For today's program and next we talk with Rob White, hired in March as Davis' first chief innovation officer. Topics in part 1 include the reason for his job, how he works, the techDavis group that initially paid half his salary, and entrepreneurs at work in Davis. Part 2, which debuts Aug. 19, addresses this spring’s surprise proposal to put a business park near I-80 and Mace; and looks at local economic trends, what Davis offers and lacks, and how others see us. Big ideas involving Davis are in play, and we discuss one of them: a possible test track for ultra-light-rail transit technology near UC Davis.
