Widely published futurist Joel Kotkin has been chronicling what he calls California’s decline for some time and did again at a Brandman University breakfast—negligible job growth, a shrinking middle class, out-migration, increasing income disparity and an anti-growth mentality, to list just a few problems. And aside from a possible cyclical economic uptick and/or tax revenue windfall from “social media” IPOs, “things will get worse before they get better,” says Kotkin, whose many hats include presidential fellow at Chapman U. But he’s preparing a series of articles for the New York-based Manhattan Institute entitled, “How California Can Come Back.” Where’s the hope? Immigrant entrepreneurs and a strong manufacturing/tech infrastructure, for starters. And Kotkin says the state is sitting on huge oil and natural gas reserves that alone could fuel a resurgence, although he predicts “the greens” won’t let that happen …
Emulex CEO Jim McCluney’s resume includes time as head of Apple’s global operations. McCluney was present in 1997 when Steve Jobs made his triumphant return to the Cupertino-based company, striding in unshaven, wearing a polo shirt and shorts, and challenging the assembled managers, “What’s wrong with Apple?” McCluney says he spoke up: “Well, the products are kind of boring.” Jobs responded, “Absolutely. We have to get more ‘sex’ back into this company …
We need to start making products consumers really love.” McCluney told P RR on Cable Business Journal that Jobs, who died in October, was a “visionary” with a “laser-like focus” who “just rolled over obstacles.” And sometimes rolled over subordinates: “In Steve’s parlance, ‘stupid’ would be a term of endearment …
Some people could take it, some couldn’t.” McCluney said he could, calling his time with Jobs “fascinating.” But he left after a few months to become COO of a Silicon Valley startup, Ridge Technologies. Later, when McCluney was being recruited to become CEO of Seattle-based Vixel, Jobs was a reference. Vixel (and McCluney) were acquired by Costa Mesa-based Emulex in 2003 …
Last week the Nixon Library celebrated the late president’s 99th birthday. Next week (Jan. 27), Chapman U holds a symposium to mark the 40th anniversary of Watergate. The speakers’ list includes Watergate figures John Dean and Alexander Butterfield …
The World Affairs Council has dinner with former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan Peter Tomsen Jan. 19 at the Hilton Costa Mesa …
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, in SoCal recently to watch the Badgers in the Rose Bowl and to fundraise for his battle against a union-led recall effort, didn’t keep his reported appointment at OC GOP Chairman Scott Baugh’s Newport Beach office. The reception was quietly moved a few blocks away to Buck Johns’ office to avoid an Occupy protest. The switcheroo left Occupy members protesting against Walker where he wasn’t …
Stealth locations are apparently becoming a bipartisan phenomenon here. Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez and Wylie Aitken are hosting a Jan. 21 fund-raiser for Vermont’s socialist Senator Bernie Sanders, “address to be provided upon RSVP.”
