Transcripts For KNTV Press Here 20130929 : vimarsana.com

The as, American League west champions, and we build great stadiums. At t is, perhaps, the best ballpark in the world. The 49ers will have a gargantuan new stadium in sunny Silicon Valley, and basketball Golden State Warriors plan an amazing facility next to the bay bridge. Those teams are led by bright and capable businessmen, larry bayer of the giants, york of the 49ers, rick welts of the warriors. Two of those three have been on press here before. Today, to borrow a phrase from hockey, we make it a hat trick. Rick welts, president and ceo of the Golden State Warriors, thanks for being with us, joined by rick of bloomberg and kim mcnicholas of pando daily. This arena thing, i remember when jed york was here, i didnt believe he was going to build it. Now i dont believe youre going to build it. Ive seen drawings, its beautiful. Is this thing really getting built . Everything that could have gone right until this point has gone right. That isnt a yes. The warriors are coming back to San Francisco. Thats a yes. Thats a yes. Is it being built the way you were planning it to be built . At what point can you start digging into these piers or the dirt or what have you . We have picked the most regulated piece of real estate in the universe to build the most special arena ever been conceived. We have a process, we knew it going in, its a lengthy process, but we believe when the season starts in 2015, well have the arena. I believe youre going to oneup all the other stadium and make it the most technologically advanced stadium. I was there at at t park, they have the communications system, internet cafe, more than 700 wifi access points, and the 49ers are expecting to do even more. I personally think, and tell larry bayer this every time i see him, including last night, we have set a very high bar in San Francisco for the fan experience. I think going to a game at at t is the best experience in sports right now. We have the most special location ever imagined for a world class sports and entertainment arena, and the challenge, the technology challenge, think about it, six years ago we had never heard of the iphone, right . Were sitting around every day thinking about what four years from now are going to be the Technology Innovations that are going to improve the fan experience. And to me, thats the key. What about google glass . Well, potentially. People have been using google glass to watch basketball. Be rich, get us off google glass. When the giants built at t park, they privately financed it, and they were not super popular with other sports owners who were in the game of getting concessions from local government. Talk about how youre planning to finance this and whos going to pay and how. Its San Francisco, which means the giants formula is the only formula. Which is private financing. 100 privately financed. No new taxes, no new money from the general fund. It is an extraordinary location that we think we can justify that investment. Theres really no other project like that on the books anywhere in the country. In sacramento, where an nba arena is getting built, theres 250 millionplus in public money. Detroit in bankruptcy has come up with a quarter million in public money. Were not asking for it, because thats a nonstarter in San Francisco. Its going to be done privately, and thats really, i think, one of the most attractive things about the project. You got the money, you know where you want to put it. What is the one thing if we could say, all right, well take care of that, where you could start digging . Well, we are in the middle of our Environmental Impact report right now. Its a process. Absolutely has to be completed. We just have had a bill passed in the state legislature, sitting on jerry browns desk, which gives us a path for that site, so were very optimistic about that. We have a Citizens Advisory Committee that has talked to us about the project. We have bcdc, the bay conservation and development committee. There are lots of things there are lots of things to be done, but we are completely embracing the process. I actually think through the process its become a better project, and when you think about a 13acre site today is falling into the San Francisco bay and transforming that into a world class arena and Sports Entertainment facility, and over half the site, sixacres plus of new public park on the waterfront thats going to bring people to the waterfront, we are incredibly excited about where we are at this stage. I wouldage youre driven by the Sponsorship Opportunities of moving into the city. Im curious, new sponsors, you move into the city and were going to buy up your suite. It would be untrue if i didnt tell you the interest level in sponsors involvement with the warriors has increased with the idea San Francisco could be in our future. We have a different setup than we do with the other leagues. We have two football teams, two baseball teams. You could split allegiances. We are the bay areas Basketball Team, and we think weve picked the ideal location for the entire bay area to be able to access the site by public transportation, and one that makes it accessible to more people than ever before. Now the as are dying to move out of oakland, youre wanting to move out of oakland. The raiders have not done wonderfully since theyve come back. If you go, what happens to oakland, what happens to that whole complex and what happens to the city . Well, i think the city has a lot of big issues right now. Sports teams are probably not at the top of the list right now. The problem that we have to figure out in the east bay is, what is the future of those sports teams . Weve announced what were going to do. The as have announced what theyd like to do. The raiders are talking about staying. Whats your opinion on the as, for the viewer that doesnt know, the as would like to move down to san jose, but the giants say, hey, thats our territory, and its been sort of sitting going nowhere with major league baseball. It has. And what i do know is that a facility that houses both baseball and football doesnt work. Right. And both need a new facility. I guess im asking you specifically about the as moving to san jose. I know its not your area of experti expertise. Not one i should be operating a an opinion. How much do you need let me go to a different direction, then, how much do you need the giants to sign off on this idea of you moving to the piers that you want to move . Doesnt the giants want you to move to their plot of land initially . No, no, there was never plans to move to lot a, there was some discussion whether or not pier 50 would be a legitimate site. Pier 3032, from an accessibility standpoint, far superior. Its a fantastic location. Im asking are the giants in any way standing in your way . Would an endorsement, hey, guys, lets go to 30, 31 make a difference . In fact, on this show, scott, when you asked larry bayer that question, absolutely we welcome the warriors. I had that, and we have it. Can we see that just for a second . Were supportive of it. Were supportive of the warriors coming to San Francisco, and thats just not many my neighborhood . No, we are supportive of it. We are supportive of a warriors arena. Its up to them how they do it, where they do it, but we think it would be good for San Francisco. Sounds supportive. Is that genuine support diploma. It really is. I think there will be a lot of assets that we can combine when its really a fact that were coming to 30, 32 that will really benefit the fans. Its my show, so im going to ask the last question. That is, for the satisfaction of the basketball fan out there, boy, youve got the first call to practice, media day and all these things that are happening. The season, youre feeling pretty positive about the season. Expectations have risen substantially based on our success last year.  we would have it no other way. We have a long way to go before the season starts, were going to china, playing two games in china before the season starts. We are really excited about the Basketball Team representing the bay area. 50 Radio Ratings at 72 because youre winning . Obviously, winning is the most important thing. Its actually how youre winning. I think when you watch us, you see how much these guys like each other and how cohesive they are as a team and the style of play. We are combining a really fastpaced offense with a word that hasnt been associated with the warriors a lot in the past, defense, as well. And its led to a lot of success. We think the changes weve made this offseason will lead to a more successful season to come. Rick welts is the ceo and president of Golden State Warriors. Thanks for being with us. Hightech chef Charlie Ayers when press here continues. Welcome back to press here. Sunday mornings are a good time to consider spiritual matters like whether theres a heaven. I think there probably is, though my big question is, do they serve greek salad . Because surely, they must. Because calafia greek salad is blessedly good. Chef Charlie Ayers has never worked for god, but he did work for google as the companys very first chef to feed the Small Company healthy food. Ayers then poured profits made at google into an amazing, if relatively unassuming, restaurant across from stanford university. The sort of place where steve jobs would stop by and wait for a table. Charlie ayers was so important to the birth of google, the first major book about the company contains an entire chapter about him. Thanks for being with us. I do have to point out there is bribery that has clearly taken place among three journalists, and we are going to accept these bribes. What is it we have just accepted . What we have here is a chocolate chia seed pudding. Chocolate what . Chia seed. Its gluten free, its vegan, and its sugar free and its raw. So we have cocoa powder, apple juice, chia seeds, mix it, overnight it blooms into a puddinglike consistency, layered with diced bananas. Let me try it. Charlie, let me ask you as im eating here, i dont know if you should eat, youre the one thats going to answer the questions. The best restaurant that is inside the tech company, because you are consulting with a number of companies. If i could go anywhere i wanted to, would i go to facebook to eat, google to eat, twitter to eat . You would go to google, first and foremost. They have the best Food Service Program going on in the valley currently right now. The second best would be a company in downtown palo alto. Really, why that. Well, i coached one of their chefs from google. Fair enough. Chef, on the menu . You need to braise a chef. They are a little bit tough. Im curious about how you actually got the job. There were so many different chefs i heard that applied for the job at google. What was that experience like when you walked in the door . They werent really certain what they wanted at the time, they just tried out 25 chefs, none of them delivered what the company was looking for. I did my research and found out what they were eating and wanted to eat, so i delivered a very diversified menu. Before the tryout was complete, i remember larry saying to me, whomever you work for right now is going to be very upset. You were with google how long . Six and a half years. Is running a restaurant more or less challenging than trying to feed that many people with that many different tastes . More challenging. I no longer have the infrastructure and support center i had at google where i had h. R. They were everything. I wear all those hats now. The easiest part of what i do is cooking. What was your most memorable, in terms of cooking, what was your most memorable encounter with steve jobs . I know he went in there a lot. I should say at the restaurant, not at google, yeah. Steve and i developed this oneonone relationship every morning when i cooked him breakfast, were not open for breakfast, but he insisted on coming for breakfast. I can see that. I was able to give him feedback on product im quite certain no one else in apple did. He gave me my first ipad as a gift for always taking care of him. He gave me sound advice i still practice to this day. Which is, or is that something you can pass on . Even though you pay a good consultant, doesnt mean you have to listen to a good consultant. You were seeing these things very early and staying silent and being a good friend. Yeah. I was just curious, given that youve had the experience of cooking for large numbers of people, calafia, which is a lovely place in palo alto, but its in a shopping center, its one place. I believe i called it unassuming. Unassuming. Have you ever been tempted to scale, and if not, why not, to use a tech term . Im tempted to scale on a weekly basis from outside investors and people that would like to bring calafia to their communities. I intentionally do not grow my business currently right now other than the Concession Stands i have at shoreline amphitheater to keep my ego in check. I was hoping you were going to say that. Charlie, i think if youre a restauranter and somebody says i want to open more restaurants, if youre also an early google beneficiary, thats another reason you dont want to open another investment. Larry and sergei every day. Theres difference between need and want. I have a passion for what i do, and i try to channel that energy into really making great food and experiences for people. Charlie, we have a minute left, im going to invite you to dinner at my house some time. That would be great. And im going to be so nervous about cooking for you. Whats the one thing you shouldnt do in front of a chef, oh, geez, not that again. Overthink what youre doing. Just cook what you love and it will come naturally to you. Dont try to do something you normally dont do. And youll bring the pudding. Ill bring the pudding. Charlie ayers, and i apologize for messing up the name in the tease there earlier, i practiced it and everything. Charlie, thank you, and again, the restaurant is fantastic and we really enjoy it. Thanks for being with us this morning. Thank you. Coming up, taking on the trolls, rather, the patent fight finally turns around when press here continues. Welcome back to press here. Nonpracticing entities or shell companies, which buy up often unwanted or obscure patents then use those patents to demand Successful Companies pay them a fee or end up in court. It is bullying. If theres one thing we know about bullies, they get their power from the very fact no one is willing to stand up to them.  are you going to be on my side . Sure, im on your side. Just let me up. Ill do anything you say. That fact works as well in Silicon Valley as it does on the playground. Its always easier and less painful to agree with the bully than stand up to him, call it politically expedient. In the case of patent lawsuits, Silicon Valley companies have decided to pay a few hundred thousand dollars in settlements rather than fight a patent case in court, even when the Company Knows its in the right. Its cheaper at least in the short run to submit to the bully than to stand up for yourself. I dont think we ought to. You dont think we ought to what . Nothing, jake, nothing. What the world needs is for someone to open up a window at a law office and lean out and say, im mad as hell and im not going to take it. Allen is that man, the Senior Vice President and General Council for rackspace. I think the bully analogys incredibly apt because it really is not just bullying, its the unwillingness of people to stand up and say, no, im going to be the guy. Im going to be the guy who says no. I think thats right. I was just tired of having my lunch money stolen. You stood up to someone, right. Its not easy to do, because a lot of the companies that they attack generally are getting smaller and smaller and they just dont have the resources to fight. Right. Its not a principle thing, its listen with Larger Companies especially will pay them a few thousand dollars, i dont know necessarily. Hundreds of thousands, a million. Google, 100,000, better than getting into court. But the way they measure it, as long as its less than the defense. Thats right. Thats the game that they play. They know how its played and use it to their advantage to extort companies. Its legal extortion. They dont like any sort of public exposure, right . They dont like a lot of the Media Exposure of it, theyd rather keep it silent, do the sigh lealent threats. Its too late for that and some of them are fine with it. Really . Sure. Theres a couple of names and well be careful not to name them because we are calling them such nasty names, but yes, theres some in the media. Are companies your company did something about a patent attack recently, Martha Stewart recently did something about a patent attack. Are we going to see more of this, people standing up and defending themselves in court . I think we are. Its because you have to. If you dont, then youll become a continuous target. You will get sued one suit after another. And if you dont stand up for yourself, then youre just going to keep paying out. But the real root of the problem is the law. Patent lawyers have figured out that theres this really unequal Playing Field where they have very little risk in these lawsuits. They dont take risk. They form a shell, like you said, they hire a plaintiffs lawyer on a contingentfee basis, where they dont pay any legal fees. They dont have to comply with discovery, because they dont have anything. Its like a free roll of the dice. And people who get paid. And they almost always get paid. Unless you tell them, you know what, were not going to pay you, were going to make you take it all the way, because you have risk if you take it all the way that your patent will be declared invalid. You cant use it against anyone else. Do you draw a distinction between some of these smaller players and some of the larger entities that have accumulated patents . I dont know if we can use the name like ivy . Exactly. Is there a distinction between the people youre talking about and these guys, or are these guys just grown bigger . Theyve grown bigger. They are stronger. They have more capital and bigger patent portfolios and are much tougher to deal with. Youre saying they are engaged in the same activities. I think so. A patent reform bill passed in 2011, yet president obama came out in february in a google hangout he had saying were only halfway there to actually solving the problem. What are the loopholes that still need to be closed so we can prevent this . Is it 100 preventible . Its not 100 preventible under the current law, and i dont think theres appetite to change the law so its 100 preventible. But thats not what were asking for. Were asking for congress to make the Playing Field a little more legal, require the patent trolls thats what we call them, patent trolls. You can call them whatever you want. I think its standard. So they have skin in the game, so they arent doing this risk free. For example, fee shifting, have a loserpays system, take out some of the discovery abuses so were not just paying through the nose hundreds of thousands of dollars to do ediscovery, trying to find things theyll never even look at. Or even figure out who they are. There are companies in which they have a name and npr and laura sydell did a brilliant piece about this, they go to the office, nobodys there, the company doesnt exist, its owned by a bigger company, and you as a lawyer cant figure out who holds the patent. Thats right. Thats one of the things would change if one of these bills gets through congress, which we think will happen. Theres a couple of really good bills. I think theres an appetite in congress to solve the problem. Senator cornyn has a great bill, Chuck Schumer has a fantastic bill. Chairman goodlat put out a discussion draft. I think were going to get something done and the game is going to change. Kevin oconnell with findthebet. Com did an article talking about his experience dealing with patent trolls and he was mentioning one of the ways to combat patent trolls is get on the phone with the attorney and start forcing the specifics. What other tips do you have with people who may be dealing with the same thing or fear dealing with the same thing . If they are a Small Business and get hit with a patent troll demand letter, you have to hire a lawyer, but have the courage to stand up to your own lawyer, look, were going to figure this out. What about investors who say, come on, pay them, they are small, they want 5,000. They dont want us in court. Thats right. They are not going to ask for more than we can afford. Lets ask for 5,000, theyll go away. If you can do it for 5,000, thats not a bad idea. You cant be close minded about settling. What happened to my bully fighting . Now youre talking about lawyering, youre a terrible lawyer. You dont want to settle if you can help it. Were talking about Small Companies that are getting sued. They have maybe a million in capital. What are the chances im going to get sued . Kym and i and rich have a startup, what are the chances were going to get one of those letters . If youre a technology startup, i think its highly likely. Allen is the most discouraging no, youre a great guy. Thank you for putting up with me calling you a bad lawyer. Youre a brilliant lawyer and i appreciate you standing up to some of these people who are going to damage civil rights. Thank you for being with us this morning. Thank you. Press here will be right back. Thats our show for this week. My thanks to my guests. Im scott mcgrew. Thank you for making us part of your sunday morning. Hello and welcome to comunidad del valle, im damian trujillo, and today, the recipients of the la familia award. This is your comunidad del valle. We begin with the good work of the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley. Here with me on comunidad del valle, the president , ceo, name a title give it to former mayor of san jose, ron gonzalez. Welcome back to the show, mayor. Thank you for inviting me. You got it. We talked over the years about the new things,