California Forever is pressing Gavin Newsom and lawmakers for faster reviews and tax fixes as it tries to lure employers to Solano County.
California Forever is mounting a California Forever push for Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers to clear the path for its proposed new community in Solano County before the legislative session ends this month. Backed by Silicon Valley billionaires and investors, the project covers 25,000 acres and is being pitched as a future center for manufacturing, shipbuilding and housing between San Francisco and Sacramento.
The effort comes as the project faces a growing need to prove it can attract major employers. One company, Saronic Technologies, a defense manufacturer that had considered placing a new factory at the site, instead picked Brownsville, Texas. Former Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg said the setback showed how much California is competing with other states for business. Speaking to KCRA 3’s California Politics 360, he argued that the project’s backers are only asking officials to remove a few obstacles that slow private investment, while keeping local control in place.
Hertzberg and former Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, both now working as lobbyists for California Forever, are leading the push in Sacramento. Steinberg framed the proposal as a response to two of California’s longest-running problems: not enough housing and too few well-paying industrial jobs. He said the project could help address both by creating room for high-wage manufacturing and shipbuilding while adding homes for workers.
The California Forever plan does not seek to scrap environmental rules, according to Hertzberg and Steinberg. Instead, they want faster review timelines for certain projects, including a 270-day environmental review process and permission to rely on a 2008 environmental impact report tied to the proposed shipyard. They are also seeking a way to settle disputes between cities and counties over how tax revenue from large developments would be split. The former lawmakers said those changes would only kick in if a major employer actually agrees to move into the project.
“California Forever is pressing Gavin Newsom and lawmakers for faster reviews and tax fixes as it tries to lure employers to Solano County.”
California Forever has argued that the land, which has stayed largely undeveloped for decades, could be put to better use through new homes and jobs. The scale is striking: the proposed development is about five times the size of Manhattan. Even so, Steinberg said the immediate objective is narrower than the full vision suggests. He said the first target is to land one or two major employers and build enough housing to support the workers they bring.
That pitch is running into organized resistance. Solano Forever, a coalition of residents, local leaders and organizations, is urging Newsom and legislative leaders to turn down the requested changes. In its statement, the group warned that moving ahead at the last minute would be harmful to Solano County communities and the environment. Opponents also point to water use, land impacts and sensitive marshlands, along with the absence of direct voter approval.
A ballot measure connected to the development was withdrawn in 2024, adding another layer to the uncertainty surrounding the project. With the session nearing its August finish, California Forever wants the changes handled through a budget trailer bill, a route that can move faster than a standard bill. The fight now centers on whether state leaders will treat the plan as a job-creating opportunity or as a risky shortcut around local and environmental concerns. For American readers, the California Forever battle is a window into the broader clash over growth, housing and the cost of doing business in states trying to keep major employers from leaving.
Frequently asked questions
What is California Forever asking for in Sacramento?
The project’s backers want faster environmental review timelines and a process to resolve tax revenue disputes between local governments.
Who is lobbying for the project?
Former Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg and former Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg are working on the effort for California Forever.
Why are supporters arguing the changes are needed?
They say California needs more Housing and more high-paying industrial jobs, and they want to make the state more competitive for employers.
Who opposes the plan?
Solano Forever, a coalition of residents, local leaders and organizations, is urging Newsom and legislative leaders to reject the proposal.
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