From Fox & Hounds by Joel Fox

The first annual California Economic Summit sponsored by California Forward and the Think Long Committee saw the answers to California’s economic and political problems rising from the regions of California. At the same time, there was a strong indictment against Sacramento leadership in its efforts to improve economic and governance matters.

Former United States Secretary of State, George Schultz, conference co-chair, said that not only should the conference attendees expect no help from Sacramento, “If Sacramento people find out we’re solving problems, they’ll come in and stop us.”

Carl Guardino, President of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, pointed out that all 120 members of the legislature were repeatedly invited to attend the conference. However, only three were in attendance: Assembly Members Connie Conway and Kristin Olsen and Senator Michael Rubio.

Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom also attended, interviewing New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, and participating in the breakout sessions as participants gathered around separate tables representing fourteen different regions of the state to discuss solutions. Newsom reported that 800 different ideas were floated over a two-hour period and said that the varying solutions from the different regions proves that “one-size fits all” proposals are not the way to go.

Regional leaders put committee reports forward on regulations, infrastructure, workforce, innovation and capital formation. The ideas were collected in a Summit Playbook, which can be found here.

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