating manufacturing jobs in Silicon Valley. SunPower, headquartered in Silicon Valley has a manufacturing facility in Milpitas. The company’s customer, NRG Energy, received a $1.2 billion loan guarantee from the Department of Energy specifically for the project that will create 350 construction jobs, power approximately 100,000 homes and inject $315 million in to the San Luis Obispo, Calif. economy.

The answer is clear, supporting the renewable energy industry is the right thing to do for our state and nation.

Cherish Every Day

2011-10-06T10:48:00.000-07:00

This past week, my wife and I had a rare fight right before I left for work. Rather than a heated exchange, we left each other to start our day in stony silence.

That same day, three workers at Lehigh Cement in Cupertino left their homes for what I am sure they believed would be a typical work-day - only to never return to their homes; irrationally gunned down by a crazed co-worker.

Later the same afternoon, Steve Jobs would lose his seven-year struggle with pancreatic cancer. Steve Jobs was an iconic figure that fueled the creativity of the world's innovation economy. Yet he was also a father, a husband and a friend to many people here in Silicon Valley and throughout the planet. He will be forever treasured and never forgotten.

The employees at Lehigh Cement will long be mourned; their memories cherished by their friends, families and co-workers.

Each day, as we leave our homes for work, for school, for errands, let's not forget that today is all we have. We have little control over how it will end, but we can control how it begins. Cherish the day you have - and those you love.

Role Models

2011-09-27T17:38:00.000-07:00

Role models. Most of us have had one. Many of us have been one. All of us need one.

Positive role models are those people in life who - with both their words and deeds - have had an impact that has made an indelible difference.

On October 6, the Silicon Valley Leadership Group & Fry's Electronics are honoring two women role models with our second annual "Shattering the Glass Ceiling" Award. This year, we will recognize and celebrate former state senator Becky Morgan and former County Supervisor Susie Wilson.

Both Becky and Susie are strong, creative, successful women, who blazed a trail of public service in a way that has made the road easier for other women and girls to follow.

As a man, why do I care about trailblazing women who have made a mark in the valley? First and foremost, I'm a dad of two little girls. They've never met Becky Morgan or Susie Wilson, but their paths in Silicon Valley have been made better by the work of these two extraordinary leaders.

As an employer, the women on my team benefit daily by the policies and programs these two former public officials championed.

Today, as we go about our business, think about the mark you are making. In your actions and attitude, what behavior are you modeling to those around you? Anyone can make an impression. Let's do our best to make an impact.

Game Changers

2011-09-06T16:39:00.000-07:00

Butkis, nada, zero, none, zilch.

That is the precise number of jobs created in the entire United States in the month of August.

This week, the President will lay out a "jobs plan."

In the past two weeks, we have heard "jobs plans" from Governor Brown and members of the state legislature.

Here's a suggestion - as elected officials lay out their "jobs plans," first consult those who create jobs . . . Entrepreneurs, CEOs and innovators who invest creativity and capital to actually hire people.

Without a single new job created in America in august, it is not time for the "same ole, same ole." What are the game changers in your jobs plan that are going to make a difference?

This is why the Silicon Valley Leadership Group is hosting our inaugural "Game Changers" summit the morning of September 13.

In the innovation capital of the world, we will interact directly in spirited discussions with the game changers who create and grow jobs with the specifics of what is needed to get America, California and Silicon Valley moving.

Join us at game changers on September 13. For more information, go to svlg.org.

Re-charge

2011-07-26T12:18:00.000-07:00

Americans are awful about taking vacations. Compared to most industrialized nations, we work more hours per week, and take fewer weeks off per year.
And I’m the proverbial pot calling the kettle black, losing an average of three weeks of paid – yes paid – vacation time each of the past three years because I’m maxed out on how many days I can carry over from one year to the next.
As a CEO, I constantly call on my team to find “work/life balance,” yet I haven’t always practiced what I preach.
That’s all about to change. For KLIV and “CEO Show” listeners, you won’t hear my voice the entire month of august.
I’m taking a break – a vacation – a siesta. A long-overdue “gone fishing” sign will replace my welcome mat.
After 15 years as CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, I’m off for my first semi-sabbatical, putting the “do not disturb” sign on my door, voice mail and email.
My time away will include a Disney cruise with my two little girls, who deserve more time with their daddy; a long stay-cation to complete the “honey-do” list that Leslee has patiently constructed; and then off to British Columbia as I race Ironman Canada. More stressful than restful, but a dream come true.
To the rest of you in “Go-Go Silicon Valley,” follow my lead. Take time off. Smell the roses now, before pushing up daisies later.

1,000 Hearts for 1,000 Minds

2011-07-20T13:16:00.000-07:00

California public school students rank 45th of 50 states in math, 48th in science and 49th in spending per student. Enter “1,000 Hearts for 1,000 Minds,” a new tutoring initiative being launched by San Jose City Councilman Sam Liccardo and the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, to focus on reading and math skills for k-8 students in some of our poorest neighborhoods.

The goal is simple: engage 1,000 caring adult volunteers with 1,000 k-8 kids in Silicon Valley schools. You can volunteer as little as one hour per week for a duration as short as eight to ten weeks.

Make a difference – offer your time or treasure.
• Your time: just one hour per week.
• Your treasure: make a personal contribution or encourage your employer to make a company contribution.

Let’s help 1,000 kids right here in San Jose & Silicon Valley strengthen their reading and math skills, and succeed in a 21st century economy.
To get involved, click here. Reach out today. Change a life – tutor a student.

Repatriation

2011-07-13T11:32:00.001-07:00

I can think of 1.2 trillion ways that President Obama and Congress can strengthen America’s economy and create jobs – without costing taxpayers a dime.
It’s called repatriation – a fancy “Washington, D.C.” word for allowing American companies to bring back the earnings they make from being successful when doing business in overseas markets.
You see – 95 percent of the world’s markets for Silicon Valley goods and services are outside of the U.S., yet when we successfully compete in those markets, we cannot bring the earnings back home without paying a 39.4 percent tax penalty on those profits. It doesn’t take a math genius to know that when a company can borrow money for as low as two percent, bringing money back with a 39.4 percent penalty makes absolutely no sense.
So Congress, allow companies to bring back their earnings at a reduced rate. Keep the reduced rate for the federal treasury. Allow employers to use the balance to stimulate the economy, strengthen their companies and create jobs.
It’s so simple – even Washington should get it right.

New York Policy Trip

2011-07-06T09:23:00.000-07:00

As we look back at Independence Day, a central theme of our founders emerges - "United We Stand."

Recently, I traveled to New York City to meet with Mayor Michael Bloomberg. We discussed how we can best work together to move our nation forward: Education reform for American children, immigration reform for high-skilled workers and a coherent national energy policy.

We also met with the Long Island Business Association - a sister organization to the Silicon Valley Leadership Group - with whom we will partner on key issues impacting America's competitiveness and job creation. We're reaching out to 25 similar organizations across the nation: Chicago, Portland, Seattle, San Diego, Austin, Boston, Los Angeles, Cincinnati and Baltimore. From a regional level, we hope to drive a national agenda that is long on policy victories and short on partisan politics.

We should expect no less from our national leaders elected to serve us in D.C.

Our national coalition of regional leaders is aimed at America’s competitiveness and job creation. We can think of few greater missions than ensuring our nation can compete and that each American who wants a job can seek and secure a job. United, we stand . . . For a strong future for all Americans.

California's unemployment

2011-06-29T10:27:00.000-07:00

California has 2,143,000 unemployed adults and an unemployment rate of 11.4 percent.
As residents of Silicon Valley, with unemployment hovering around 10 percent, we are relatively robust in comparison to 20 of California’s 58 counties still suffering with unemployment above 15 percent. Or the residents in seven California counties with unemployment above 25 percent.
Yes, if you live in Imperial, Sutter, Colusa, Madera or several other counties, chances are one in four that you don’t have a job.
That’s why Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom is criss-crossing the state developing a plan – potentially California’s first “Jobs and Economic Competitiveness Plan” in the history of the golden state. Last week, he met with 60 Silicon Valley CEO’s in three key clusters: renewable energy, bio-tech & high-tech. Next week, he will meet with 60 more.
Building a plan – seeking out CEO’s – working to put Californians back to work. Kudos to Governor Brown and Lieutenant Governor Newsom for making California’s economy – and jobs for Californians - the priority.

Bike-to-Work Month

2011-05-05T17:03:00.000-07:00

May is a great time to trade in four wheels for two wheels, as we celebrate bike-to-work month.

Before you write me off as one more spandex wearing crazy bicyclist - which i am - consider the following:

* The typical commute length in the Bay Area is five miles or less - perfect for cycling.
* A gallon of gas is now above $4. Pedal power is free.
* Silicon valley enjoys 300-plus sunny days per year, ideal conditions for riding to work.
* A five-mile commute by bike burns off half the calories of that Starbucks drink you just sipped. Make it a round trip, and all those calories are gone.
* The bike path, trail and lane network in Santa Clara County has grown to hundreds of miles, making cycling to work both fun and safe.

And for me, the best reason to cycle to work, I can eat all the chocolate I want.

Join me. Try riding your bike even one day in May. For route information to and from work, contact the great folks at the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition. Tell them I sent you. And you don't even have to wear spandex.

Silicon Valley Caucus

2011-04-26T19:32:00.000-07:00

First Dates are fun. Relationships are better.

Two weeks ago, The Silicon Valley Leadership Group launched the "Silicon Valley Caucus," an inaugural meeting between our 13 state senators and assemblymen who represent us in the state capitol, with more than 30 Silicon Valley CEOs.

Such is the concern about the success of California that these 30 CEO’s, competing globally, drove all the way to Sacramento for the two-hour meeting.

Like any "first date" the purpose of the initial conversation was to get acquainted, raise the broad challenges that inhibit economic development and job growth in the Golden State, and set the parameters for future dialogue.

We agreed to three more roundtables in 2011, in which we can dive deep on ways that the world’s innovation capital can best assist our representatives in the state capitol. Stay tuned. Only good can come from such collaboration.

U.S. Corporate Tax Rate

2011-04-14T10:10:00.001-07:00

Usually, there is excitement when an individual, a team, a company or a country declares "we're number one." Such a chant is often accompanied by a big foam finger elevated up to the sky.

Not so with the United States. When it comes to the world's highest corporate tax rate, America is now "number one," a dubious distinction that leaves American companies - and therefore American workers - uncompetitive abroad.

The U.S. corporate tax rate, adding in California's additional rate, is 39.4 percent. Competitor nations average in the low 20's.

Adding insult to injury, America is the only country in the world that double-taxes the profits American companies make while competing abroad. We pay the corporate rate in the country in which we do business, and then pay the U.S. rate that is left over if our company's ever try to bring those earnings back to America's shores. This broken system has trapped more than $1 trillion off-shore, unable to make it back home to stimulate the American economy.

Let's get it right. Congress and the President should be fighting to make American employers more competitive globally, not less so. Overhaul America's corporate tax code; incent companies to repatriate dollars earned overseas; grow America's economy. For more details, visit "winamericacampaign.org".

Caltrain Town Halls

2011-04-05T17:31:00.000-07:00

Launched during the Civil War, Caltrain commuter rail service has been a key component for commuters for 150 years.

In spite of strong ridership, this well-run rail line risks insolvency as it lacks a dedicated revenue stream, which almost every transit system in America enjoys.

Significant cuts are currently being proposed, with one option slashing service from 86 daily trains to just 48. With some hard work and creativity, we are hoping to minimize those cuts in the short term and add service in the long term.

To keep Caltrain strong, we need your feedback participation. Over the next six weeks, the Silicon Valley Leadership Group will host eight "town hall" meetings up & down the 79-mile Caltrain corridor.

We kick-off in Mountain View on April 11, with future town halls in Morgan Hill San Jose, Santa Clara and Palo Alto. Visit http://svlg.org/campaigns/savecaltrain/ for dates, times and details.

Caltrain serves 41,000 daily trips. We cannot afford to place those commuters back on the already congested 101 corridor. Let's work together to ensure service cuts are minimized, and find creative ways to strengthen the system for the next 150 years.

U.S. Patent Office in Silicon Valley

2011-03-29T16:19:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Patent Office is working to reduce the patent approval process from an average of three years to a more competitive 18 months.
Kudos to Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and Patent Office Director David Kappos - a former IBM Executive - for streamlining a notoriously bureaucratic process.
In Silicon Valley, we know that three years equates to about four product cycles, slowing down innovation and job creation. It’s time for step two - a regional patent office in Silicon Valley. A regional office was recently approved - not for the world’s Capitol of Innovation - but for Detroit, Michigan.
Really.
Legislation is under consideration for three more regional offices. Silicon Valley is a natural. On April 14, the Silicon Valley Leadership Group and Joint Venture: Silicon Valley will host Mr. Kappos to rally support for a regional office, right here in Silicon Valley. Let’s break down barriers to innovation, rather than erect them. To join us, visit SVLG.org.

San Jose City Councilman Sam Liccardo

2011-03-23T22:23:00.000-07:00

Two public sector labor unions took to the pages of the San Jose Mercury News for a 600-word op/ed personally attacking San Jose City Councilmember Sam Liccardo about recent concerns he raised on budget and pension reforms currently under consideration.

Councilman Liccardo praised the progress of discussions with the firefighters union, but fears it's not enough to adequately address the budget shortfall.

One can agree or disagree with his assessment, but that debate should focus on dollars and cents, not demonizing the messenger with personal attacks and character assaults. In 600 words, the two union leaders didn't deny Liccardo's logic. Instead, they cast aspersions on his motives.

Let's back-up. We're best served when we attack issues - rather than the individuals or institutions who raise them.

California State Budget

2011-03-09T11:58:00.000-08:00

As Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones reminds us, “You can’t always get what you want – but you can get what you need.”
That is the tune Governor Jerry Brown is singing to both Democrat and Republican state legislators, as he tries to close a 26 billion dollar hole in our state budget.
• Painful cuts
• Temporary tax extensions

On March 8, SunPower CEO Tom Werner – chair of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group Board of Directors, along with board member Tim Guertin, CEO of Varian, accompanied me to Sacramento for an hour-long dialogue with the Governor on his budget. We also had an in-depth discussion on the need for:
• A California jobs & economic plan,
• Meaningful budget & governance reforms
• Pension reform
• Regulatory reform

We urge legislators to find common ground, both on the budget and these important issues. This budget has items everyone can hate & everyone can love. Done right – legislators may not get everything they want, but Californians will get what we need: a balanced budget and a path forward.

The Tour of California

2011-03-02T11:49:00.000-08:00

For the fourth straight year, the Tour of California professional bicycle race is coming to San José. On May 18, some of the best cyclists on the planet will climb to a breath-taking mountain-top finish up Sierra Road – a 3.9 mile climb at an average grade of 12 percent.
Yet the real climb was made by Mayor Reed and the San José City Council, to keep the race in San José during difficult budget times.
To underwrite the race, the city sought a public-private partnership – in this case with the Silicon Valley Leadership Group – to raise roughly half the money.
Such is the respect among Valley employers for the mayor, the council and the city, that in one email to a small segment of our member companies, more than $150,000 was pledged – most from Valley firms not headquartered in San José, but part of the Silicon Valley family.
The Tour of California is much more than a bicycle race, it is a celebration of health and fitness. It also represents a viable option to the automobile and is a great example of the private sector stepping up to the plate to work with our public sector partners.
It’s not possible to fund every worthy request, but these partnerships – whether through time, talent or treasure – will further strengthen the bonds that make our Valley a community.

Measure A

2011-02-22T16:55:00.000-08:00

Education and affordable homes are critical to our Valley’s success.
Sadly, these important building blocks of a strong economy and community are often pitted against each other. That is exactly what has happened in North San Jose with Measure A.
Measure A is a ballot measure before the voters of North San Jose within the Santa Clara Unified School District. It would place a tax on housing in order to pay for education costs. I have supported many tax and bond measures to fund schools, however, this tax is too high. It will stifle new construction jobs and put a significant economic development plan at risk. This is particularly alarming because North San Jose has been tagged by the region as an important growth area. Due to its central location to job centers and proximity to the airport and transit infrastructure, it is viewed as an appropriate location in which to direct future growth and economic development.
We can have our cake and eat it too – quality schools, homes for our workforce and a strong economy. There is no doubt that we need to plan for and fund future school needs but Measure A is not the right way to do it."

Meeting with Governor Jerry Brown

2011-02-16T10:00:00.000-08:00

In Silicon Valley, content is king, while attire and appearance are all but irrelevant.

It was refreshing to see that our new Governor, Jerry Brown, understands this.

Last week, the Silicon Valley leadership group hosted a meeting with governor brown in his capitol office with 18 business leaders from throughout the state. In walked our Governor, wearing old tennis shoes and a 15-year old sweat-suit, complete with a hole in one pant leg.

It was completely disarming, absolutely endearing and entirely befitting of a meeting with anyone from Silicon Valley. With a $25 billion budget deficit, a 12 percent unemployment rate; and a need for jobs and economic competitiveness, pension and governance reforms, solutions and substance trump tailored suits & ties.

Our governor flies Southwest, eschews fancy shoes and travels solo.

He may not spend too much time wrestling with a neck-tie, but he is investing the time to grapple with the tough issues facing our state. I'll take that trade-off every time.

Governor, keep wearing those running shoes. Fixing our state will be a marathon - not a sprint - and Silicon Valley stands ready to run that race with you.

Silicon Valley needs a direct flight to Tokyo

2011-02-08T08:03:00.000-08:00

Growing up, I was a fan of the Harlem Globetrotters. However, I have never been a fan of globetrotting local elected officials, who believe it is their job to trek around the planet.

I make an exception for San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed, who hates frivolous travel as much as me. This past week, we traveled together to Tokyo - wheels up to wheels down: 71 hours.

The reason: meetings with the CEO and senior staff of ANA, Japan’s second largest airline, as we seek a direct flight between San Jose International and Tokyo.

More than 400 Silicon Valley residents take the trek daily to SFO - the airport with the worst on-time performance in the U.S. - to fly to Tokyo. It would be easier, more efficient and more economical to fly from San Jose, the airport with the nation's best on-time performance, and that is the mayor's and my shared goal.

It is refreshing to have a mayor who would rather work to improve our city than engage in foreign policy, but it is equally refreshing to know that when he does travel, it is solely when it is in the city's, and our valley's, best interest. Mayor Reed: globetrotter - no. World-class - yes.

California's future- look, then leap

2011-02-01T17:30:00.000-08:00

"I'll jump if you jump."

In the 1973 film, "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," Paul Newman and Robert Redford struck a bargain: Face certain death on a mountain, or hurtle themselves into the unknown dangers of a raging stream below. They stuck together, jumped and lived.

With a $25 billion budget deficit, the Golden State faces similar choices. Stay frozen in place and perish, or take a risk in working together and survive. We urge our Governor and Legislature to leap together.

Step One: California needs a plan; a strategic plan to grow the economy and create jobs. It's no coincidence that during the past decade, Texas added 1 million private sector jobs; Arizona grew 265,000 new jobs, and California lost 53,000 jobs. Yes, most competitor states have developed a strategic plan for jobs and economic prosperity. By failing to plan, we have planned to fail. We can change this. Governor Brown can appoint a cabinet-level officer to create and implement a strategic plan. His "Jobs Czar" can assemble key leaders from California's top industry clusters. We can study what other states do well. This isn't hard: Study the competition; build the plan; perform to plan.

Butch and Sundance- time to jump.

Caltrain

2011-01-26T16:23:00.001-08:00

Here’s food for thought . . . It was 1863 – Abraham Lincoln was president – when Caltrain service between San Francisco and San José began.
Fast forward 150 years, and this venerable service is at risk of going away.
The popular line, running 79-miles from Gilroy to San Francisco, carries 42,000 daily passenger trips, has one of the highest fare-box returns in California – yet has no dedicated source of revenue to fund its daily operations. Bart has a parcel tax, VTA, SF-Muni and SamTrans each have a sales tax – Caltrain has nothing.
Does it impact you? If we lose Caltrain, we will need the equivalent of 2.5 new freeway lanes of traffic on highways 101 or 280 to simply maintain today’s current sluggish conditions.
Join the Silicon Valley leadership group to identify and implement thoughtful solutions to keep Caltrain running. Visit svlg.org. We can – we must - save Caltrain.

Steve Jobs

2011-01-18T16:33:00.001-08:00

In a Valley known globally for innovation and entrepreneurship, Steve Jobs is a first among equals.

He co-founded apple with Steve Wozniak, came back to revive the company years later, and came back again after his diagnosis with pancreatic cancer and a liver transplant.

Sadly, he has announced an indefinite leave of absence, once again, to focus on his health.

I have never met nor worked with Steve Jobs, yet like millions of people across our nation and world, I have been touched by apple's technology and innovation. I typed this Food for Thought message on my Mac Book Pro, jogged this morning listening to my iPod, and watched a weekend movie with my six-year old daughter on our iPad.

His visionary leadership is looked upon by other CEO's. When I ask executives which CEO they most admire, the most common response is Steve Jobs.

Many media stories right now are focused on the future of Apple. That is understandable and important. At such a time as this, however, let's focus first on the future of Steve Jobs and his family. Yes, he is a technology giant. He is also a human being - a husband, a father and friend.

Steve, our thoughts and our prayers are with you. May you recover completely and return quickly.

Civic unrest

2011-01-11T13:20:00.000-08:00

The tragedy in Tucson, AZ serves as a stark reminder that our nation needs to be knit back together.

All too often, partisan politicians attack individuals rather than ideas; some in the media reward those who divide us rather than unite us; and even religious leaders on occasion offer anger over mercy and grace.

Yet we live in a valley where wonderful role models survive and thrive.

My friend and mentor, Tom Campbell reminds us we can disagree without being disagreeable, that we can use "soft words but hard arguments."

Jim Cunneen, former state assemblyman and former CEO of the Chamber of Commerce is a living example of effective service. As Chamber CEO, he strengthened an institution with numerous policy and political successes, always respecting, rather than reviling, those with different points of view.

At the Mercury News, thoughtful columnists like Mike Cassidy and Gary Richards have strong opinions, but their words build bridges, rather than burn them down.

CEO's like Aart de Geus and Mike Splinter balance global business acumen with local civic engagement.

Let's model those who lift others up, rather than reward those who tear others down.

Gov. Brown needs "game changers"

2011-01-05T12:49:00.000-08:00

As California welcomes a new governor, he must welcome a new era of business competitiveness to create and retain jobs in the golden state.
As I wrote in a recent op-ed for San Jose Mercury News, California needs "game changers" to strengthen our business climate to compete with regions around the nation and world.
The Silicon Valley Leadership Group is preparing a white paper on economic competitiveness for Governor Brown, covering the following items:
• An economic development strategic plan, with the governor as our chief recruitment and retention officer.
• A K-12 and higher education system that tracks each student, ensuring each dollar invested offers the best return for each child.
• Rewarding companies that invest in California, encouraging them to stay here and grow here.
• A renewable energy strategy that ensures that 33 percent of the energy we use is from clean sources by 2020.
• A statewide transportation system that we adequately fund.
• Restore trust in government with serious pension, governance and budget reform.
Silicon Valley CEOs and citizens want results from our state government and have high hopes for our new governor. He shouldn’t veer California to the extreme left or right. He should simply move California ahead.

Governor Schwarzenegger

2010-12-22T09:37:00.000-08:00

In 14 days, California will have a new governor.
Last week, I joined our current governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and first-lady Maria Shriver, for a special dinner as he concluded his seven years of service.
Governor Schwarzenegger leaves Sacramento still viewed globally as an international super-star, but with a paltry 25 percent approval rating in the golden state.
Regardless of your view of the governor, let’s consider his solid successes since 2003:
• Historic workers compensation reform
• $20 billion in statewide transportation improvements, and another $20
billion for housing, water & school construction
• $760 million in state support for BART to Silicon Valley
• Governance reforms including re-districting and the open primary
• Significant steps forward for pension reform
• Historic climate change legislation to limit greenhouse gases
His compensation - $1 annually. Love, like or hate him, he put
California first and for that I salute him.

California-The Golden State

2010-12-14T16:18:00.000-08:00

The Golden State is, well, out of Gold. A shortfall of 25 billion - that's billion with a "B" - is expected over the next 18 months.

We could eliminate California's entire prison and higher education systems and still not have enough money to close the gap.

California needs solutions along with some serious soul-searching. Tough decisions need to be made:

* First, voters want pension reform. It is not a short-term solution, but it is part of the long-term answer to a balanced state budget.
* Second, with a Legislature suffering from a 17 percent approval rating, voters want trust restored in their state government. On-time, balanced budgets will require more governance and fiscal reforms like those proposed by California Forward.
* Third, any talk of more taxes must first be predicated on adequately addressing the two previous items.
* Finally, if taxes are on the table, we must get away from the "tax the other guy" approach. If something is important to California's success, then all Californians must play a part in paying for it.

The Golden State can shine again - but only if each of us commit the time, talent and treasure to get there.

This year's Turkey Trot was a great success

2010-12-01T17:29:00.000-08:00

On Thanksgiving morning, more than 14,000 community members gathered together in downtown San Jose. Their purpose? To personally participate in the sixth annual applied materials “Silicon Valley Turkey Trot,” founded by the Silicon Valley leadership group.

This 5-k run & walk, and 10-k run – after just six years – is now one of the largest “turkey trots” in the United States, out of more than 300 Thanksgiving day races.

While “large” is good, “having a positive impact” is better. Consider these results:
• 14,113 people paid to participate
• They were supported by nearly 900 community volunteers
• We raised more than $400,000 to help our valley’s most needy families
• We collected an additional 11,885 pounds of food for second harvest
through our Synaptics "Can Do Challenge".
• Nearly 600 children participated in our Lucile Packard Kids Fun Run

Silicon Valley may consist loosely of 40 cities in portions of four
counties- but each Thanksgiving morning, we come together as one
community at the Silicon Valley Turkey Trot.

High-speed rail

2010-11-10T13:55:00.001-08:00

Good news this week – high speed rail is coming to the Valley. Well, the central valley anyway.

As the CEO of the Silicon Valley – not central valley – leadership group, my reaction – to the surprise of some – is positive. In fact, the central valley alignment is the right choice.

Why? High-speed rail is for California’s future, and a purely parochial view is the wrong way to build momentum for a system that someday should run 700 miles from Los Angeles to Silicon Valley to San Francisco.

Before it can run 700 miles, however, it needs to run somewhere. Let’s do the math. We have $12 billion for a project with a price tag of $45 billion. The central valley extension – from Fresno to Merced (my preference) or Fresno to Bakersfield – would cover nearly 100 miles at a cost of less than $10 billion. The central valley is the fastest growing region of California, and also has devastating rates of unemployment.

And perhaps – just perhaps – this might motivate folks along the peninsula to realize what we are missing, and come together with an affordable, appropriate alignment that meets the needs of our valley – the Silicon Valley.
High speed rail is on-track.

The work of governing begins..

2010-11-03T10:59:00.000-07:00

Last Tuesday night, the long campaign season came to an end. Now, the important work of governing must begin.

At the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, we urge our leaders – at the federal, state and local levels – to focus on the important issues we face to create a climate in which we can get __ million unemployed Americans, and 2 million unemployed Californians, back to work.

Here’s a secret most voters know, but not every elected official knows- It doesn’t mean taking America to the left, or to the right; it means moving America forward. It means Congress, and Sacramento, and City Hall, working together, just like the rest of us do every day.

And here’s a start. At the request of Senator Dianne Feinstein, the Leadership Group has developed a bi-partisan plan for America, with specific policy recommendations to create U.S. Manufacturing Jobs. The six-point plan is not exhaustive, but it’s a pretty strong start to help America compete against other nations. You can find it on our web site at svlg.org. Read it, and tell us what you think. Equally important, tell our elected leaders what you think.

After the fun of my wedding ceremony, the real work of being married began. After the exhilaration of the election, the real work of governing must begin.

Applied Materials "Silicon Valley Turkey Trot"

2010-10-27T10:13:00.000-07:00

THANKSGIVING DAY IS FAST APPROACHING, AND IT IS TIME TO TALK TURKEY.

TURKEY TROT, THAT IS.

ON THURSDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 25, WE WILL BE HOSTING OUR SIXTH ANNUAL APPLIED MATERIALS "SILICON VALLEY TURKEY TROT" NEXT TO THE HP ARENA IN DOWNTOWN SAN JOSE.

BUT IT IS MORE THAN A 5-K RUN OR WALK, OR A 10-K RACE, OR A KID'S FUN RUN - IT HAS BECOME A COMMUNITY TRADITION.

IN ONLY OUR SIXTH YEAR, WE EXPECT 15,000 PAID PARTICIPANTS, SUPPORTED BY 1,000 COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS, WITH A STRETCH GOAL OF CONTRIBUTING BACK TO CHARITY MORE THAN $350,000. THOSE FUNDS WILL BE USED TO FEED THE HUNGRY THROUGH SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK, TO HOUSE THE HOMELESS THROUGH THE HOUSING TRUST, AND TO PROVIDE HEALTH INSURANCE TO POOR CHILDREN THROUGH THE SANTA CLARA FAMILY HEALTH FOUNDATION.

IF YOU HAVE FOOD ON YOUR TABLE, A ROOF OVER YOUR HEAD AND HEALTH CARE COVERAGE FOR YOUR FAMILY, THEN COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS - THEN SIGN UP AND SHOW UP, AS THERE ARE FAMILIES, KIDS AND SENIORS WHO ARE COUNTING ON US.

GO TO SVTURKEYTROT.COM TO REGISTER TODAY.

THE SILICON VALLEY TURKEY TROT - YOUR BEST EXCUSE TO GET IN A LITTLE EXERCISE BEFORE GOBBLING UP THAT THIRD SLICE OF PIE.

Vote No on Proposition 24

2010-10-20T12:48:00.000-07:00

Growing up, my mom had an expression – “Carl, you have two ears and one mouth. Use them proportionally.”

It was good advice for me, and i believe it is good advice for policy makers, especially in Sacramento.

With California’s unemployment rate at 12.5 percent, we lose more jobs to other states in the U.S. than we do to other countries.

Consider Intel corporation’s recent announcement – good news for America, but bad news for California:

• Intel will invest $6 to $8 billion in manufacturing to support future tech advancements in Arizona and Oregon.
• The investment supports the creation of 6,000 to 8,000 construction jobs, and 800 to 1,000 permanent high-tech jobs.

What do Arizona and Oregon have that we do not have? Bluntly, but accurately, a more positive business environment. While our voters are faced with initiatives like proposition 24 on the November ballot – which ironically would penalize employers who place jobs, equipment and facilities in California – Arizona and Oregon, and another 20 states with any semblance of high-tech companies, actually reward those employers.

State legislators, and California voters, take note. California can be competitive. But we have to vote down measures like prop 24, and support measures that create jobs and a strong economy.

"Yes" on B

2010-10-12T16:44:00.000-07:00

I RECENTLY HIT A POT-HOLE IN SAN JOSE THAT ALMOST KNOCKED MY FILLINGS LOOSE.

NOT TO MENTION THE DAMAGE DONE TO THE ALIGNMENT ON MY CAR.

IN FACT, ACCORDING TO THE MOST RECENT REPORT BY “TRIP,” AS REPORTED BY GARY RICHARDS – MR ROADSHOW - OF THE MERCURY NEWS, THE SAN JOSE URBAN AREA, ROUGHLY SANTA CLARA COUNTY, HAS THE WORST ROAD CONDITIONS IN THE UNITED STATES. YES, THE WORST.

SAN JOSE HAS A BACK-LOG OF $250 MILLION IN UNFUNDED ROAD REPAIRS.

BACK TO MY CAR ALIGNMENT: A RECENT STUDY STATES THAT THE AVERAGE SILICON VALLEY DRIVER WILL PAY ROUGHLY $756 EACH YEAR IN ADDITIONAL VEHICLE OPERATIONS COSTS DUE TO OUR BUMPY ROADS – AS OPPOSED TO THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF $400.

WELL, HELP MAY BE ON THE WAY. ON NOVEMBER 2, WE CAN VOTE “YES” ON MEASURE B – A NOMINAL VEHICLE REGISTRATION FEE OF 10 BUCKS A YEAR TO TAKE SOME OF THOSE BUMPS OUT OF OUR ROADS.

THE FUNDS ARE RESTRICTED TO STREET MAINTENANCE AND POTHOLE REPAIR IN ALL 15 CITIES AND TOWNS IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY, PLUS OUR COUNTY ROADS AND EXPRESSWAYS.

I’M VOTING YES" ON B – BECAUSE I’M SICK OF POTHOLES.

No on Proposition 24

2010-09-27T08:54:00.000-07:00

Last week, KLIV's Jason Bennert presented an excellent series on California budget propositions, including Proposition 24.

While accuracy is all too often a casualty in political campaigns, the inaccurate statements by a San Jose State University professor urging support of Prop 24 need to be corrected.

First, background:

Proposition 24 was placed on the ballot by the powerful California Teachers Association to rescind three state tax measures passed with bi-partisan support to make California employers more competitive with other states, let alone other nations.

In defending Prop 24, the professor claimed the tax provisions would only help a handful of large companies. That is false. According to the state's own Franchise Tax Board, Prop 24 would negatively impact 120,000 California employers, large and small.

The Rose Institute of Local and State Government estimates Prop 24 could cost another 322,000 jobs and $1.8 billion in lost tax revenues.

Our tax laws should encourage job growth, not penalize it. Vote NO on Prop 24.

Support for Measure A

2010-09-09T15:14:00.000-07:00

We recently took our one-year old daughter Siena to her doctor for a check-up.

Yet for 15,000 kids in Silicon Valley, the poorest of the poor, preventative medicine is a dream, and health care coverage comes only in the form of emergency room visits, underwritten by all of us at tremendous cost.

Fortunately, here in Silicon Valley creative minds came together in 2001 – business, labor, doctors and the county to form the Healthy Kids Program. Healthy Kids has provided basic health insurance – medical, dental, vision – for kids 19 and under whose families earn less than $66,000 a year.

Healthy Kids now covers more than 95 percent of the Valley’s poorest children, but thousands of kids still lack basic coverage.

On November 2nd, we can ensure that 100 percent of the kids in our Valley have health care - by supporting “Measure A” on the countywide ballot. Measure A will raise roughly $13 million each year, funded through a modest parcel tax of $29 dollars annually. Make no mistake – we either pay a modest amount by passing Measure A, or we can pay much more when poor kids without insurance show up in our emergency rooms or sick in our classrooms.

Measure A is the wiser way.

Backpacks for kids who need them

2010-09-03T10:29:00.000-07:00

My five-year old daughter started Kindergarten this week. She and 19 other three-feet tall children excitedly entered Dave’s Avenue Elementary School in our small town of Los Gatos, each with smiles on their faces and new backpacks on their backs.

In Los Gatos, overwhelmingly, our kids are blessed with wealth and opportunity.

Yet in many ways Silicon Valley is a tale of two Valleys, with pockets of poverty in too many neighborhoods and too many schools.

We can help. This week, the Leadership Group hosted U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein at Marvell Semiconductor, with more than 400 Valley leaders.

With only 72 hours notice, we encouraged our guests to each bring a backpack – filled with school supplies – for kids less fortunate than our own. More than 100 people brought backpacks with them.

200 kids at Rocket Ship elementary schools now have new school supplies as they start the new year. But there are 1,400 kids at Rocket Ship’s three San Jose campuses, with nine of every ten children qualifying for the Federal Government’s “Free and Reduced Lunch Program.” You can help. As our kids return to school, contact me if you can help to place a backpack on a young student’s back.

Silicon Valley Projections Summit

2010-08-25T15:14:00.000-07:00

If California is heading off of the proverbial cliff, then who is going to save it from destruction?

The job of fixing California – our economy, our state government – is too big for any one person, organization, or company, but it is entirely possible if we all pull together, and lift our state out of the abyss.

If you’re frustrated with a legislature that seems broken – already 60 days late on a state budget, which is $20 billion in the whole.

If you’re frustrated with a statewide unemployment rate of 12.4 percent, or worse yet – you’re one of those people currently unemployed or underemployed.

If you’re frustrated with the multitude of studies ranking California’s business climate as the least friendly in the nation for job creation and retention. Then you need to join us Thursday morning, September 16, at Santa Clara University, for our 14th Annual “Silicon Valley Projections Summit,” when real people – 600 strong – come together for a half-day of interactive panel discussions on the important theme of “Economic Recovery and Government Reform.”

Learn more at the Silicon Valley Leadership Group web site at svlg.org. Sign up, show up & speak up. California’s future is worth it.

Great news for Silicon Valley

2010-08-18T13:59:00.000-07:00

For those who think Silicon Valley’s best days are behind us- I have great news to share.

When it comes to Venture Capital funding – those entrepreneurs who place their wallets where there words are – the results are in for the second quarter of investment throughout the United States. In the past 90 days, $6.5 billion was invested across the country, with an amazing 45 percent invested right here in Silicon Valley – a whopping $2.9 billion. No other region in the country received more than single digits, other than Southern California, with 13 percent.

There’s more good news. VC’s are placing their bets on a green energy economy, with the biggest beneficiaries going to the renewable energy sector – whose job growth continues to be the rainbow on an otherwise dark cloud in California’s economy. In fact, while California was losing jobs during this downturn, renewable energy jobs increased by five percent.

This past quarter, the Bay Area had seven of the ten biggest VC deals, with electric car infrastructure company Better Place of Palo Alto securing the biggest deal in the country at $350 million.

Silicon Valley: Proving once again that a green economy attracts the biggest stack of green backs.

A's to San Jose

2010-08-12T10:15:00.000-07:00

Silicon Valley and San Jose are known world-wide for innovation and invention.

Yet when it comes to sports and cultural amenities for our workers and their families, we're still in the minor leagues.

This November, citizens of San Jose can change that. Thanks to the leadership of Mayor Chuck Reed, Councilmember Sam Liccardo and their Council colleagues- along with civic boosters like businessman Michael Mulcahy and former Mayor Susan Hammer- the A's may bring Major League Baseball to downtown San Jose.

Here's the pitch:

- First,the A's would be responsible for 100 percent of the cost of building, operating and maintaining the ballpark.
- Second, the proposal brings more than 1,000 new jobs to San Jose.
- Third, the stadium is only a line drive away from CalTrain and Light Rail, and the future of BART connection to San Jose
- And bringing it home. the Mayor's proposal calls for no new taxes.

I call this a home run, and encourage the City Council to place the stadium proposal on the November ballot. A major-league economy deserves Major League Baseball.

Best Buddies and the Hearst Castle Challenge

2010-08-03T10:17:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, I interviewed Best Buddies Founder, Anthony Kennedy Shriver on "The CEO Show". Anthony is the son of Eunice Shriver, who founded the Special Olympics and Sargeant Shriver, the driving force behind the creation of The Peace Corps.

Best Buddies is the world's largest organization that links people with and without Intellectual and Developmental disabilities, with chapters in all 50 states and 46 countries, currently serving more than 700,000 people.

This cutting edge non-profit cuts close to home. My wife Leslee & I lost our unborn son, Immanuel, on February 7, 2008, who had been diagnosed with multiple, severe intellectual and developmental abnormalities. In his honor, we are joining Best Buddies for their "Hearst Castle Challenge" bicycle ride September 11, riding from Carmel to the Castle to raise funds for this amazing program.

Turning a negative into a positive - that is what we do here in Silicon Valley. Please, check out Best Buddies on the web. Join us on the ride, or support our ride. Let's make a difference for people with - and without - disabilities.

California's Education System

2010-07-27T17:13:00.000-07:00

Growing up here in the 1960’s and 70’s, California’s K-12 education system was the envy of the earth.

But we have gone from first - to close to worst – in math scores, reading scores, and drop-out rates.

Our kids deserve better.

Kudos to the Obama Administration for their reform efforts centered around a competitive program called “Race to the Top.” Dangling a carrot of several billion dollars, states have pushed forward reforms in the hopes of securing additional federal funds.

In the first round, California didn’t get a dime, but we did get some key accountability reforms through the California Legislature.

Now it's time for “Race to the Top” - Round Two - and California was selected as a finalist. As our application moves forward, we hope our state leaders will put kids first by emphasizing the following:

• Requiring both teacher and principal evaluations to be based, in part, on student performance
• ensuring effective teachers and principals are placed in low-performing and high-poverty schools and
• using robust data to turn around low-performing schools.

We can improve California’s schools – our kids deserve the best.

Attend Plug-in Public Night

2010-07-21T10:04:00.000-07:00

For years, automakers in America and abroad eschewed the idea that car-buyers would be interested in electric vehicles. Now, they are embracing it.

Just here in Silicon Valley, we have electric vehicle automakers like Tesla, and infrastructure suppliers like Better Place and Coulumb Technologies making strong advances in the market. Traditional automobile manufacturers like Chevrolet, Ford, Mitsubishi, Nissan and Toyota are embracing the electric vehicle and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle space, with major brands rolling off of assembly lines as early as 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Whether its for environmental or economic reasons - car makers and customers alike - are embracing the electric vehicle market.

Here’s your opportunity. Join the Silicon Valley Leadership Group and our partners at EPRI on Tuesday night, July 27 at the San Jose Convention Center for our “Plug-In Public Night” to see these cars for yourself.

For more information, go to our web site at svlg.org. Here’s your chance to get charged up about the cars of the future – today.

Rev. Paul Locatelli

2010-07-14T16:27:00.000-07:00

On Monday, Silicon Valley lost a giant. Father Paul Locatelli, former President of Santa Clara University, passed away from pancreatic cancer. He was 71 years old.

Paul turned an inward-focused institution into a community-focused University that taught students to be both educated and ethical. In a Valley filled with smart people, Father Locatelli was both smart – and wise.

Paul was a giant – not because he towered over others, but because he lowered himself to lift others up.

He served on my Board of Directors at the Silicon Valley Leadership Group for nearly a decade, joining 27 of Silicon Valley’s top tech CEOs. When Paul spoke, we all listened. He served as our champion for the BART Extension, and several education initiatives. He was a dear friend and cherished mentor.

He lived his life based on the shortest of scriptures, from the Old Testament book called Micah – “And what does your God require of you? To act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Today, Father Paul Locatelli walks humbly with his God, and we are all the better for having known him.

BART on track

2010-07-07T11:15:00.000-07:00

They say “good things often come in threes,” and that has certainly been true for the long-desired BART extension to Silicon Valley – with three pieces of great news in the past few weeks.

First, on June 24, the federal government announced that the first segment of the 16 mile BART extension met environmental clearance. This 10-mile segment will take the line from Fremont to Milpitas and Berryessa in North San Jose and serve more than 46,000 daily riders by 2030. It will also create thousands of private sector jobs to engineer, design and build the extension.

Second, on June 30, the California Transportation Commission – on which I serve – approved an additional $40 million in state funds towards the extension. Even in tough economic times, the BART extension is viewed as a critical transportation link for Silicon Valley and the Bay Area.

Third, the BART extension remains extremely popular with the voters and taxpayers who will pay for it. In the most recent independent poll, conducted a few weeks ago, 75 percent of Santa Clara County taxpayers support the project, with only 20 percent in opposition.

Thanks to the visionary voters of Santa Clara County, BART to Silicon Valley remains – on track.

e-Impersonation

2010-06-23T10:12:00.000-07:00

I recently sent an email to a well-respected journalist cursing and belittling her story. A friend of mine is a top publisher of a newspaper, who recently emailed his entire newsroom berating their efforts. A school teacher I know recently sent an email attacking a student.

What do we all have in common? We were victims of e-Impersonation. Yes, e-Impersonation. That is where someone creates a fake email account, using your name and email address, and pretends to be you. It’s damaging. It’s ugly. But sadly, currently in California, it’s not necessarily illegal.

As a recent San Jose Mercury News editorial pointed out – “Impersonating someone with the intent to harm, intimidate, threaten or defraud is illegal in California – except when it’s done online.” That’s because existing state law, written in 1872, didn’t anticipate the existence of Facebook, MySpace or other internet sites.

Thanks to the determined leadership of Silicon Valley’s own State Senator Joe Simitian, this online abuse through e-Impersonation may soon be against the law. His bill, SB 1411, passed the State Senate by a near unanimous vote and is now moving through the Assembly. If you have been a victim of e-Impersonation, let me or Senator Simitian know. If you have participated in such inappropriate behavior – stop. Your actions will soon be against the law.

Plug-in Hybrid Prius helps drive innovation

2010-06-17T11:33:00.000-07:00

With the Gulf oil spill continuing to poison America’s coastline, I took my first spin in Toyota’s new demonstration model Plug-In Hybrid Prius. This week, the Silicon Valley Leadership Group and Toyota announced an 18-month partnership that allows the Leadership Group to drive the first three Plug-In Hybrid Prius’ in all of North America during the next 18 months. These innovative new cars will be released in the marketplace in 2012.

Thanks to Coulomb Technologies, we have charging stations sprouting up across America to make this transportation transition possible.

The choice was simple – with 41 percent of the Bay Area’s greenhouse gases generated by our daily transportation decisions, I literally hold the key to our green economy future in my hands. But it means tossing away the key to an economy based on fossil fuels and high gas prices. So, Tuesday, in fine Silicon Valley tradition, I placed my old car on Craig’s List and drove away in my new plug-in Prius.

A clean environment and a green economy. Let’s drive solutions that offer both. Learn more at our Silicon Valley Leadership Group web site at svlg.org.

November 2

2010-06-08T20:32:00.000-07:00

In 150 days, Jerry Brown or Meg Whitman will be elected Governor of California, the eighth largest economy in the world.

With California in crisis, and our great state at a crossroads, we need straight talk and solid solutions from each of these intelligent and articulate candidates. From the perspective of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, we will be asking each candidate the following questions:

· Mr. Brown and Ms. Whitman, how will you solve our State’s perennial budget deficit?

· How will you ensure that California is “Open for Business” to attract and retain employers so that we shrink California’s 12.6 percent unemployment rate?

· How will you grow the Innovation, Clean & Green Tech sectors to both strengthen our economy and enhance our environment?

· How will you adequately fund our schools: Pre-K, K-12 and Higher Ed, while also insisting on results worthy of our kids?

· How will you re-build a teetering transportation system?

Congratulations to both Meg Whitman and Jerry Brown for their success in the primary election. Now to the real task; tell us how you will lead the Golden State back to greatness. In Silicon Valley, we don’t care about attacks about who is too far left or too far right. We want solid solutions that move California forward.

Proposition 14

2010-06-02T12:48:00.000-07:00

We hear it all the time, “Sacramento is broken.” Those saying it often throw up their hands, as if to say that the problem is too big to fix.

Yes, the challenges are great, but California voters can take a big step forward to fix Sacramento by passing Proposition 14, the Open Primary on the June 8 ballot.

California’s current primary election system is dominated by party activists and entrenched special interests, forcing candidates to run to the political extremes. This leads to a legislature in which common ground solutions are often eschewed in favor of ideological party purity.

Under Proposition 14, candidates would have to appeal to a broad electorate, because every primary voter would have the opportunity to vote for any candidate, regardless of party affiliation. This structure – similar to what we use to elect city council members – would create room for a new generation of problem-solvers in the legislature.

That’s why business leaders who comprise the Silicon Valley Leadership Group back Proposition 14. We are Democrats, Republicans and Independents. But first and foremost, we are Californians. And we are dedicated to getting our state back on track. Please – join us. For more information, visit svlg.org.

Clean Cars

2010-05-27T15:54:00.000-07:00

With 41 percent of the greenhouse gases emitted in the Bay Area coming from our daily transportation decisions, the announcement by Tesla Motors and Toyota last week to build up to 20,000 new Electric Vehicles per year at the recently shuttered NUMMI plant in Fremont could not come at a better time for our environment or our economy.

It also reinforces Silicon Valley’s leadership position in clean and green tech, to include clean and green cars.

In addition to the Tesla/Toyota deal, Silicon Valley is also home to companies creating the infrastructure needed for electric vehicles to exist.
• Coulumb Technologies of Campbell, which makes electric vehicle charging stations, and Better Place of Palo Alto, which makes charging centers to switch out batteries rather than filling up tanks of gas, are two innovative examples of not only what is to come, but what is already here.
• Innovative steps are also being taken for Personal Rapid Transit – PodCars – that are fast, flexible and financially feasible to link San Jose International Airport with CalTrain, Light Rail and the future BART extension.

Silicon Valley is proving again, that we are inventing the future today, in a way that creates jobs and strengthens the environment.

Enraged or engaged

2010-05-11T18:06:00.000-07:00

With voter frustration aimed at both Washington and Sacramento, we are left with a choice: We can be enraged, or engaged.

At the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, we find it much more productive to engage.

That is why we recently led a delegation of 50 executives to Sacramento for in-depth, one-on-one dialogues with 65 out of 120 Members of the California Legislature - on education, housing, the BART extension, jobs, the environment, energy, and health care.

It's why this past week, under the leadership of SunPower CEO Tom Werner, we took a delegation of 70 CEOs and Senior Officers to DC for similar meetings with 100 Key Members of the House and Senate on jobs and competitiveness; focusing on energy, taxes, the federal deficit, education, immigration, transportation, housing and health care.

Our CEOs are Republicans, Democrats and Independents. First and foremost, we are Americans - and, like you, we are concerned about our state and nation; yet - also like you - committed to its success.

We will continue to bring innovation and ideas to Sacramento and Washington. Give us your ideas. Visit our web site at svlg.org and get engaged. America is worth the effort.

Silicon Valley priorities

2010-04-27T18:20:00.000-07:00

Last week, the Silicon Valley Leadership Group released its Annual “CEO Survey,” completed by 153 Valley CEOs with combined annual revenues exceeding $1.7 trillion dollars.

The good news – there is good news. By an eight to one ratio, CEOs see hiring within their companies in 2010. For a Valley with an unemployment rate of 12 percent, this could not happen soon enough.

The CEOs also identified issues at the local, state and federal levels that would strengthen our economy and increase our ability to add jobs. It is vital that policy makers partner with the Valley to accomplish the goal of job creation.

At the local level, that means a renewed focus on K-12 education, transportation improvements and more affordable homes.

At the state level, it means much more focus on K-12 and higher education, competitive tax policies, traffic relief and housing.

In D.C., it means health care, the federal deficit, climate change, competitive tax policies and Immigration Reform for high-skilled workers.

What does it mean to you and I? Ask candidates at every level in the June election how their priorities match up against the Valley’s priorities to create jobs and strengthen our economy. Keep them accountable. And vote accordingly.

Obesity In America

2010-04-13T11:28:00.000-07:00

I recently watched the NBC Special on the Hawaii Ironman World Championships.

1,800 amazingly fit athletes, almost all amateurs, swimming 2.4 miles, biking 112 miles and running 26.2 miles – all through the heat and humidity that form the lava fields of Hawaii.

I then picked up this week’s Economist Magazine and my inspiration turned to alarm as I read about the unhealthy lifestyles of most Americans:

In a sentence, we’ve become a country of couch potatoes . . .

34 percent of Americans are Obese.
Two of every three Americans – 68 percent – are either obese or overweight
More Americans are likely to be overweight than to pay federal income tax
Obese Americans rack up medical bills 42 percent higher than Americans of healthy weights.

The good news? Our density is not our destiny.

Overweight?

First, consult your doctor. Find out what you can do.
A good start is just walking 30 minutes at least three times per week.
Select fruits and vegetables over chips and dip.
Turn off the TV and put on your tennis shoes.

You may never become an Ironman, but every woman – and man – can lead a healthy lifestyle, a longer life and a fitter future.

AB32 - Protecting our Enivornment & Economy

2010-03-31T16:23:00.000-07:00

A strong economy – Or – A healthy environment.

In Silicon Valley, we know this is not an either/or decision – but an And. We can have both a strong economy and a healthy environment – In fact, we must.

Four years ago, California enacted AB 32 – the Global Warming Solutions Act – reducing greenhouse gas emissions, curtailing our over-dependence on foreign oil and strengthening our renewable energy economy.
Sadly, Texas oil companies like Valero are bank-rolling a ballot measure to stop AB 32, muscling in with campaign contributions of $1 million apiece.

At a time when Californians need jobs the most, clean & green jobs are a bright spot on California’s otherwise cloudy economy.
- Between 1995 & 2008, green jobs grew by 36 percent, while total jobs grew by only 13 percent.
- And when California’s economy plummeted in 2007 & 2008, green jobs grew by 5 percent. These jobs are fueling our economic recovery. Texas oil companies are trying to siphon off our economic success, leaving us plugged in to their pumps.

Let’s remind out-of-state special interests that we know better in Silicon Valley. Let’s fight for a strong economy AND a healthy environment. Let’s protect AB 32.

Made in Silicon Valley

2010-03-03T09:35:00.000-08:00

Joe Simitian recently shared the best advice he’s ever received – “A winner is a loser who never gave up.”
It’s also one of the reasons why Silicon Valley is so resilient. We don’t give up. Waves of innovation have come and gone, yet they continue to happen here in Silicon Valley, and it’s no coincidence.
First, it was electronics and defense, then semiconductors, personal computers, software, the internet and now clean & green tech.
I’ve heard recent reports that Silicon Valley is on the ropes. I disagree. Yes, we have challenges to face, and we must face them with steely-eyed determination. Yet we have incredible strengths to celebrate.

Universities – Silicon Valley is home to three of the top 15 Universities in the world.
Diversity – We attract the world’s top talent, with 53 percent of our engineers & 50 percent of our Company CEOs born abroad – selecting Silicon Valley as home to create and innovate.
Venture Capital – VC’s continue to put their wallets where there words are, with more than 40 percent of VC investment in the U.S. going to firms headquartered here.

Yes, we have challenges – housing, traffic, education. But we have a choice: We can roll over and give up, or we can roll up our sleeves and succeed. That’s what we do at the Leadership Group: Tackle our challenges, celebrate our strengths. Please, join us.

Government Reform

2010-02-16T17:57:00.000-08:00

This past Friday, the Bay Area Council announced it was suspending its efforts for two November ballot initiatives calling for a Constitutional Convention. The reason was straightforward – in this economy, the funds necessary to qualify the measures for the ballot were too difficult to develop.

While I have previously expressed my concerns about the Convention concept, it is vitally important that the leaders at the Bay Area Council not lose heart on their goal – which is to enact major budget and governance reforms to repair California.

The Bay Area Council, through its “Repair California” initiatives, has played a critical role as an outside, respected voice for reform. They have galvanized citizens throughout the state to get engaged – rather than enraged – in a meaningful way to strengthen our state. For their efforts, they deserve much more than our applause. They also deserve our encouragement to continue the discussions they have been having throughout the past year with other reform movements outside and inside the state Capitol.

Specifically, I hope the leaders at the Bay Area Council, under the direction of CEO Jim Wunderman and past Board Chairman Lenny Mendonca, will continue their conversations with California Forward, the effort funded by venerable foundations like Silicon Valley’s Hewlett Foundation and Packard Foundation.

California Forward’s efforts have focused on a specific set of important budget and governance reforms that they believe add up to comprehensive proposal: Protect local tax dollars; Demand an identified funding source for any new state program; Enact a two-year budget cycle, to name a few. They have invested the past few years researching the other 49 states to determine what each state is doing in the areas of budget and governance reform, what is actually working, and what might be transferable to California. With roughly 15 individual recommendations, each component part packaged together adds up to a comprehensive plan. I may not agree with all 15 individual parts, but I strongly support about 13 of the 15 – a great start.

So how do these two important efforts fit together?

From its inception, the Council’s “Repair California” provided a clear voice and a positive vision for everyday Californians frustrated with our broken governance system. It has provided the heart that any grass-roots effort needs in order to endure. The Council kept the call for reform on the front burner, with front-page newspaper coverage, blogs, TV and radio up and down the state. This sophisticated citizen outreach should not be set aside. While California Forward has studiously researched what is broken and specific ways to fix it, it has not been nearly as successful in getting everyday citizens to engage in its efforts.

Imagine these two important forces working as one. Head and Heart. Grassroots and Grass-Tops. Precise reforms with Passionate outreach. Californians, we have a rare moment in time to act. If these two groups pull together, with support from you, me and 38 million Californians, we can Repair California. We can move California Forward.

Women & Girls Summit

2010-02-10T10:01:00.000-08:00

Nine months ago next Tuesday, my life changed forever. An attorney called from Ogden, Utah and said, "If you can fly here tomorrow, we have a newborn baby you can adopt. Excited & euphoric, Leslee & I jumped on expedia, hopped on an airplane & flew to Salt Lake. The next morning, just 36 hours old, our 5 pound newborn adopted baby girl Siena Alexandra left the hospital in our arms.

Born to a wonderful teenage mother, our daughter is 100 % Latina. We are proud of her rich ethnic heritage. We are also concerned by what we have learned about the lack of educational achievement of too many Latino young people not only in Ogden, but also here in Silicon Valley.

Right here In Santa Clara County, three out of four Hispanic girls do not pass the minimum requirements to be eligible for college. For Hispanic boys, it is even more alarming – with more than four out of five not meeting those basic college eligibility requirements.

Right here In Santa Clara County, only three of every ten sixth grade Hispanic students were proficient in mathematics.

Right here in Santa Clara County, nearly 60 percent of the High School Drop-outs in 2009 were Hispanic, even though they account for less than 35 percent of the High School student population.

That is why this Friday, right here in Santa Clara County, the Silicon Valley Leadership Group is partnering with NASA and numerous high-tech companies to host our Inaugural “Women & Girls Leadership Summit” at an ethnically rich, but economically poor, middle school in downtown San Jose. Peter Burnett Academy, with a student population that is 96 percent non-white and 86 percent Latino – is a great school with wonderful children, but who also face challenges that many of us will never know. More than 76 percent of these kids qualify for the Federal Governments “Free & Reduced Lunch Program” and nearly 50 percent are English Language Learners.

This Friday, we hope to take a positive step to reverse the current educational trends. The reason is simple - these are wonderful, hopeful kids, not hopeless statistics. That is why we are bringing on campus to directly dialogue and interact with nearly 450 middle school girls, more than 150 women tech executives and public official leaders. Congressmember Jackie Speier, NBC Bay Area Morning Anchor Laura Garcia-Canon, former HP CEO Carly Fiorina, Metric Stream CEO Shellye Archambeau and dozens of others.

Free this Friday? Join us. Visit the Silicon Valley Leadership Group web site and click on the "Women & Girls Summit" icon on our home page. Come to inspire young girls. Leave inspired by them.

Care to comment? You can comment on this or my past "Food for Thought" Commentaries by clicking on "The CEO Show" icon on the Leadership Group Web Site.

And now, back to my colleague Dennis Cima to wrap-up tonight's show.

Higher Education

2010-02-03T08:54:00.000-08:00

This week, I was asked to testify in our state Capitol before the Joint Committee on the Master Plan for Higher Education.

Seated before a dozen Senators and Assemblymembers, I focused on a simple truth – California’s historically outstanding higher education system – both public and private schools – has fostered our global high-tech leadership. Silicon Valley would not be the world’s innovation capital if not for the excellence of our UC, CSU and Community College systems.

Each year, The Economist magazine rates the top 15 Universities in the world. Silicon Valley and the Bay Area are home to three of the top 15 – Stanford, UC Berkeley and UCSF. Locally, San Jose State University produces more of our engineers, and more of our classroom teachers, than any other university in the region. Our community colleges offer an outstanding education at an affordable price.

And, it is a little known fact that roughly 30 percent of middle-and upper-middle income jobs – both in high-tech and bio-tech – only require a community college degree or a certificate.

As our state looks at another round of budget cuts exceeding $20 billion over the next 18 months, let’s keep in mind the importance of a world-class higher education system. Silicon Valley’s success depends on attracting top talent from around the globe – and that top talent often starts here by coming to our universities to earn their education. Our strength has been in attracting top talent here, educating those talented young people here, and then allowing them to work, innovate and create right here.

Leaders in Sacramento, continue to invest in our future. It is vital to our economy, good for our state budget and important to our citizens, present and future.

That is my view. What do you think? Write them here and contact your state legislators to share your views. Let’s build a future for California even brighter than the one we inherited. Never forget, democracy is a participation sport. Join me. Get into the game.

Governance Reform

2010-01-25T15:19:00.000-08:00

There's a lot of talk in Sacramento and around the state these days about budget and governance reform. That's good - with an unemployment rate about 12 percent, a Legislature who's approval ratings in today’s Field Poll hover at 16 percent and a Capital filled primarily with well-meaning people who lack the tools they need for success, it is time for substantive, specific and comprehensive reforms.

So where to start? Here are some ideas:

First, change the state budget process.

* Move to performance-based budgeting, where what the state spends of our tax dollars is actually measured against whether it efficiently and effectively produces the outcomes we were promised.

* Emphasize strong oversight of existing expenditures. Some states, like Texas, legislate one year and focus on over-sight of existing programs the next year. California should consider a similar system.

* Create a Sunset Review process to determine whether there is a continuing need for existing commissions, agencies and programs.

* Require the state auditor to participate in oversight hearings and report on whether past recommendations were enacted.

Second, reform the initiative process.

* Require initiatives that propose new spending to specifically propose how to pay for that spending.

* Require that one-time revenues only be used for one-time, rather than on-going, purposes.

Third, unshackle well-meaning legislators from the power of political party caucuses and the special interests that fund them.

* Pass the Open Primary Initiative on this year's June election ballot. Specifically, let’s change the state primary election nomination process for Congressional, Statewide and Legislative Elections to allow all voters to choose any candidate, and the top two candidates become the nominees for the November general election run-off, regardless of their political party.

There is a lot of talk about reforming the way our state government functions today, or more accurately, does not function. When people talk to you of reform, demand specifics rather than generalities.

These are a few of the specifics I would like to see in any comprehensive reform proposals seeking my support. Equally important, what are your priorities? Tell your Legislators and the Governor the reforms you want to see. This isn't a time to take pitch forks to Sacramento. Rather, it is a time we all pitched in to save and strengthen our state. Never forget, our Democracy was not created for us to sit on the sidelines. Get engaged and move things forward.

Health Care Reform

2010-01-19T17:14:00.000-08:00

Here is some "Food for Thought" that aired Tuesday on 1590 AM KLIV during "The CEO Show," which I host:

Currently, Congress and President Obama are putting their final touches on what they hope will be comprehensive health care reform. Since health care accounts for one-sixth of the American economy, the decisions they make will impact the lives and livelihoods of almost every American.

From my perspective and the perspective of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, there are core elements that we hope will be in any final health care plan: Universal coverage for all Americans; cost containment for individuals and employers; improved quality and coordination of care; an emphasis on wellness, diet and exercise; health IT; and tort reform.

The current House and Senate bills stack up against our priorities as follows:

Universal coverage for all Americans: It looks like 96 percent would be covered; not 100 percent, but much better than today's 85 percent.
Cost Containment: In terms of reducing the cost of health care for individuals and employers, serious concerns remain that the current plans will not reduce costs in the short-term or even the mid-term.
Improved quality: We spend more per capita than any nation in the world but have poor health outcomes. We need quality, not quantity. The bill will create medical homes for patients and providers will be in charge of managing your health, not just treating you and sending you home.
Wellness: Forty percent of American adults are obese or overweight, and nearly 30 percent of children obese or overweight creating an epidemic that triggers largely avoidable serious illnesses like diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and cholesterol. Both bills could and should do more about this.
Health IT: Electronic medical records, electronic prescribing and disease management, telemedicine and other emerging technologies will bring us improved efficiencies, reduction in errors, and better outcomes, all positive byproducts of positive gains in incorporating health IT. This has the potential of being a strong aspect of a final bill.
Tort Reform: Avoiding frivolous lawsuits against doctors has proven to lower costs in states that have adopted thoughtful tort reform. Currently, such sensible steps are not in either plan.

Comprehensive Health Care Reform: The chances look increasingly certain that something will pass, and be signed by the President, in the days or weeks ahead. I have shared the priority provisions of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. They may or may not be yours. Whatever your priorities might be, pick up your phone or click on your keyboard and contact your Member of Congress.

There is too much at stake to sit on the sidelines of this important national debate.
I welcome your feedback. Never forget, our Democracy was not created for us to sit on the sidelines. Get engaged and move the ball forward.