A group of tech billionaires, including Laurene Powell Jobs, Reid Hoffman, and Marc Andreessen, have been secretly buying up thousands of acres of land in Solano County, California, with the apparent intention of building a new city from scratch. However, their plan has met with fierce opposition from local residents, farmers, and officials, who accuse them of being unethical, secretive, and disrespectful.
A Mysterious Land Grab
The tech billionaires’ project, which is backed by a company called California Forever (formerly Flannery Associates), has been shrouded in mystery for six years. The company has been using nondisclosure agreements and anonymous shell companies to acquire more than 62,000 acres of land around Travis Air Force Base, mostly from farmers and ranchers. The land is worth an estimated $1.5 billion and covers about 10% of the county’s area.
The company has not revealed its vision or purpose for the land, except that it wants to create some kind of utopian city that would be environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive. The company’s website says it aims to “reimagine the future of community development” and “create a new model for living that balances human needs with the natural world.”
However, the company’s secretive and aggressive tactics have raised suspicions and resentment among the locals, who feel they have been deceived and coerced into selling their land. Some farmers have reported receiving threats and harassment from the company’s representatives, who have offered them inflated prices or pressured them to sign nondisclosure agreements. Others have said they have been pitted against their neighbors who refused to sell, creating divisions and conflicts within the community.
A Lesson in Trust
The tech billionaires’ plan has also encountered resistance from the local authorities, who have expressed concerns about the potential impacts of such a massive development on the county’s infrastructure, environment, and character. The county has a population of about 450,000 people and is known for its agricultural heritage and rural charm.
The company’s lack of transparency and engagement with the public has also eroded its credibility and trustworthiness. On Monday evening, the Rio Vista City Council rejected an application for a conflict of interest waiver submitted by the law firm that represented the city for more than a decade. The law firm wanted to also represent California Forever in securing a long-term water supply for its proposed projects. The council voted unanimously to deny the waiver, citing ethical concerns and public outcry.
During the public comment session of the meeting, several local residents spoke out against the company and its plan, calling it “tricky”, “unethical”, and “disrespectful”. They said the company had shown no empathy or respect for the people and the land it had acquired, and had acted shady and sneaky in its dealings. They also questioned the company’s motives and intentions, wondering what kind of city it wanted to build and who would benefit from it.
A Long Road Ahead
The tech billionaires’ plan for a new city in Solano County is still far from becoming a reality. The company has not submitted any formal proposals or applications to the county or the state for its projects. It also faces numerous legal, regulatory, and environmental hurdles that could take years to overcome. Moreover, it has to contend with the growing opposition and skepticism from the local community, which has shown no signs of backing down or giving up.
The tech billionaires may have envisioned a utopian city that would showcase their vision and values, but they have failed to win over the hearts and minds of the people who live there. They have learned a hard lesson in trust: that it is not something that can be bought or imposed, but something that has to be earned and respected.
