Not-So-Secret Billionaire Utopia In California Faces Major Hurdles As ‘Renderings’ Emerge

A previously-secret, unprecedented California land experiment by Silicon Valley billionaires to construct a huge metropolis on roughly 78 sq. miles of farmland (roughly the scale of two San Franciscos), bought via a shadowy entrance group is dealing with main scrutiny, and a doubtlessly deal-breaking poll initiative to rezone protected farmland for city use, which should be permitted by voters earlier than the Solano County venture can proceed.

Green utopia?

Headed by Jan Sramek, a former Goldman Sachs dealer, and backed by an all-star forged of Silicon Valley elites like Laurene Powell Jobs, Reid “hoax-funder” Hoffman, and Marc Andreessen, “California Forever” – the mum or dad firm of Flannery Associates, LLC which purchased the land, has been quietly amassing a fiefdom.

The first roadblock to the venture – now rebranded as simply ‘California Forever’ – occurred when the alarm was sounded over the venture’s proximity to Travis Air Force Base, making the then-unknown identification of the patrons of main concern.

Brian Brokaw, a consultant of Flannery Associates, mentioned final month that the investor group is especially “Californians who believe that Solano County’s and California’s best days are ahead.” He mentioned the group will start speaking with Solano County leaders, residents, and Air Force officers subsequent week. 

The group claims that the venture will present “good paying local jobs, solar farms, and open space.”

In brief, the liberal tech lords funding the venture are promising a brand new metropolis stuffed with tens of hundreds of properties, photo voltaic power farms, and parks, all funded by the non-public sector. Yet, this celestial dream hinges on Solano County voters approving a poll initiative to rezone farmland for city use, a protecting measure in place since 1984.

Yep – the serfs might want to willingly hand over their land for this so-called utopia, and persons are involved.

Princess Washington, mayor professional tempore of Suisun City, mentioned residents intentionally determined to guard open house and maintain the realm round Travis Air Force Base freed from encroachment given its significance.

She’s suspicious that the group’s actual goal is “to create a city for the elite” below the guise of extra housing. –QZ

“Economic blight is everywhere. So why do you need to spend upwards of a billion dollars to create a brand new city when you have all these other things that can be achieved throughout the Bay Area?” mentioned Washington.

Not making any associates

Flannery first stepped on toes by maintaining its identification hidden so lengthy, infuriating two space congressmen who had hunted for years to seek out out whether or not international adversaries or traders have been snapping up the land close to the US Air Force Base.

“The FBI, the Department of Treasury, everyone has been doing work trying to figure out who these people are,” mentioned US Rep. Mike Thompson, after assembly with Sramek. “Their secrecy has caused a lot of problems, a lot of time, and a lot of expense.”

U.S. Rep. John Garamendi, whose district contains Travis and instant areas round it, mentioned base and county officers reached out roughly 5 years in the past for assist in determining who was shopping for up land. Garamendi, who’s scheduled to satisfy with Sramek Friday, was appalled to be taught who was backing the venture.

“You big wealthy Silicon Valley billionaires, you’re party to all of this. This is the kind of people you are? This is how you want to operate?” he mentioned. “What they’ve managed to do is to totally poison the well.” -QZ

Flannery claims that secrecy was required till sufficient land was bought to be able to keep away from short-term hypothesis, however that it is now prepared to have interaction with the Solano group by sending out a survey and the creation of an advisory board.

“Instead of watching our kids leave, we have the opportunity to build a new community that attracts new employers, creates good paying local jobs, builds homes in walkable neighborhoods, leads in environment stewardship, and fuels a growing tax base to serve the county at large,” reads the venture’s web site.

Then in May, Flannery infuriated locals when it sued a number of landowners in court docket, accusing them of colluding to repair costs for his or her properties. The firm, revealed that it had bought, or was below contract to buy, roughly 140 properties to the tune of $800 million.

Now, after assembly with Sramek, Congressman Thompson says he is not impressed – and says that Flannery was imprecise on particulars, and didn’t illustrate that they understood or appreciated the county or its values.

When Thompson requested how the venture would assist residents to finance properties, Sramek mentioned he deliberate to make use of “all of his knowledge as a finance guy” to generate financial savings – i.e. he completely bullshitted his means via the assembly.

“He doesn’t have a plan, he’s not there yet,” mentioned Thompson.

Basically this:

Except, they do – kinda…

On Friday, Sramek launched renderings of their proposed utopia. Via the Daily Mail:

Editor’s notice: Our mistake. The above photograph is definitely looters running out of a jewelry store in the Bay Area – which the elite liberal billionaires are fleeing from.

We’re certain it will be nice!