Proposition 14

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.