California Forever
California Forever is a proposal for a new city in Solano County. Conceived by tech entrepreneur Jan Sramek and supported by Flannery Associates, a group of immensely wealthy tech investors that includes venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, and Laureen Powell Jobs, the widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, the project would develop a huge tract of open land in Solano County, transforming it into a city of 400,000 people.
California Forever was notable for its dubious activities from its inception. The investors quietly purchased 50,000 acres in what was described as a five-year “stealth campaign” by The Real Deal, a prominent real estate news website. It was only through diligent investigations by multiple journalists that the details of the plan were finally revealed.
Sramek and his group reportedly assumed California Forever would be easily approved and that development could begin a few years. That is unlikely. First, the project must be sanctioned by Solano County voters in November, and grassroots opposition is building. Second, the scheme would face a gauntlet of regulatory hurdles – and inevitably, lawsuits – before a single shovel of dirt could be turned. The timeline would likely stretch out for decades.
But that doesn’t mean it can’t happen. These investors have very deep pockets and are accustomed to getting what they want — including exemptions or protection from regulation. C-WIN joins a growing coalition of regional and state public interest groups opposing this project.
There are many problems associated with California Forever, including:
It would obliterate one of one of the last large expanses of open space in the Bay Area. The land earmarked for development has been successfully dry farmed for generations, contributing to food security and a viable rural economic base. It also supports abundant wildlife, contains threatened and endangered ecosystems such as vernal pool complexes, and serves as an essential staging area and refuge for waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors, and songbirds using the Pacific Flyway. If allowed to move forward, California Forever would destroy these important resources.
It would greatly exacerbate regional water supply problems. Like the rest of the state, Solano County must deal with chronic water deficits; water rights claims in California already exceed supplies by a factor of five. This imbalance will only worsen with accelerating climate change. California Forever’s promoters have not presented any coherent plan for a sustainable water supply for their proposed city.
It could undermine national security. The proposed location is adjacent to Travis Air Force Base, a critical component in America’s global defense assets. California Forever could undermine the base in unpredictable ways, from perimeter and operational security to water access.
It would contribute dramatically to urban sprawl. For decades, Northern California cities and counties have collaborated on policies to preserve urban/rural boundaries and emphasize infill development. California Forever is contrary to this rational regional strategy and encourages hopscotch development from the North Bay to Sacramento.
It would be detrimental to the ecological health of the adjacent Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta. The Delta is the largest estuary in the western continental United States and is essential to California’s salmon and other native species. It is an important agricultural region and a recreational destination for millions of Californians. Efforts to protect the Delta include securing permanent open space status for surrounding lands, a strategy that would be hindered by the creation of a new city on its border.
It would undermine the state’s efforts to reduce atmospheric carbon emissions. Though its developers tout it as a “walkable” development, the city would nevertheless result in increased CO2 emissions from additional traffic and home and economic activity. Additionally, the rangelands that now characterize the area sequester vast amounts of carbon. California Forever would permanently eliminate this effective and natural carbon sink.
It would overwhelm existing traffic infrastructure, requiring additional state-funded development. Currently the area is served by Highway 12, which is mostly two-laned from Fairfield to Rio Vista. This road is insufficient to accommodate a new city. California taxpayers would foot the bill for the benefit of Flannery Associates, and the requisite highway development would further destroy the region’s ecological values. Even then, an upgraded highway system would be inadequate to accommodate the domestic and commercial traffic that a city of 400,000 people would require.
California Forever’s lead pitchman, Jan Sramek, has been aggressive in promoting his project, conducting outreach meetings and participating in media events. But his defense of his “city of the future” has been weak, and his demeanor condescending. In a recent interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, local rancher Al Medvitz mused about Sramek’s arrogance, and suggested, “If they want a new city, San Jose is ripe. Fix what’s there.”
That’s good advice. The California Water Impact Network fights for economic and environmental water equity and the stewardship of California’s public trust resources, including water, fisheries, and wildlife. We support Mr. Medvitz, his neighbors, and the public interest alliance opposed to this ill-conceived and hubristic scheme that penalizes working ranchers, rural communities, the environment, and California taxpayers.