Backers of a campaign to build a new walkable city in the Bay Area have submitted enough signatures to appear on the November ballot.
California Forever, the Silicon Valley-backed group behind the measure, announced Tuesday that it submitted over 20,000 signatures to Solano County, needing around 13,000 to be verified.
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The big picture: The proposed development would mix homes, green space, a walkable downtown, and jobs between Travis Air Force Base and the Sacramento River Delta city of Rio Vista, catering to working families priced out by high housing costs.
- The project has drawn support from prominent figures such as philanthropist Laurene Powell Jobs and venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, but also faces opposition over concerns of speculative land purchases and environmental impact.
What we’re watching: If Solano County places the measure on the ballot and is approved by voters, the planned city could start with 50,000 residents within the next 10 years with homes starting at $400,000.
- It would also guarantee 15,000 local jobs with a salary of at least $88,000 annually.
What they’re saying: “I’m proud to support the East Solano Plan for the benefits it will bring to all residents of Solano County,” said Vacaville Vice Mayor Greg Ritchie in a statement. “We have an opportunity to determine what Solano County will look like in the future, and I know that this initiative offers tangible improvements we need: good paying jobs, economic investments, and more homes our families and our children can afford.”
