We say NO to the proposed New Town!
Editorial #1
The mysterious people who have been purchasing huge tracts of rural land at inflated prices in Solano County for the past five years and what they are up to have finally been revealed!
They are Silicon Valley multi-million and billionaires operating under the corporation called Flannery Associates, a subsidiary of California Forever. They want to build a huge new town in southeastern Solano County on land that has been farmed for generations.
The opinion poll they launched August 21 laid out plans for a walkable “utopia” in these rolling hills that are often golden from crops of wheat and barley. (see below)
The Solano County Orderly Growth Committee opposes this “new town”, already dubbed Jerk City by San Francisco Chronicle cartoonist Jack Ohman. (see below)
· This new town violates Solano County’s Orderly Growth policy, which forbids converting agricultural and open space lands to residential use without a vote of the people. The Solano County Orderly Growth Committee has been fighting to keep Solano’s agricultural heritage since 1984 when another new town was proposed. What they are proposing would be “leapfrog” development at its worst.
· Operations at Travis Air Force Base could be impeded, leading to closing the Base. Travis must be able to carry out its transport and training functions without encroachment from wind turbines, solar or anything else. It must also have easy access for supplies to the South Gate, accessed from Highway 12. Right now, it is critical to the Ukraine War.
· Water is a scarce resource and getting scarcer with climate change. Salt-water intrusion into the Sacramento River is already severe. Fishing and agriculture are already impacted. The smelt that were the usual food for salmon have all but disappeared. Flannery tried to buy up water rights from our local water agency and, fortunately, our policymakers said no. Flannery’s survey conjured the image of a million new olive and oak trees being planted there, a huge potential additional draw on the river – in an area known for dryland farming for a reason. It is shocking to read in their poll that this project will “help keep the Delta and the Bay healthy and resilient against climate change.” This is salesmanship, not science.
· Flannery says they will bring a plan to the voters in Solano County for approval next year in the form of a “citizens’” initiative. This initiative would have to overturn Solano County’s General Plan. Under an initiative, they could concoct the development anyway they want without public input. We think this is crazy.
· We object to the despicable way they have treated our local farmers, throwing some off land they have leased for generations and suing them for $500M when they refused to sell. Do you expect Flannery to work with the community in good faith?
We expect various public agencies, elected officials, concerned citizen groups and individuals who are concerned about Jerk City to work together to maintain these farmlands for crop production. If you would like to be involved, please click "Contact Us" at the bottom of our Home page.
We love Jack Ohman's cartoon!
