Changes

So as everyone laments the fact that San Diego loses another corporate HQ, AMCC Press Release, I was quoted (Union Tribune Article) commenting on it, I told them that while any loss is bad, the workforce should stay intact. It is one thing to move the CEO and CFO's to the valley, it is quite another to move the engineers and key R&D folks, many of whom I am sure are very fond of San Diego.

San Diego needs to get used to the idea that it is not a Corp. HQ town. And that is not all bad!! San Diego should celebrate the innovation that takes place in San Diego and the hundreds of small technology startups that dot our landscape. I would even make the argument that when these companies get bought up, people that cash out turn around and invest in other San Diego startups. We have seen it at HNC Software, MP3.com, Ipivot and a host of other 'cash outs'. From my point of view as executive director, I have benefited from these spinouts as many of them have joined AeA i.e. HNC offshoot ID Analytics and Ipivot offshoot Tarari as well as countless others.

Speaking of AMCC, Tom Tullie, past president of AMCC recently landed the top job at Path 1 Networks. I had met the Chairman of Path 1 Networks , Fred Cary a few years ago while we were on a lobbying trip to Washington DC on stock options. Qualcomm had very generously donated the use of their corporate jet and Path 1, AMCC, Cymer and a few other folks made the trip. I talked to Fred about their technology and sounded very promising, even back than. Picking up Tom Tullie was quite a coup for them.

Politics

So, we have a new Mayor !!!!! I spent quite a bit of time with our Mayor Elect during the recent campaign. Mayor Elect Jerry Sanders spent an inordinate amount of time in Sorrento Valley and other tech clusters. I had told Jerry that he was due an honorary protect protector for spending so much time around tech companies. I also hosted a tech fundraiser (under my own name, not AeA!) with a few of my tech CEO friends, which introduced Mayor Sanders to even more tech executives. Jerry also showed up at the annual AeA High Tech Awards where he mingled with even more tech executives.

It could be argued that the time Candidate Jerry Sanders spent with tech companies was not equal with the fundraising efforts of the tech industry. Jerry Sanders was not a self funded candidate, he relied on extensive fundraising for his successful candidacy. The fact that he took time to understand the tech industry bodes well for our industry. Mayor Elect Sanders genuinely seemed to understand the importance of the tech industry as an economic driver. The reality is - he did not have to. The tech industry, has historically been apathetic in the local political scene. However this is starting to change. Technology Executives are waking up to the realization that they must be part of the process, and yes this means supporting candidates by participating in fundraising.

Several issues of critical importance to the tech industry will be decided in City Hall, Co-location, linkage fees, additional streamlining of permitting and other regulatory issues will all benefit from a more engaged tech community.