Towering Inferno

Salesforce Tower, the enormous phallic symbol looming over San Francisco, has gone limp. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff has long been one of San Francisco’s greatest champions, largest donors, biggest employers, and favorite sons. So it hit particularly hard when he shocked many of his acquaintances and admirers (I consider myself both) by expressing his support for President Trump and calling for the National Guard to come to San Francisco. These days, we’re being constantly let down by tech folks who know better but are giving up their values to gain access to power; trading America’s long term upside for their own perceived short term gains. Even so, given how far along the political spectrum Benioff had to slide to come to his latest conclusions, his comments took the wind out of our already slackened sails. The consistency with which so many of our tech leaders have let us down makes it all the more meaningful when one of us refuses to do so. It empowers us all. So, as I did privately, I thank Ron Conway, probably the most connected person in tech and a longtime friend of the Salesforce CEO, who stepped down from the board of Salesforce’s philanthropic arm after Benioff’s change of politcal heart. NYT (Gift Article): ‘Godfather of Silicon Valley’ Quits Board Over Benioff’s Backing of Trump. “It saddens me immensely to say that with your recent comments, and failure to understand their impact, I now barely recognize the person I have so long admired.” There are days I feel that way about the whole tech industry. Sometimes, I can’t even recognize folks who I consider friends. Thankfully, there are still a few people, like Ron Conway, who I still recognize.

+ NYT (Gift Article): Salesforce Offers Its Services to Boost Trump’s Immigration Force.