Petition to include new California city on November ballot gains enough signatures | WGN Radio 720

A Silicon Valley-backed campaign has made waves in the San Francisco Bay Area with its proposal to build a green city for up to 400,000 people. The initiative, spearheaded by Jan Sramek, CEO of California Forever, aims to address the housing crisis and lack of job opportunities in the region.

The campaign recently submitted over 20,000 signatures to qualify the initiative for the November election, surpassing the required number of valid signatures needed. If approved by Solano County’s elections office, voters will have the final say on whether urban development can take place on agricultural land.

Sramek emphasized the need for affordable housing and job opportunities for working families who are struggling to make ends meet in the expensive California housing market. The proposed development would offer a mix of homes, green spaces, a walkable downtown, and jobs, catering to a diverse range of residents.

Despite strong opposition from some elected officials and critics who view the project as a speculative money grab, the campaign has garnered support from influential backers like Laurene Powell Jobs and Marc Andreessen. The controversy surrounding the project stems from concerns about the impact on farmland and the environment, as well as the tactics used to acquire land for the development.

With plans to start with 50,000 residents within the next decade and homes priced at $400,000, the project aims to provide much-needed housing and job opportunities in the region. As the debate over the initiative continues, the future of the proposed green city remains uncertain.