a day ago
Pedro Pascal, Sam Altman and Jerry Brown: A California Gubernatorial Field of Dreams
California is about to start an overdue building boom by making it easier for developers to erect homes that can address the state's persistent housing shortage. The boldest thinking about this transformative political moment has thus far come from policy analysts — including those associated with the so-called Abundance movement — who argue California's progressive aims have been undermined by its restrictive zoning rules, labor standards and environmental reviews. But they have little to say about what this means for how California should look. It's time to push aside the technocrats and make room for architects in Sacramento. There is no one better for the job than Koolhaas, whose wide-ranging 1978 book Delirious New York introduced a 'retroactive manifesto' for a 'factory of man-made experience, where the real and the natural ceased to exist.' Koolhaas' 'Manhattanism,' which exalted the grid that forced the borough to grow upward and inward, offered the keenest interpretation of what made New York's built environment special. Now he can define a new vernacular — both visual and verbal — for the Golden State's density era. — Sasha Issenberg, POLITICO California ballot measures editor
Sam Altman
CEO of OpenAI
Candidates will be trying over the coming months to get inside the minds of a divided California electorate — but Sam Altman is already there. From his ChatGPT AI bot studying humans to become more life-like each day to his crypto project Worldcoin scanning eyeballs across the world, his companies likely have a much deeper perspective on how voters tick than even the most veteran pollsters. The tech billionaire also has similar skills as Newsom that may come in handy: Like the current governor, he survived a rare ouster attempt, making a swift comeback after a brief boardroom removal.
And it would help notch another win in his rivalry with former business partner Elon Musk. Temporary role in the White House? How about a four-year term running the world's fourth largest economy? Plus there's no other surefire way to ensure your AI model secures more government contracts and widespread use. And lest you think this is some kind of pipedream: Altman flirted with a run for governor in 2018, before backing away and pledging to back a slate of candidates for office. — Emma Anderson, POLITICO California tech editor
Steve Kerr
Gold State Warriors coach
There's one potential chief executive far from the Hollywood glitterati who embodies many if not most of the qualities essential to the job: Steve Kerr, coach of the Golden State Warriors for the last 12 years. He comes with a long history of winning: five rings as an NBA player, a record as the most proficient three-point shooter of his generation, four championships with the Warriors and an Olympic gold medal. But what makes Kerr a worthy candidate extends far beyond the basketball court.
Public service is in his blood. His grandfather volunteered to aid victims of the Armenian genocide. His father and mother were both middle eastern specialists, and he spent years living in Lebanon, Egypt and other countries in the region. His father served as president of the American University in Beirut, where he was assassinated in 1984 by members of the Islamic Jihad. Kerr himself does not shy away from confronting the realities of the world: After the horrific school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Kerr devoted a post-game press conference to a wrenching plea for action. Plus, his ability to deal with the confounding mix of talent and combustive temper that is Draymond Green alone suggests the capacity to handle Nobel Peace Prize-winning negotiations. If Democrats want a candidate who is far from the stultified world of party politics, who is comfortable with newer forms of communication and who brings a sense of calm, patient leadership to his work, they would be hard-pressed to find a better choice. And before you scoff at his work credentials remember: Tommy Tuberville, former head football coach at Auburn University, is a U.S. Senator. — Jeff Greenfield, television journalist and author
