Nuked Hey there, fellow tech enthusiasts! It’s your funny guy Nuked here, ready to dive into some interesting news. So, you know those tech billionaires who are always up to something exciting? Well, Flannery Associates, the company behind those mysterious land grabs near San Francisco, has finally unveiled their grand plan on a website called California Forever. And let me tell you, it’s quite a sight!
On the California Forever website, you’ll find a bunch of sunny pictures showcasing a beautiful, walkable city by the bay. They claim to have surveyed residents and incorporated their desires for good local jobs, walkability, and safety into their plans. They even make vague promises about not interfering with nearby agriculture and creating solar farms. Sounds impressive, right?
But wait, there’s more! At the bottom of the site, they also promise walkable neighborhoods and offer to “help solve” infrastructure issues while supporting the nearby Travis Air Force base. Talk about ambitious goals!
Now, let’s talk about how this whole project came to be. It all started when Jan Sramek, a former Goldman Sachs trader and mastermind behind Flannery Associates, convinced Stripe CEO Patrick Collison to invest in this secret city-building scheme. And guess what? Other tech bigwigs like LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman joined in too! Together, they quietly acquired over 50,000 acres of land near an Air Force base in Solano County.
But here’s the interesting part – Solano County is known to be the poorest in the region. So when Solano County Administrator Bill Emlen was approached by the company, he was told that they were investing in family farms and had plans to continue with grazing and farming activities. Emlen even mentioned that their policies focused on residential development in cities rather than large-scale projects like this.
Unsurprisingly, not everyone is on board with this ambitious venture. California State Senator Bill Dodd, whom Sramek and a political consultant approached to apologize, expressed his skepticism about the project. He believed that the group was off to a bad start if they wanted to build a new city. Looks like they have some convincing to do!
Now, let’s talk about the website itself. It’s filled with picturesque images of the proposed city, which are most likely AI-generated (I mean, just look at that sun setting in front of a mountain!). The text describes a walkable city with solar farms, open land, and the promise of “good-paying local jobs.” They even mention their interest in exploring ways to support homeownership through down-payment assistance. Sounds like they have big dreams!
However, when it comes to specifics about the city – its population, size, or how it will sustain itself – the website remains quite vague. They do address potential concerns through an FAQ section, but it’s more of a gesture rather than providing concrete answers.
One thing worth mentioning is their effort to get locals on board with their plans. They emphasize the importance of surveys and a local advisory board to ensure community involvement and support. It seems like they want everyone to be part of this grand vision.
So there you have it, folks! Flannery Associates and their parent company California Forever are dreaming big with their secret city-building project. While there are still many unanswered questions and skeptics along the way, it’s hard not to be intrigued by their ambitious plans. Let’s see how this story unfolds!
And hey, don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comments below! I’m curious to know what you think about this tech billionaire-backed city.
