A Silicon Valley-backed campaign has submitted enough signatures to qualify an initiative for the November election that aims to build a green city for up to 400,000 people in the San Francisco Bay Area. The initiative would require a land-use change on agricultural land to allow for urban development. The campaign, California Forever, is led by former Goldman Sachs trader Jan Sramek, who highlighted the need for affordable housing and job opportunities in the region. The proposed development would include homes starting at $400,000 and is supported by wealthy backers such as Laurene Powell Jobs and Marc Andreessen.
Despite the potential benefits of the project, it has faced strong opposition from critics who view it as a speculative money grab with insufficient details. Sramek’s tactics, including quietly purchasing farmland and suing farmers who refused to sell, have caused outrage among locals and elected officials. Some officials, like Reps. John Garamendi and Mike Thompson, raised concerns about the project’s impact on the local community and environment. The opposition views the project as a shift towards sprawl development and a threat to California’s anti-sprawl policies.
The proposed development between Travis Air Force Base and Rio Vista aims to create a mixed-use community with green space, a walkable downtown, and job opportunities. Sramek plans to start with 50,000 residents within the next decade, with a focus on providing affordable housing in a region where housing costs are high. While the median sale price of a home in March was closer to $600,000, the development aims to offer homes at a more affordable price point. The initiative also includes plans for an initial investment of $400 million to support residents and Air Force base families in purchasing homes or accessing affordable housing.
Critics of the project argue that it would be more environmentally sound to build within existing cities rather than converting designated farmland for urban development. The opposition emphasizes the need for sustainable development practices and raises concerns about the impact of the project on the local ecosystem. Despite the challenges and controversies surrounding the initiative, supporters believe that it could provide much-needed housing and economic opportunities for residents in the region. As the campaign moves forward towards the November election, the debate over the proposed green city project is expected to intensify.
