A warning light flashes for proposed new California city

Your afternoon must-read briefing on politics and government in the Golden State

Feb 05, 2024 View in browser   By Ben Fox Cows graze on a parcel of land recently purchased for development by a company backed by billionaire tech investors. | Justin Sullivan/Getty Images NO FLY ZONE: The plan backed by billionaire tech investors to build a new city about 50 miles northeast of San Francisco is encountering early turbulence — in the form of apparent objections from nearby Travis Air Force Base. Travis, aka the “Gateway to the Pacific,” is the largest employer in Solano County, where the backers of the California Forever project are trying to get an initiative on the November ballot that would allow them to develop a city on about 20,000 acres of windswept farmland that could ultimately be home to 400,000 people. But passing that ballot measure could be a real problem if the Air Force objects to the plan — or if the project is perceived as a threat to the base by the thousands of current and retired civilian employees in surrounding Solano County. And that may just be the case. A map of flight paths produced by Travis — which Democratic Rep. John Garamendi says he was authorized to release — indicates that the new city appears to pose a conflict with training activities that are a core mission of the base. Garamendi, whose district includes the area and who serves on the Armed Services Committee, told POLITICO that the California Forever project would interfere with training flights involving low-level operations and tight turns that require wide open spaces to maneuver. He said development in the area would create light pollution that would interfere with night-vision. The congressman also warned that another critical mission, shipping military supplies around the globe, would be threatened by the noise complaints that would inevitably emerge if thousands of people move to the area. “The bottom line is that the proposed city is a serious threat to our national security in that it will significantly degrade Travis Air Force Base’s ability to conduct necessary logistical support for everything from Ukraine to the Pacific,” Garamendi told POLITICO. Rep. John Garamendi | Mariam Zuhaib/AP California Forever has insisted that the project doesn’t pose a threat to Travis. Details the company announced last month include an agreement to prohibit residential or commercial development on land adjacent to the base acquired by its subsidiary, Flannery Associates LLC. The company says that would double the amount of land around the installation that is off-limits for development. “California Forever’s top priority has always been protecting and supporting Travis Air Force Base,” the company said in response to questions about the map. “That’s why we carefully chose a location for the new community that fully complies with all regulations that address the impact of air flight operations on land use around the base.” A spokesperson for Travis did not immediately respond to a request for comment but California Forever said the company is in ongoing discussions with the base. “We're continuing our conversations with Travis and remain committed to working with the base as we move forward,” it said. CEO Jan Sramek stressed the importance of coexisting with the base as he released the first details of the project last month. “We completely understand the importance of the base to both national security and for the county economically, culturally and to its heritage, but we believe that when people look at the actual details of the plan what they will see is that this is a plan that not only protects but significantly enhances the mission of Travis for many generations to come.” Garamendi raised the map at a launch event Sunday of Bringing Solano Together, a coalition to oppose the ballot measure that would allow the project to go forward. He said he thinks the map will be influential in what is likely to be a heated campaign. “The voters of Solano County are going to reject a new city that will jeopardize Travis Air Force Base,” he said. IT’S MONDAY AFTERNOON. This is California Playbook PM, a POLITICO newsletter that serves as an afternoon temperature check of California politics and a look at what our policy reporters are watching. Got tips or suggestions? Shoot an email to bfox@politico.com or send a shout on X. DMs are open. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY State Senate President Pro Tempore Designate Mike McGuire, of Healdsburg, poses in the state Senate Chambers in Sacramento, Calif., on Jan. 25, 2024. | Rich Pedroncelli/AP CHANGING OF THE GUARD — State leaders packed into the Capitol this afternoon to witness the swearing in of new President Pro Tem Mike McGuire. After a performance by a gospel choir and testimonies from fellow senators, who praised his indefatigable energy and commitment to the job, the Sonoma lawmaker took his oath of office alongside his wife, Erika, and their toddler son, Connor, while dozens of legislators and statewide politicians looked on, including Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Gov. Jerry Brown. McGuire takes the gavel from outgoing leader Toni Atkins, who is termed out this year and focusing her efforts on a 2026 gubernatorial run. Among the other political powerhouses in attendance were Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, Attorney General Rob Bonta, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and head of the California Labor Federation Lorena Gonzalez. McGuire opened his first remarks as pro tem by praising emergency workers who are responding to days of fierce storms. He also touted the record number of women serving in the Senate, California’s role as a global leader on climate, and the state’s economic prowess. “No matter what you watch on cable news, we are America’s economic engine,” McGuire said. McGuire, whom his colleagues described as an “Energizer Bunny,” is now tasked with guiding the chamber through a bleak budget year, and what are sure to be tough negotiations with the governor’s administration and the Assembly. — Lara Korte  ON THE BEATS WINTER’S WRATH: A powerful storm has dumped epic amounts of rain across the state and killed at least three people, knocked down trees, caused mudslides and flooding, stranded dozens of people and left hundreds of thousands without power. The storm could bring up to a foot of rainfall in just two days, according to the National Weather Service, rivaling a similar storm last year and breaking rainfall records in several areas. Newsom issued emergency orders for eight southern California counties, including Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego. The administration sent emergency personnel and equipment to areas with the highest risk ahead of the storms. Three people were killed by falling trees in Northern California — one each in Sacramento County, Sutter County and Santa Cruz County, The San Francisco Chronicle reported. The economic toll of the storm is likely substantial, with AccuWeather estimating property damage at $9-11 billion. DULY NOTED — Assemblymember Evan Low has picked up the endorsement of the Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC for the House seat being vacated by the retirement of Rep. Anna Eshoo. Low would be the first Chinese-American, first millennial and first LGBTQ person elected to Congress from the Bay Area, the organization noted in a press release. WHAT WE'RE READING TODAY NO DEAL: Sen. Alex Padilla says he’s a hard no on the immigration bill negotiated by Senate Republicans and Democrats and supported by President Joe Biden. SWING STATE: Ten of 11 House seats held by Republicans in California appear to be in play with mail voting already underway for the March primary. (Associated Press) DUBIOUS DESIGNATION: The New York Times reveals that the Chinese city of Dali is becoming known as “Dalifornia,” apparently meant as an homage to the “easy-living, tree-hugging, sun-soaked stereotype it evokes” and as a “nod to the influx of tech employees.” (The New York Times)   Follow us on Twitter POLITICO California @politicoca   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Ottawa Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters Follow us

To change your alert settings, please log in at https://www.politico.com/_login?base=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.politico.com/settings This email was sent to rouf@idiot.cloudns.cc by: POLITICO, LLC 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA, 22209, USA Unsubscribe | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service