California Plan to Build New City Qualifies for November Ballot

An initiative supported by wealthy individuals to construct a new environmentally friendly community in northern California covering approximately 17,500 acres has gathered enough backing to be included on the county’s Nov. 5 election ballot.

Tim Flanagan, the chief information officer and registrar of voters in Solano County, revealed on Tuesday that the initiative had obtained the necessary number of signatures from Solano County voters—14,832—to secure a spot on the ballot.

Named the “East Solano Homes, Jobs, and Clean Energy Initiative,” the proposal urges voters to authorize the rezoning of agricultural land for the development of a “vibrant new community” spanning around 17,500 acres in the San Francisco Bay Area.

California Forever, the organization behind the project, claims that it will not only result in the construction of “middle-class homes in safe, walkable neighborhoods” but also generate 15,000 well-paying jobs in renewable energy, manufacturing, construction, and other sectors.

In addition to new housing, the area will feature shopping streets, schools, parks, sports facilities, community gardens, bike paths, and the largest solar farm in California, coupled with a regional battery storage facility, according to its proponents.

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A minimum of 13,062 valid signatures from registered voters in the county is required for the proposal to qualify for the ballot. The Solano County Registrar of Voters initiated the review of the signatures submitted by California Forever, the project’s sponsor, in April.

Supporters Commit to Substantial Investments

Furthermore, the development plan for the area involves $500 million in community benefits and a $200 million pledge to enhance downtown areas in existing Solano cities, as outlined by the California Forever group supporting the East Solano plan.

“Let’s say YES to homes we can afford, jobs in our backyard, and clean energy that can provide opportunity to all in Solano County,” the group stated.

Project Assurances ‘Not Guaranteed’

As stated on its website, California Forever asserts that the East Solano Plan is the outcome of a “comprehensive community engagement process with Solano County residents, including hundreds of one-on-one and small group meetings, large town halls, mail and phone surveys, and thousands of doorstep conversations.”

Nevertheless, not everyone has embraced the proposal, with certain local leaders and environmental organizations expressing concerns about the impact of the new city on agricultural land in the region.

One of the critics is Rep. Mike Thompson, a Democrat representing California’s 4th District, encompassing parts of Yolo and Solano counties, who penned an op-ed opposing the project in the local newspaper, Daily Republic, in Fairfield, California, in April.

Mr. Thompson also highlighted the “significant increase in costs this project will have on taxpayers,” noting that they would need to cover the expenses for the substantial rise in public services required for a project of this magnitude.

“I strongly support efforts to increase the number of good-paying jobs, implement clean energy, and provide opportunity for our region,” he wrote. “But these efforts require sound public policy that works with our community, not lavish promises that may never be realized.”

The Epoch Times has reached out to a representative of California Forever for a statement.