Group behind proposed Solano County utopian community collects enough signatures to make ballot

Alex Baker
·2 min read
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(KRON) — The group behind a proposed utopian community in Solano County says it has collected over 20,000 signatures related to an initiative to put the proposed community on the ballot. California Forever announced on Tuesday it had collected 20,472 signatures for the East Solano Homes, Jobs, and Clean Energy Initiative.

The signatures, which the group said exceed the 13,062 required to get on the ballot, were submitted to the Solano County Registrar of Voters Tuesday.

“Solano County voters want to have their voices heard,” said Michael Fortney, head of partnerships for California Forever. “Today we are grateful to the more than 20,000 voters across Solano County who have helped place the East Solano Homes, Jobs, and Clean Energy Initiative on the ballot.”

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Vacaville Vice Mayor Greg Ritchie, who the group said has endorsed the project, also weighed in.

“I’m proud to support the East Solano plan for the benefits it will bring to residents of Solano County,” he said. “We have the opportunity to determine what Solano County will look like in the future, and I know that this initiative offers tangible improvements we need.”

The California Forever project first came to light last year after it was revealed that a “mysterious group” was purchasing land around Travis Air Force Base. The group behind the campaign, which is headed by former Goldman Sachs trader Jan Sramek, quietly bought up some $800 million in farmland in the area, beginning in 2018.

Farmers who refused to sell were sued in more than one instance. The plan, which is also backed by philanthropist Laurene Powell Jobs and venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, has been controversial with many locals.

Reps. John Garamendi and Mike Thompson, who represent the area, oppose the project.

The Solano County Board of Supervisors confirmed that it had received the signatures and will begin verifying them over the next 30 to 90 business days.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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