With simpatico passions for food and wine culture, education and the arts, technology and the environment~it was a fait accompli before San Francisco and Paris formalized their Sister Cities partnership in 1996.
San Francisco’s French ambiance is displayed in Beaux-Arts architecture, French films, its French café culture, and the Golden State has French companies to thank for over 60,000 jobs. In Paris, the 7e arrondissment is known as ‘Little America.’ But even given the long-standing mutual love affair the influx of hundreds of French business start-ups in California in the past 18-months, and hundreds of others arriving to study business opportunities had me wondering what sparked the Gaulic invasion.
Undoubtedly, the global economy and strength of the Euro last year were factors. And the affinity that Mayor Gavin Newsom of San Francisco and Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoë share for economic, cultural, technology and environmental collaboration also invites exchange. In Paris, Mayor Newsom tested the popular ‘Vélib’ bike-sharing program and rode the high-speed ‘TGV’ train between Paris and Reims. Back home in San Francisco he instituted a shared bike program and advocated for a high-speed rail system between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
During Mayor Delanoë’s Bay Area junket highlights included tours of Google's headquarters and George Lucas' Digital Arts Center. Perhaps his emphasis on technology influenced our les amis who are finding the Silicon Valley/SF high tech entrepreneurial sector most alluring. They are being squired about on GeekTrip tours, and are appearing at tech showcases.
Whatever the latest attraction—the French have been strong partners in Northern California from its earliest founding--including in the wine industry. It’s delightful to have even more of them here and if they spill anything it’s champagne—not oil. Viva la France!
0 comments:
Post a Comment