INDUSTRY WRAPUPS

From the May 28, 2004 print edition

McPeak calls for CEQA reform, 20-year housing growth plans

by Steve Ginsberg

TMGs' 20th anniversary celebration May 18 at San Francisco's City Club was a lot more interesting than your typical self-congratulatory cocktail mixer.

Ffounder David Martin invited Intuit founder Scott Cook, Chiron co-founder Ed Penhoet and Sunne Wright McPeak, head of California's business, transportation and housing agency, to discuss what has gone right and wrong the past 20 years. They also looked into the next 20 years with futurist Paul Saffo, who moderated.

McPeak stole the show, telling developers in attendance that the California Environmental Quality Act needs to be reformed and that "each city in California should have in its general plan a housing plan to meet growth needs over the next 20 years."

The mood in the room was one of fear. Fear that China and India were stealing jobs, while California's infrastructure and educational systems were breaking down at a time when environmentalists were scuttling housing progress with CEQA challenges. The panelists tried to assuage some of those fears, saying that the gains in India and China will ultimately benefit the region. Cook predicted that the vacant office space in Silicon Valley will be filled by companies that manage content (i.e., Google) not necessarily the content creators.

McPeak wants to see more private sector involvement in California's future and predicts Gov. Schwarzenegger will win back jobs. He is filming commercials to lure business back to California that will be shown in foreign countries shortly.

Steve Ginsberg can ber reached at sfginsberg@bizjournals.com.

©2004 American City Business Journals Inc.