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A Silicon Valley Leadership Group Update: May 2019 
CELEBRATING WINS!
Progress: Clean Energy Financing Clearinghouse 

For more than two years, the Silicon Valley Leadership Group has supported the creation of a Clean Energy Financing Clearinghouse in California. This is needed to coordinate the 40+ programs in state government that already exist to provide financing for clean energy technologies. Recently, Energy Vice President Tim McRae met with Governor Newsom's chief economic adviser, Lenny Mendonca, to discuss the proposal. He pledged to work to implement the proposal with existing state resources this year, and will work with us to include funding for it in next year's state budget.

The Bay Area Metro and Housing Visionary Awards

On June 6, two awards were given out, one in Oakland, California, and one in Washington D.C., recognizing the efforts of the Leadership Group and partner organizations.

The Bay Area Metro Award was given to Carl Guardino of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, Gabriel Metcalf of SPUR (accepting the award for Gabriel was Alicia John-Baptiste), and Jim Wunderman of Bay Area Council for their leadership in getting Regional Measure 3 passed. Through bridge toll hikes, the measure will raise $4.45 billion to fund transportation improvements and congestion relief projects in the nine Bay Area counties.

The Housing Visionary Award was given to the California Ballot Initiative Team led by Ray Pearl, California Housing Consortium; Lisa Hershey, Housing California; Carl Guardino, Silicon Valley Leadership Group; and Cesar Diaz, State Building and Construction Trades Council of California, for the successful passage of Props 1 and 2, which address the twin crises of housing and homelessness in California.

More Affordable Homes for Families!

The Leadership Group is dedicated to helping solve the housing crisis. Our housing staff had a busy month advocating for new affordable home developments at City Council hearings to great success. We are excited to announce 716 approved new homes in Mountain View, 520 new homes in Redwood City, and 250 new homes in Belmont. Many thanks to the Leadership Group's Matthew Quevedo and Kathleen Wortham, who spoke in support of the Starcity co-living development to bring 800 below market rate new co-living spaces to downtown San Jose.

AROUND THE LEADERSHIP GROUP
Road to the White House: Eric Swalwell

On June 14, the Leadership Group in partnership with KQED presented the third in the series of Road to the White House Town Halls with Congressman Eric Swalwell, who discussed his top campaign priorities including gun violence, health care for all, the reduction of student loan debt, and combating the climate crisis.

Moderated by Marisa Lagos, co-host of KQED's Political Breakdown and the Silicon Valley Leadership Group’s CEO Carl Guardino, the event was hosted by Scoop and introduced by CEO Rob Sadow.

With only eight months before the 2020 presidential primaries, this series introduces presidential candidates to Silicon Valley and ensures that more people hear their policy positions.

Listen to the town hall LIVE on KQED 88.5 FM on Thursday, June 20 at 8:00 pm.

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Q2 Board Meeting Update

On June 13, Leadership Group board members and staff gathered at the UC Santa Cruz Extension in Santa Clara for our second quarter board meeting. Mayor Sam Liccardo made a special presentation on Accessory Dwelling Units.

David Chiu Speaks at Working Council  

On June 7, Assemblymember David Chiu spoke on affordable housing at our Working Council, hosted by member company, Citrix Systems. The assemblymember focused on the need for more affordable housing as well as how the Leadership Group can best affect change in this area. Assemblymember Chiu also took part in an engaging Q&A session, offering a district look into his thoughts on this important issue.

R.E.A.L Coalition Roundtable

Last month, the Regional Economic Association Leaders of California (R.E.A.L.) Coalition hosted its 5th Annual Legislative Advocacy Day in Sacramento. Our delegation included 22 CEOs, senior executives, and directors from across California. In total, we met with five key legislators and constitutional officers on issues of statewide importance, namely addressing Housing, Education and Workforce Development, and Economic Competitiveness.  

A special thank you to California State Controller Betty Yee, Senator Steve Glazer, and Assemblymembers Evan Low, Chris Holden, and David Chiu for meeting with the leaders of our R.E.A.L. Coalition.

Sacramento Advocacy Trip 2019

Our annual Sacramento Advocacy Trip took place on May 20th and 21st, where a delegation of 40 member company representatives and local elected leaders had the opportunity to hear and meet with state legislators to advocate for key issues such as housing, water efficiency, automated vehicles, and more.

Meetings were held with over 35 public officials such as Senator Bill Dodd, Senator Steven Glazer, and Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry. Members and staff also had the opportunity to hear from Assemblymembers Heath Flora, Susan Eggman, Anna Caballero, Shirley Weber as well as Chief of Staff to Governor Newsom Ann O'Leary and Legislative Secretary to Governor Newsom Anthony Williams, during multiple plenary sessions throughout the day.  

Executive Roundtable with Energy Commissioner Genevieve Shiroma

Our second Energy and Environment executive roundtable took place on May 28 at Sunrun. More than 20 of our member company representatives and CEOs met with California Public Utilities Commissioner Genevieve Shiroma to learn about the commissioner’s priorities, and to discuss the Silicon Valley Leadership Group’s collective work around California's Energy and Environmental policy initiatives. 

LEADERSHIP GROUP IN THE COMMUNITY
Energy & Sustainability Summit 2019

On Friday, June 14, at Oracle's Conference Center in Redwood City, the Leadership Group hosted its annual Energy & Sustainability Summit, with the theme Catalyzing Transformational Leadership for Climate Action. From Google, Uber, and Tesla, to SPUR, the Greenlining Institute, and the SF Mayor's Office, the event brought together professionals from the region's leading companies, nonprofits, and public agencies. Keynote speakers included longtime clean tech investor Steve Westly, OPR Director Kate Gordon and Wade Crowfoot, the California Secretary for Natural Resources.

LEADERSHIP GROUP IN THE NEWS
The Sacramento BeeMany Californians are locked into ‘soul-sucking commutes.’ It’s time for a break
Carl Guardino, 5/29/2019

The Mercury NewsBay Area might get its first-ever regional body for affordable housing
Katy Murphy, 5/24/2019

Citizens' Climate LobbySilicon Valley gets in the game for carbon pricing and H.R. 763
Flannery Winchester, 5/21/2019

The Mercury NewsLetter: Ironic that Santa Clara blocked innovative technology
Tim McRae, 5/21/2019

The Mercury NewsGoogle creates mega campus in north San Jose of 1 million square feet with new purchase
George Avalos, 5/17/2019

ABC7: Presidential candidate Julián Castro visits Santa Clara
Chris Nguyen, 5/17/2019

The Mercury NewsSVLG CEO: All can make a difference in solving housing issues
Rose Meily, 5/17/2019

Harvard Business News: How to Attract Startups and Tech Companies to a City Without Relying on Tax Breaks
Jeffrey Bussgang, Craig Montuori, William Brah, 5/15/2019

The Mercury News: San Jose: Mayor proposes new ADU program to boost housing
Emily Deruy, 5/15/2019

San Francisco Chronicle: Polls show support for Caltrain sales tax in 2020, but is it enough?
Michael Cabanatuan, 5/14/2019

The Mercury News: Opinion: Shaping Redwood City Saltworks is a discussion worth having
Carl Guardino, 5/8/2019
LEADER BLOG UPDATES
Game Changers 2020 Essay Series:

Every Friday, we publish an essay by our Game Changers 2020 authors. Subjects include game changing ethics or technological innovation. Read the latest essays below.
 
Opportunities for All
Tech Companies are Hiring 85% of ”40-year-old Interns”
Fostering Ideas of Community From the Individual to the Whole
The Real Value of News
Principle of Dignity
One Solution to the Housing Crisis is in our Own Backyards
Written by Carl Guardino, CEO of the Leadership Group
Published: June 5, 2019

The challenges to purchasing or renting a home in the 9-County Bay Area reflect and amplify the housing crisis facing almost all of California. 

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Many Californians are locked into ‘soul-sucking commutes.’ It’s time for a break.
Written by Carl Guardino, CEO of the Leadership Group
Published: May 31, 2019

Whether road or rail, bikes or buses, California is locked in gridlock.

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Carl’s Comments: Successful Launch of Road to the White House Series!
Written by Carl Guardino, CEO of the Leadership Group
Published: May 23, 2019

The Leadership Group, in partnership with KQED, is working to ensure that Bay Area residents have a much better sense of each candidate.

Read More
Migration and Silicon Valley: Who is coming? Who is going?
Written by Brian Brennan, Senior Vice President, Silicon Valley Leadership Group
Published: May 21, 2019

Skilled arrivals from outside the United States are powering the Valley’s economy more than ever before.

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Advocating for Affordable Housing in the Bay Area
Written by Nathan Ho, Senior Director of Housing and Community Development, Silicon Valley Leadership Group
Published: May 15, 2019

Every May, we join other housing advocates in Affordable Housing events across the Bay Area.

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UPCOMING EVENTS
Date: Friday, August 9, 2019
Time: 7:30 am - 2:00 pm
Where: NetApp, Sunnyvale     

Join 400 leaders from business, education and the public sector for Silicon Valley’s premier education and talent development conference. Through TED-style talks and interactive workshops, participants at the Silicon Valley Leadership Group Education Summit will explore how to better serve students and upskill the workforce for the future world of work.
Register Now!
PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY

The SF Bay Area Council of the Scouts holds its 2nd Annual Science and Technology Innovation Awards Dinner on June 19 at the Mark Hopkins in San Francisco. Our honorees are Nobel Laureate Dr. Stephen Chu and Dr. Alex Fillipenko, UC Berkeley Astronomy Department Chair. Your support benefits 15,000+ boys and girls in our STEM Programs. It also supports life skills training in integrity, citizenship and leadership. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Click here for more info and to register.

Welcoming New Members

East West Bank  •  The Connor Group  •  Postmates
Lime  •  Lumentum 
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