Want new ideas? Ask this “Dream Team”

If Americans once looked east to Washington as the new Camelot, during the presidency of John F. Kennedy, should they be now be looking west to San Francisco and cities ringing the San Francisco Bay as the new ecotopia?

As Congress struggles to free itself from the corporate tar-baby that has entrapped most old style politicians, the new West is moving in the direction of the new economy. Free of the drag of entrenched corporate interests, the new West promises to remake America in the image of its people, not its failed politicians.

So imagine the possibilities that might unfold out west if a dream team comprised of Gavin Newsom, democratic mayor of San Francisco, Van Jones, former Special Advisor for Green Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to the White House Council on Environmental Quality, and Desiree Rogers, the former White House social secretary, got together.

A few days ago, Mayor Newsom launched a new initiative in San Francisco called @HelloWallet. The goal is to make his city the most “financially fit” in the U.S. How? By providing unbiased, independent personalized financial guidance to all San Franciscans.

Independent from banks, Newsom says @HelloWallet will help put millions of dollars back in San Franciscan pockets by putting banks to work for city residents.

That’s cool. So what about the rest of the dream team: Van Jones and Desiree Rogers?

San Francisco, Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond, in fact all of the California cities ringing San Francisco Bay could benefit from an injection of Van Jones’ energy and an infusion of green jobs, enterprise and innovation.

With UC Berkeley, Stanford University and the investment powerhouse of Silicon Valley at its back, folks in the San Fransisco bay area could pretty much set the pace for the rest of the country.

And Rogers? While at the White House, she organized a record 330 events in 13 months. Bringing a similar fusion of poetry, music, arts and fashion to a city like San Francisco could shake California — and the rest of America — out of its Tea Party funk.

Isn’t it time we all took time out to party? Isn’t it time we all booked a ticket to Ecotopia for a look at the future?

Come on, Rogers, forget going back to a job in the corporate world. Forget the fading glamor of the White House. Instead, head to San Francisco. With President Obama and Democrats in Congress now focused on fulfilling Obama’s promise to America, the real party is happening Out West.

This article also appeared on Alexia’s blog on Huffington Post.