Excellent episode! (Despite how truly shitty the substack video player is) The project kind of fell off my radar once we left CA so I'm glad for the update and to see forward movement.
@ashlee - at the end of the video it sounded like you and Jan were going for a drive to check things out. Was that recorded, and will it air at some point?
As someone who has advocated this project, I am struck by the breadth of opposition. A lot of it comes from resentment of the affluent and a general hostility to new development. These sentiments are hard to combat.
But there is one objection that can be addressed, i.e. the fear that California Forever will create new infrastructure demands that will fall on Solano County taxpayers.
One thing you might do to address this fear is offer to widen Highway 12 with private funds.
I am so enthusiastic for this project, and wish you every success. I am Northern California born and raised, spent fifty years in the Bay Area, and I’ve been hoping for something like this. Best of luck to you.
I’m skeptical that this is a good idea but it’s fairly classic utopian thinking. We’ll make something new without all those pesky humans with real lives and challenges. I’d like to pull together a failed utopias summer tour! Aside I love big dreamers but also wonder at the lack of imagination and funding to support those who are doing stunning work from the bottom up. Worth reading this classic as well. https://www.daniel-brook.com/a-history-of-future-cities
Hi Mickey, Jan here. All cities in America are basically new cities, and many were founded this way.
From old examples like Philadelphia and Savannah to newer ones like Irvine, Reston, Columbia, and Woodlands. I personally much prefer the older walkable examples like Savannah, but even the 1960s generation of Irvine & co are real success stories.
Those cities built a different place than we're trying to do – much more traditional suburban neighborhoods – but they built the best-in-class for that type of a place. Irvine, Columbia, Reston, and Woodlands are some of the most loved and highly ranked places in their regions for quality of life, across safety, schools, infrastructure, etc.
And yes, I read History of Future Cities. There are some failures, but also a lot of success. It all depends on the specific details of what you're doing.
As a Californian (well, a Brit transplant) and only a few towns away, I am 100% behind this. Abundance is the optimistic antidote to decline and we need visionary ideas like this to push things forward. I hope I get to move there in coming decades.
Jan, so inspired by this. I was thinking about it all night. How can I get involved? (I work in air pollution research for the government, and I produce music for film and TV - not the most useful skill set but that’s what I got!). Is the website contact the best way? Thanks again for forging ahead with this.
to the extent they can do pigovian taxes and land value taxes with a universal refundable tax credit, the more they can limit inefficient taxes that have deadweight loss.
Excellent episode! (Despite how truly shitty the substack video player is) The project kind of fell off my radar once we left CA so I'm glad for the update and to see forward movement.
@ashlee - at the end of the video it sounded like you and Jan were going for a drive to check things out. Was that recorded, and will it air at some point?
As someone who has advocated this project, I am struck by the breadth of opposition. A lot of it comes from resentment of the affluent and a general hostility to new development. These sentiments are hard to combat.
But there is one objection that can be addressed, i.e. the fear that California Forever will create new infrastructure demands that will fall on Solano County taxpayers.
One thing you might do to address this fear is offer to widen Highway 12 with private funds.
I am so enthusiastic for this project, and wish you every success. I am Northern California born and raised, spent fifty years in the Bay Area, and I’ve been hoping for something like this. Best of luck to you.
I’m skeptical that this is a good idea but it’s fairly classic utopian thinking. We’ll make something new without all those pesky humans with real lives and challenges. I’d like to pull together a failed utopias summer tour! Aside I love big dreamers but also wonder at the lack of imagination and funding to support those who are doing stunning work from the bottom up. Worth reading this classic as well. https://www.daniel-brook.com/a-history-of-future-cities
Hi Mickey, Jan here. All cities in America are basically new cities, and many were founded this way.
From old examples like Philadelphia and Savannah to newer ones like Irvine, Reston, Columbia, and Woodlands. I personally much prefer the older walkable examples like Savannah, but even the 1960s generation of Irvine & co are real success stories.
Those cities built a different place than we're trying to do – much more traditional suburban neighborhoods – but they built the best-in-class for that type of a place. Irvine, Columbia, Reston, and Woodlands are some of the most loved and highly ranked places in their regions for quality of life, across safety, schools, infrastructure, etc.
And yes, I read History of Future Cities. There are some failures, but also a lot of success. It all depends on the specific details of what you're doing.
So, why the skepticism?
Hit a sub 20-min median commute, rent-to-income <30%, and a 90-day permit to open a small factory and the rest will follow.
Jan, I appreciate your points it’d be fun to discuss!
As a Californian (well, a Brit transplant) and only a few towns away, I am 100% behind this. Abundance is the optimistic antidote to decline and we need visionary ideas like this to push things forward. I hope I get to move there in coming decades.
Thanks David! Appreciate the note. Excited to have you come visit once we break ground and who knows, maybe one day move in :)
Jan, so inspired by this. I was thinking about it all night. How can I get involved? (I work in air pollution research for the government, and I produce music for film and TV - not the most useful skill set but that’s what I got!). Is the website contact the best way? Thanks again for forging ahead with this.
Awesome to hear! DM me on X or LinkedIn and let's go from there.
Amazing. Thanks, Jan. Thinking about how I might be able to contribute and then I’ll reach out.
i hope they'll consider some big innovations around democracy and economics.
modern mathematical analysis of voting methods shows that you can hugely improve voter satisfaction by using score voting.
https://www.rangevoting.org/UniqBest
election by jury is an even more substantive innovation.
https://www.electionbyjury.org/manifesto
to the extent they can do pigovian taxes and land value taxes with a universal refundable tax credit, the more they can limit inefficient taxes that have deadweight loss.
anyway, godspeed.