California Forever, a billionaire-backed city proposal in Solano County, California, is offering $400 million in "down payment assistance" for homebuyers and a guarantee of 15,000 new jobs. The project has faced major blowback from residents and lawmakers, with concerns about land acquisitions, potential displacement of locals, and environmental impact. The proposal, which includes ten guarantees, aims to address housing costs and commutes but is met with skepticism and demands for scrutiny. The project faces a national security probe and will be decided by Solano County voters in November.
Promoters of a secretive Silicon Valley-backed ballot initiative to build a new city on farmland between Sacramento and San Francisco are revealing details of their plan, which includes a new community with up to 400,000 people and a focus on creating jobs and affordable housing. The project, led by California Forever, aims to address the housing shortage in the San Francisco Bay Area and attract major employers to Solano County. However, critics question the feasibility of the plan and argue that existing cities in the area could benefit from investment instead.
Residents of Solano County expressed their concerns and opposition to the proposed "California Forever" development during a tightly controlled town hall meeting. The billionaire-funded plan aims to build a new city in southeastern Solano County, but residents worry about the loss of arable land and doubt the promised job opportunities. Attendees criticized the lack of transparency and voiced concerns about the impact on Native American graves. Some residents believe that the millions spent on land acquisition would have been better invested in existing cities in Solano County, addressing issues such as homelessness and job creation.
Landowners in California have accused Flannery Associates LLC, a Silicon Valley-backed company, of using unfair and coercive tactics to force them to sell their land for the development of a sustainable city called California Forever. The allegations include pitting family members against each other, evicting farmers, terminating leases, and misleading landowners. Flannery, backed by prominent tech moguls, has filed a lawsuit alleging that the farmers conspired to inflate the value of their land. The company has spent $800 million to become the area's largest landowner and is seeking $510 million in damages. The project has faced criticism for its lack of transparency.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has expressed curiosity about the controversial "California Forever" project, a plan by prominent tech investors to develop a new city in farmland outside San Francisco. Newsom criticized the secretive rollout of the proposal and plans to meet with representatives of the development to learn more. The success of the project, which faces challenges due to local land use laws, environmental regulations, and public skepticism, may depend on the governor's support. The investors, including prominent figures from Silicon Valley, have acquired 50,000 acres for the development. However, their acquisition methods and lack of transparency have raised doubts and mistrust among the public and political leaders.
