California Forever scraps plan for ballot initiative in wake of damning report

In response to a critical Solano County report, the company behind the "California Forever" project, backed by Silicon Valley billionaires, has decided to abandon its plan for a ballot initiative to build a new city near Fairfield. The report highlighted potential costs amounting to billions of dollars, financial deficits, reduced agricultural production, climate change impacts, and water supply concerns associated with the proposed city. California Forever, led by CEO Jan Sramek, will now seek approval through standard county processes after withdrawing the ballot measure. The project, funded by prominent figures like Marc Andreessen and Reid Hoffman, faced controversy over land acquisition tactics and environmental impact concerns. The company plans to work with the county over the next two years to address environmental and development issues before seeking approval in 2026. Despite the company's claims of economic benefits and job creation, the county's report raised questions about funding sources, infrastructure costs, and water availability for the project. The decision to withdraw the ballot initiative reflects a shift towards a more collaborative and comprehensive planning approach for the proposed new city.