Dear Friend of Joint Venture: Joint Venture has been busy over the summer months and our August update hits a few of the highlights. You can also keep up with us on Facebook, Linked In, and Twitter. And you can count on our website to provide current, in-depth information about all of our programs and initiatives. Yours, Russell Hancock President & Chief Executive Officer

In this issue:

• Silicon Valley Mayors OK Regional Climate Action Plan
• KLIV Radio Special on State Constitutional Convention
• Seats Remain for July 31 Public Forum on Constitutional Convention
• Article of the Month: What Detroit Can Learn from Silicon Valley
• Joint Venture Spotlight – Mike Scanlon, SamTrans

Silicon Valley Mayors OK Regional Climate Action Plan at Landmark Summit

Mayors of more than two dozen Silicon Valley cities agreed to collaborate on a regional climate action plan presented to them last month at the first Silicon Valley Mayors Summit in San Jose.
Convened by Joint Venture and hosted by San Jose Mayor (and Joint Venture co-chair) Chuck Reed, the June 30 meeting was the first of its kind to discuss the region’s leadership in clean technology and innovation.

The mayors and other representatives of cities and towns from Daly City to Gilroy heard presentations on the current innovation habitat, Joint Venture’s Climate Prosperity Initiative and the Climate Change Compact headed by the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. By meeting’s end the mayors agreed to:

• Present the Bay Area Climate Compact to their councils for consideration
• Monitor the activities of the Joint Venture Climate Prosperity Council
• Set regional goals for supporting and stimulating the local clean/green economy and measure their progress annually
• Work toward promoting the growth of the Smart Grid and electric vehicle infrastructure
• Create working groups to consider co-standard fees, permits and the possibility for regional uniformity

Joint Venture will provide a web portal for the mayors to access materials and information, and will send them quarterly progress updates.

Vasconcellos, Wunderman Discuss Constitutional Convention on KLIV Aug. 14

Former State Senator John Vasconcellos and Bay Area Council CEO Jim Wunderman will discuss the growing push for a California Constitutional Convention on a special radio program to air on 1590 KLIV AM this month.

The program is the second in a series exploring Silicon Valley issues. Host Russell Hancock will interview Vasconcellos, who served 38 years in the California Legislature, and Wunderman, who has been the most outspoken advocate for a Constitutional Convention.

The show will air on KLIV on Friday, August 14, at 7 p.m. and again at 10 p.m.

Re-Booting California, July 31: Only a Few Seats Left

A few seats are still available for this week’s town hall meeting in Sunnyvale on the movement exploring the possibility of a new Constitutional Convention. The forum will feature panel discussion, constitutional experts and public commentary on repairing our broken state.

The event takes place this Friday, July 31, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon at the AMD Commons Building, 991 Stewart Drive, Sunnyvale (map).  

Click here to register now.

Joint Venture Spotlight

Meet Mike Scanlon

General Manager/CEO, SamTrans, and Co-chair, Grand Boulevard Initiative

Mike Scanlon has to be quick on his feet to keep up with his myriad responsibilities as the as General Manager/CEO of the San Mateo County Transit District and Executive Director of both the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (Caltrain) and the San Mateo County Transportation Authority.

In fact, one might think he wears out his shoes frequently running around the region, the nation and even the globe tending to our regional transit affairs. Not to mention his work as Co-chair of Joint Venture’s Grand Boulevard Initiative and a consuming passion for community involvement.

But Scanlon has a rather unique personal approach to footwear that keeps him relaxed, focused and on his toes. Valley Vision recently visited with Scanlon to talk with him about his career and his vision for the Peninsula.

Articles of the Month:

What Detroit Can Learn from Silicon Valley

The U.S. automobile industry faces the confluence of a worldwide recession, rising fuel prices, environmental demands, globalization of manufacturing, and, most importantly, technological change involving the very nature of the automobile.

In this recent Wall Street Journal editorial, Former Intel CEO Andy Grove argues Silicon Valley’s experience in transforming industries offers key lessons for our government to consider when exercising its influence on the auto industry.