Tech Billionaires Face Hurdles and Scrutiny in Bid to Build New City in California Farmland

A consortium of Silicon Valley investors known as Flannery Associates has spent over $800 million acquiring tens of thousands of acres in Solano County, California with plans to build a futuristic new city.
The secretive project has drawn criticism and investigations over its aggressive tactics in purchasing land, lack of transparency, and potential impacts on local communities.
Prominent backers include LinkedIn's Reid Hoffman, Laurene Powell Jobs, Sequoia's Michael Moritz, and Marc Andreessen, aiming to re-imagine urban design and energy systems.
Development faces challenges including zoning changes, bureaucratic approvals, environmental rules, and opposition from residents concerned about gentrification and agriculture.
Flannery has recently emerged from secrecy, meeting with officials and apologizing, but skepticism persists on the feasibility and motivations behind the utopian vision.