A rift has emerged between two Silicon Valley giants, Ron Conway and Marc Benioff, due to a controversial stance taken by Benioff. Conway, a renowned venture capitalist and philanthropist, has resigned from the Salesforce Foundation board, citing a misalignment of values with his long-time friend and colleague, Benioff.
The dispute began when Benioff expressed support for President Trump's suggestion to send the National Guard to San Francisco. This remark sparked immediate backlash from San Francisco officials and progressive voices, including Conway, who felt Benioff's comments were out of touch with the city's reality and values.
"It's a sad day when I have to admit that I no longer recognize the person I've admired for so long," Conway wrote in an email to Benioff. "Your recent statements and your failure to grasp their impact have left me deeply disappointed."
Benioff's remarks, made during a Times interview, drew support from Trump allies like Elon Musk and David Sacks, who argued that federal troops were necessary to address crime in San Francisco. However, Mayor Daniel Lurie countered this narrative, citing data that showed homicides and overdose deaths were at record lows.
"We're making progress, and I have faith in our local law enforcement," Lurie stated. "San Francisco is working hard, and I stand by our partners in law enforcement every day."
Conway, a prominent Democratic donor, expressed his shock and disappointment with Benioff's comments, especially given his detachment from the impacts of ICE raids on immigrant families. He also criticized Benioff for commenting on San Francisco's problems while living in Hawaii full-time during the pandemic.
"San Francisco, where you don't even reside or vote, is actively working to reduce crime," Conway emphasized.
The Salesforce Foundation, with nearly $400 million in assets, supports public education and job training programs, including significant grants to San Francisco and Oakland school districts. Despite this, Benioff has not publicly addressed the controversy, instead focusing on Salesforce's $15 billion investment in San Francisco over the next five years.
This dispute has reignited debates over how San Francisco's image and its billionaires influence public perceptions of crime and civic issues. Conway pointed out the irony in Benioff's threats to move Dreamforce to Las Vegas, a city with a higher rate of violent crime than San Francisco.
"San Francisco doesn't need a federal takeover because you don't want to pay for extra security for Dreamforce," Conway wrote.
This story highlights the complexities of political and social issues within the tech industry and the impact they can have on personal relationships and philanthropic endeavors. It leaves us with the question: Can personal beliefs and business interests coexist harmoniously, especially in such a politically charged environment?
