IN THIS ISSUE:
Polling shows SMART passenger train and pathway measure winnable in 2008;
SMART campaign on the move;
Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) strongly endorses SMART measure;
New lows in economic confidence levels;
Save the Date! 2008 Leaders of the North Bay Awards Luncheon;
Members in the news...


Polling shows SMART passenger train and pathway measure winnable in 2008

The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) passenger train and pathway ballot measure on the November 2008 ballot has received high marks in a recent poll conducted by Godbe Research. The firm surveyed a sample of 1,205 voters in Marin and Sonoma counties in late May. The poll results showed that there is strong support, more than the required two-thirds, for the SMART ballot measure to win approval and passage:

• 77% total overall support of the voters surveyed
• 77% total overall support for a 20 year duration
• 83% total support in Sonoma County
• 71% total support in Marin County

Voters were very responsive to protecting the environment and reducing global warming, relieving traffic congestion, and having alternatives to driving on Highway 101, especially in light of the rising cost of gasoline. They also agreed that passing SMART is a good investment for the future of transportation infrastructure and economy. The polling showed that voters like environmentally-friendly transportation options like SMART, and want to see the publicly-owned rail right-of-way put to use to improve the North Bay transportation system. Knowing that the passenger train and pathway will link to train riders, bicyclists and pedestrians to buses and ferries was a plus to voters. They also liked the idea of taking 1.4 million car trips off of Highway 101 per year.

Since 2006, when the SMART Measure R narrowly missed passing by 1.3 percent, there has been an increase in traffic through the Highway 101 corridor, which is now the fourth most congested corridor in the Bay Area. Voters see the SMART passenger train service and the pathway as a cost-effective investment in relieving that congestion, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and avoiding sky high gas prices which have gone up significantly in the last two years.

"Yes" on SMART campaign on the move

About NBLC:

North Bay Leadership Council is a non-profit organization of employers committed to regional prosperity and quality of life. Seventeen years ago, business leaders founded the North Bay Leadership Council on a simple premise: We can accomplish more by working together.

Today, the Council includes over 30 select employers in the region. Our members represent a wide variety of businesses, non-profits and educational institutions, with a workforce in excess of 20,000. We are working together to advocate and sustain prosperity and quality of life in Sonoma and Marin Counties.

As business and civic leaders, our goal is to promote sound, regionally-focused public policy and support initiatives that make our region a better place to live and work.

NBLC is responsible for producing Economic Insight Reports, most recently on the "Economic Impacts of a Water Shortage in the North Bay." For more information please call 707.283.0028 or visit us at www.northbayleadership.org.

The campaign to pass the SMART ballot measure is underway now the measure is officially on the ballot. The campaign, North Bay Transportation Alliance (NBTA), represents an unusual coalition of environmental groups, labor, business, train and bicycle advocates, and others who have come together in recognition of the need to invest in alternatives to Highway 101 and greener forms of transportation.

The campaign is Co-Chaired by Marge Macris, Former Chair, Sierra Club Marin Group and Bay Chapter; Steve Birdlebough, former Chair, Friends of SMART; and Cynthia Murray, President and CEO, North Bay Leadership Council (also a former Marin County Supervisor). Macris is committed to passing the SMART measure because of her concerns about global warming, saying, "We need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and with SMART, we will be able to cut carbon emissions by thirty-two million pounds per year."

Birdlebough's passion for SMART comes from his vision for alternatives to relieve congestion on the freeway. "The North Bay 101 corridor has the fourth worst congestion in the Bay Area and we need an alternative. SMART gives us a passenger train, which removes over 1.4 million car trips a year, and a companion bicycle-pedestrian pathway, which is projected to have 7,000 to 10,000 users a day," he said.

Business organizations support SMART because their employees are being hit hard by the skyrocketing price of gasoline. Murray said, "Our economic vitality is tied to our employees having cost-effective ways to get to work like SMART's passenger trains. SMART's average fare of $4.50 each way is an economical alternative to driving."

The campaign team is reaching out to voters throughout the district, which includes all of Marin and Sonoma counties, to achieve the two-thirds super-majority vote needed to win. NBTA is building a volunteer base to help with the direct voter contact beginning in August. Volunteers are needed to help with phoning voters and walking their neighborhoods.

To find out more information about volunteering, donating, or campaign events visit the website at www.smarttrain2008.org or contact Sonia Tanner, Campaign Coordinator, at Sonia@smarttrain2008.org.

SMART measure receives strong endorsement from Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM)

The Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM), which consists of an elected representative from each city or town in Marin and the five County Supervisors, strongly endorsed the SMART measure at their July 24th meeting. The TAM board clearly indicated that they had the vision and commitment to support transportation improvements like SMART's passenger train and bicycle/pedestrian pathway so needed to relieve congestion, help fight global warming and give people options to paying high gas prices.

Gas prices hit the tipping point; people are changing behavior

High gases prices are spurring people to make changes in their behavior and their thinking to avoid paying the big bill at the pump. Whether it is T. Boone Pickens, the legendary Texas oilman, or Al Gore, it seems that there is growing consensus that moving aggressively to alternative forms of energy is in the economy's and the environment's best interest. Pickens has kicked off a $58 million campaign to push for wind farms, not more offshore oil drilling. And Gore has laid down the gauntlet for America to achieve energy independence in ten years, basing his challenge on John. F. Kennedy's call to put a man on the moon in ten years back in the 1960s.

But others are trying to meet the challenge of high gas by making changes right now. Rural school districts are looking to go to a four day school week to cut the costs of busing and heating and cooling the schools. And they aren't alone. Many companies are moving towards a four day work week to make it more economical for employees to commute to work. The State of Utah is the first state in the nation to switch to a four day week and with the fiscal crises at all governmental levels, more public agencies will be sure to follow this action.

People are moving closer to their jobs and to transit. Transit ridership is up double digits all across the country. Rachel Beck in her "All Business" column on July 23 wrote, "Imagine that-a public suddenly more willing to give up convenience because of a myopic focus on cost. The long-term economic effect could be significant." She points out that the forty percent increase in gas prices has triggered the most widespread shift in consumer behavior since the 1970s.

Beyond commuting, people are also changing their shopping habits. Consumers are choosing to shop locally, not travel to big regional malls. It will be interesting to see if there is an uptick in online purchases as people move to clicks from bricks. That is happening with universities seeing an increase in enrollment in online courses.

The understanding of the sensitivity of commuters and consumers to gas prices could have long lasting effects. Where to site new stores, company headquarters, housing, schools are all being reconsidered as America comes to grip with high gas prices that are expected to remain well above $4.00/gallon. America's love affair with its cars may be over.

How confident are you about the economic future?

Rasmussen Consumer Index reports that consumer confidence is lower in July than it was in the aftermath of the 9/11 tragedy. Nationally, just twenty percent of adults say that their personal finances are getting better. Fifty-five percent claim their finances are worsening. Those under 40 years old are more optimistic than their elders with women feeling the pinch more than men.

A new Field Poll shows an even higher number of Californians report being financially worse off today than they were a year ago-sixty-three percent. That is a staggering record number of people who are feeling economically pained. Previously, that number had never exceeded fifty percent in nearly fifty years of polling. Since December, there has been a thirty-four point jump in the percentage of Californians who see the economy facing bad times, to eighty-six percent.

And in California there are good reasons for people to feel less than confident about the future. The state budget mess is producing proposals that could cause what the Wall Street Journal calls "a reverse gold rush" with companies and residents fleeing the state. NBLC member, AAA, is leading that exodus and taking 900 jobs with them out of state.

The closing of the budget gap is a tough compromise between the Republicans and Democrats in the State Legislature. As has been reported, the Republicans want to rely on budget cuts and the Democrats would like to close the gap through new revenue generation. Their plan calls for raising tax rates and taxing non-tangible services. Many businesses are fearful of seeing tax rates rise from 8.4 percent to 9.3 percent when they are already experiencing tough times due to the economic downturn.

Economists also point out that increasingly relying on the upper income brackets to fund the state budget increases the volatility of the revenues from year to year and has resulted in many top earners leaving the state. According to the Journal, "Census Bureau data shows that from 1996-2005, 1.3 million more Americans left than came to California. And the people who are leaving are disproportionately those with higher incomes. Every time a rich person like Tiger Woods departs, the state fiscal problem deepens." If the Democratic proposal to raise the top marginal income tax rate to twelve percent from 10.3 percent were adopted, it would make California the highest tax jurisdiction in the U.S. and be at twice the national average.

While some revenue increases may be needed, any increases must be balanced with cuts in government spending. In the past five years, state outlays were up forty-four percent which is greater than increases in Congressional spending. With a budget long overdue, Governor Schwarzenegger has called for paying state employees the federal minimum wage of $6.55 per hour under the budget which he hopes to pass. At press time, this action was being challenged by State Controller, John Chiang, who said it was illegal and he wouldn't comply with the Governor's order. Time will tell what action finally brings all parties to the table to reach agreement on this year's budget.     

SAVE THE DATE!  2008 LEADERS of the North Bay Awards Luncheon

Keynote Speaker Announced: Peabody Award Winning, Scott Simon, NPR Weekend Edition Saturday Anchor & Novelist

Get Involve: Sponsorships Now Available!

North Bay Leadership Council (NBLC) is proud to announce the second annual 2008 LEADERS OF THE NORTH BAY AWARDS LUNCHEON. NBLC is also thrilled to be welcoming National Public Radio (NPR)'s Weekend Edition Saturday anchor and novelist, Scott Simon, as this year's keynote speaker at the event to be held on October 30.  Download Scott Simon Bio- click here.  NBLC created these awards to recognize leaders within businesses, nonprofits, and organizations who contribute to improving the quality of life and prosperity of the North Bay.

"We can help inspire a culture of leadership by gathering together and identifying people who have stepped forward in our region to tackle tough issues. We want to reward that kind of leadership and showcase these tremendous examples, showing that one person or one organization can make a difference," said Steve Page of Infineon Raceway and NBLC's past Chairman. The awards are intended to highlight the contributions made by organizations, groups or individuals. In 2007, Mary McEachron, who was honored for her work on creating the Buck Institute for Age Research, said "It's always an honor to be recognized by your peers whom you so greatly respect. This awards luncheon is a particular honor because a group such as North Bay Leadership Council represents a multitude of leaders within the North Bay; their goal to promote a culture of leadership and regionalism between Marin and Sonoma counties is inspiring."

Other past honorees include S.H.A.K.E. (Support Healthy and Active Kids in Education) Partnership, honored for their community work with children and education; Codding Enterprises, honored for their remarkable work with the eco-friendly Sonoma Mountain Village project; Goodwill Industries of the Redwood Empire, honored for their electronics recycling and job promotion program; and Alma Velasquez Martinez, honored for her community outreach within schools to the Latino community. NBLC congratulates last year's honorees for setting the tone for a long lasting tradition of recognizing leadership within our North Bay community.

The 2008 award categories are as follows:

Caught in the Act of Leadership
Individual excellence in leadership: Recognition of an individual who was "caught" demonstrating excellence in leadership.

We're All in this Together
Community building: Recognition of leadership in corporate philanthropy or volunteerism, civic engagement, or other community initiatives.

Paint the Community Green
Environmental stewardship: Recognition of leadership in green business, green building and/or environmental stewardship.

The ‘Light Bulb' Went On
Innovative/entrepreneurial spirit: Recognition of creativity, innovation and the entrepreneurial spirit.

Empowering the Latino Community
Leadership within the Latino community: Recognition of efforts to empower and strengthen the Latino community through education, job training, cultural awareness, and business development resources.

MEMBERS IN THE NEWS:

Bank of Marin

Bank of Marin posted strong increases in earnings their second quarter, rising 17 percent due to substantial loan growth. Russell Colombo, President and CEO, stressed that Bank of Marin hasn't any subprime loans, nor does it hold any common or preferred stock in either Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. The bank's robust performance stands in stark contrast to many other banks caught in the troubles with the lending and credit markets.

North Bay Business Journal

North Bay Business Journal has moved to new offices in downtown Santa Rosa. Being more centrally located and sharing space in the same building that houses the Press Democrat, their sister publication, will provide for economies and collaboration. Brad Bollinger, NBBJ's Editor in Chief and Associate Publisher, noted that the news, editorial and other functions will remain independent of the Press Democrat.

Autodesk, Inc.

Autodesk, Inc. is also helping the world get greener with their new sustainability tool for design. The company launched this tool for inventors called the Sustainable Materials Assistant, which enables the inventor to select materials that have the lowest negative impact on the environment. Autodesk claims it is the first tool that measures carbon footprint and earth-friendly properties from the earliest stage of product design and at every point along the way.

Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies is nearing completion of their three year campus upgrade, which showcases green building techniques like the three-acre solar panel installation. The $50 million upgrade will make this campus an international showplace and training center and offer the company's 1,400 employees a state-of-the-art facility in which to do business. The project is not only on time but on budget.

UPCOMING EVENTS!