Subject: Cars of the Future and Other Updates
From: Steve Westly <[email-masked]>
To: Denise Strack <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 12 May 2016 12:30:23 -0400

PRESIDENT OBAMA’S VISIT

SAN JOAQUIN PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

CARS OF THE FUTURE  

HOW CALIFORNIA CAN LEAD ON WATER 

PROTECTING SURVIVORS 

SOLVING STUDENT DEBT

Denise, 

I hope everyone is having a good Spring and that more rain is on the way. 

PRESIDENT OBAMA’S VISIT 

One of the greatest honors a person can have is for the President of United States to visit your home.

On a warm afternoon in early February we were fortunate to have President Obama speak to a crowd of over 400 in our backyard. The crowd was enthusiastic about seeing the President in what may be one of his last visits to our state as President. It’s easy now to forget just how stressed the country was when he took office, but since that time the President has:

--Helped guide the nation through our worst financial crisis since the Depression, laying a groundwork for 72 consecutive months of job growth and creating 8.7 million more jobs

--Passed historic national health care reform, giving 17 million uninsured Americans health care

--Secured substantive reform in K-12 education and catalyzed new investments in community colleges

--Created the Clean Power Plan, reducing  pollution from coal fired power plants 32% by 2030

--And kept our country safe

SAN JOAQUIN PARTNERSHIP AND BUSINESS COUNCIL  

The Central Valley economy has been hit hard, first by the recession and then by California’s punishing drought.  But as I saw when I went to Fresno and Stockton recently,many parts of the Valley, including San Joaquin County, are fighting back by attracting new types of businesses and by emphasizing education, career and technical training.   Last week I spoke to over 250 people at the annual San Joaquin Partnership and Business Council, an influential association of 100 of the leading companies in the area.  Because of San Joaquin county’s proximity to Silicon Valley, it’s growing stature as an infrastructure hub and its renowned agricultural base, the economy of San Joaquin County is beginning to grow again.  I spoke about  how San Joaquin County could harness the power of the sharing economy, big data and the Internet of Things to further expand their potential for job growth.

CARS OF THE FUTURE

There has been a raging debate on how long it will be before we see cars that drive themselves on the road.  That debate ended last October when Tesla brought to market the new model S with self-driving features. Just how much does the car drive itself?  Two Tesla staffers drove from Los Angeles to NYC in just over two days without touching the steering wheel or accelerator for 96% of the trip!  The system of sensors are not perfect, and it will take a few more years before it’s fully self-driving, but you can bet that virtually every other auto maker in the world will be racing to bring their version of self-driving cars to market in the next model year. Self-driving cars are expected to reduce auto accidents by 90% and to significantly reduce traffic congestion.  That’s a big deal in a state where the average Californian spends 82 hours a year in their cars. If that’s not enough, Tesla also announced a feature allowing you to park your car in the garage with your smart phone.  It’s nice to see a California company design, build and manufacture cars that are redefining the industry.

HOW CALIFORNIA CAN LEAD ON WATER  

Last Wednesday, I spoke to the Pacific Council on International Policy, a distinguished group of leaders from business, media, politics, academia, and law, about how California can use common sense public policy combined with new technologies to help conserve more water cost effectively.

Singapore, Israel, Australia and other countries facing severe water shortages have led the way in developing software and technology that enables more efficient use of water.  With its track record of technological innovation and a can-do spirit of turning crisis into opportunity, California has the ability to lead  the world in water resources technology.   

For a look at some of the most exciting new tools to manage water use, you may want to read an op-ed that I wrote recently for the San Jose Mercury News at  http://bayareane.ws/1QJcC5r

RISE  -  ENSURING VICTIM’S RIGHTS

I’ve long been bothered by how little attention violence against women has gotten in this country. But, at long last, it has become a topic of serious discussion, with more substantive action being taken to address the whole range offenses against women, from sexual harassment in the workplace to rape on college campuses.  That is why I’ve decided to throw my wholehearted support behind Rise, a new organization dedicated to passing legislation to guarantee that victims of sexual assault have their rights protected.  Called a “Survivor Bill of Rights”, it ensures victims that their legal rights are protected, that they are told the result, status and location of their rape kits and that they are kept informed of the final disposition of their case.  To spur more action, I participated in a national webinar last month with Rise’s co-founder, Amanda Nguyen and legislators from around the country to press both federal and state lawmakers to pass legislation guaranteeing a Survivor Bill of Rights.  I have personally committed to raising $20,000 for Rise and if you would like to contribute as well, please contact Nikki Bizzarri at [email-masked].  In a country in which there are 25 million survivors of sexual assault, I feel strongly that it’s time we all do something concrete to help.

TACKLING STUDENT DEBT

Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world. That was true when Nelson Mandela said it in 2003, and it’s even more true today. A college graduate today will earn nearly $1 million more on average over her lifetime than a high school graduate. Yet for many young people, what determines whether they graduate from college is not whether they have the grades, but whether they have the money. 

College is too important to be available only to a lucky few. California must guarantee that every young person can afford to earn a college degree. The good news is we can do this with three targeted interventions, and none requires billions of taxpayer dollars. 

First, we must rein in the cost of college tuition. Adjusting for inflation, tuition has nearly tripled at the University of California and Cal State schools over the past twenty years.

The legislature must insist that UCs and CSUs maximize efficiency. In the past few years, UCs have saved over $426 million through the Working Smarter initiative, which reformed administrative and procurement practices. CSUs have saved $37 million by using new technologies and sharing network equipment. 

Second, no student should go bankrupt paying off a student loan. The average UC and CSU student now leaves school with over $18,000 of debt. Students should not become saddled with huge loans without understanding what they’re taking on. California should require UCs and CSUs to provide students basic education on financial literacy and loan repayment plans.

Third, we must ensure students who start college leave with a degree. Today, only 60% of full-time students graduate within eight years. Ohio, Wisconsin, and Florida have found targeted grants of a couple thousand dollars to lower-income students can substantially increase graduation rates. California should do the same.

The equation is simple: California cannot lead the 21st century economy if our young people cannot afford a college degree. This is an economic imperative, as well as a moral one. And it’s a challenge we can meet without saddling taxpayers with an enormous bill. 

Lastly, I hope everyone has had a great Mother's Day. 

Thank you. 

Steve

The Office of Steve Westly
325 Sharon Park Drive
#109
Menlo Park CA 94025 United States

If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please https://act.myngp.com/el/-7466163723046942720/743085811311904768.