California Institute
* We are disappointed with both the tone and substance of your article on the California Institute (Nov. 26). While acknowledging that it has had its share of growing pains, we believe more attention to the steady progress and solid achievements of the Institute would have resulted in a more balanced news report. For instance, since 1991 the congressional delegation with support from the Institute has netted:
* A new Manufacturing Technology Center--the first in the West.
* Increased funding for immigrant legalization aid.
* A $4 million grant for electric car development, Calstart.
* Many planning grants for economic diversification and defense planning.
* Creation of the bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Defense Reinvestment and Economic Growth, which includes every member of the congressional delegation and which has significantly influenced legislation and the new Administration’s policies on conversion.
* Federal award of the “B-Factory” project to Stanford’s Linear Accelerator Center.
* Final round playoffs of the 1994 World Cup soccer tournament to be played in California (at an estimated $1 billion revenue return for the state).
* The largest share of recent defense conversion awards under the Technology Reinvestment Project.
* The Flat Panel Display project awarded to Silicon Valley.
* A LEGO theme park to be built in California.
In 1994, the Institute will participate with the newly formed California Public Policy Consortium to design a system to link our congressional delegation with those who are conducting cutting-edge public policy research within California institutions of higher education.
Finally, the Institute’s newly formed Economic Advisory Council, chaired by PG&E; chief economist Tappan Munroe, promises to work with our congressional delegation to identify key priority issues to help turn our state’s economy around.
These and other partnerships sponsored by the Institute show great promise. Meeting our goals will not be easy but there is no doubt we are well on our way.
FRANK CRUZ, Chairman
California Institute for Federal
Policy Research, Washington
