Residents of a Californian community where billionaires are planning to construct a new city have expressed concerns that the proposals could “ruin” their area, leading to a heated public debate.

People living in Suisun City are furious over the new plans by California Forever, which aims to create an eco-friendly utopia for approximately 400,000 residents right next to their homes.

Initially, the project was envisioned as a self-sufficient paradise located within Solano County, nearly 60 miles northeast of San Francisco.

However, the original concept faltered, and just two weeks ago, revised plans were submitted to transform the city into an extension of Suisun City, resembling the size of Oakland.

A community meeting held on Monday to discuss these proposals erupted into chaos as some of the 30,000 residents of Suisun vented their anger at city officials.

‘There is nothing the city will get out of it. It will destroy the character of this community,’ complained resident Andrew Russo per CBS News. 

‘And for what? So people can put money in their pockets? It won’t help the working class. It’ll help the same people who are being helped in this country already, the billionaires.’

‘This is basically a massive house of cards,’ another chimed in. 

Several residents of the Suisun City, including Andrew Russo (pictured), spoke out against plans for a new billionaire-backed city which would be an annexation of their own

California Forever boasts a multi-decade plan which claims to provide 53,000 permanent jobs from the new city

The annexation was proposed in June, but two weeks ago California Forever submitted the official proposal

‘There’s a lot of anxiety in the room about where you stand, where city council stands on key issues that affect everybody,’ a third added. 

City officials said they are reviewing the proposals and want to have a ‘dialogue’.

But the fury extends beyond the community meeting, and disgruntled locals have also set up a campaign group against the project, California for Never.

Opponents say they are concerned about the ‘unprecedented amount of secrecy,’ alleged planning shortcuts, and oversights, per a letter penned by members of the group. 

‘In the past the City of Suisun City and California Forever/ Flannery LLC intend to convince us that expanding Suisun City’s population fifteen-fold and expanding its geographic size ten-fold while pursuing the second largest annexation in California history can be done with the paperwork usually required for a modest apartment building,’ one member wrote. 

‘Any beginning planner in planning school would be laughed out of the room with such a claim.’ 

But, city manager Bret Prebula told the Daily Mail: ‘They’re using sensationalism, fear tactics, and lack of factual reality to serve their own purpose instead of coming the table and having a real interest space conversation.’ 

The fury is only adding fuel to a separate petition seeking to have multiple city council seats and the mayor recalled.

‘This is a massive house of cards,’ another resident added at the meeting this week

City Manager Bret Prebula took much of the heat at a community meeting as he defended the city’s decision to consider annexation

A rendering of what the possible California Forever city could look like

Suisun City is home to 30,000 people, but the proposed new city next door would one day house 400,000

While the petition does not cite California Forever, it references feeling ignored on important issues. 

‘We feel our voice isn’t being heard after countless hours of community engagement and participation on various topics,’ the petition reads.

California Forever first courted controversy back in 2023 when it began anonymously snapping up huge swathes of land.

Locals feared nefarious forces were at work due to the parcels’ proximity to Travis Air Force Base.

However, it later emerged that California Forever was acquiring the land to secure its lofty vision of 100-sqaure miles of ‘new industries with well-paid jobs, affordable homes in walkable neighborhoods, and new sources of clean energy’, per its website.

The proposed city is backed by several high-profile Silicon Valley giants including LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, tech titan Marc Andreesen, and Steve Jobs’ widow and philanthropist Laurene Powell Jobs.

CEO Jan Sramek’s multi-decade master plan promises 53,000 permanent jobs and $16 billion in economic impact, per the website. 

 By 2048 they predict a population of 150,000. By 2071 they expect the build out to be complete.

It will take inspiration from major cities like New York City, Tokyo, and Barcelona. Sramek said the city’s grid-style streets will be home to an entertainment district, a new shipyard, and a tech-focused hub. 

Prebula said that California Forever leads have agreed to stop development and resubmit for approval when Suisun City’s population reached that 150,000 mark, saying that developers have been receptive to their concerns.

In June, city leaders agreed to engage in research about what the annexation would look like. 

California Forever CEO Jan Sramek has touted the proposed city as ‘the most walkable community in America’ and says it will come with an array of amenities 

Sramek says the city will feature an entertainment district, a new shipyard, and a tech-focused hub

The group’s CEO says the design will combine New York-style street grids, as well as city designs from Barcelona and Tokyo, to make the city easy to navigate 

They decided to assess what it would be to latch on to the project. Prebula explained that the city had missed out on opportunities for growth for the past 50 years as other cities have improved around them.

‘The universe doesn’t give you a lot of opportunities to repeat areas where you may have missed the opportunity,’ he explained. ‘This is one where it’s saying hey, you’ve got to at least look if this is a real possibility.’

He said he is ‘cautiously optimistic’ about the annexation, saying that he hopes it will bring in jobs, housing, and opportunities to Suisun’s residents. 

‘Come along with us in the journey let’s see what the data says,’ he said. 

‘I want everyone to explore the opportunity of what this could be instead of villainizing what it might be,’ he said. 

After a lengthy city planning process the city council will go to a vote and decide whether or not they want to welcome California Forever onto their city. 

It will then go to the county who are the final decision makers on the annexation.

City officials plan to continue hearing from the community throughout the process, with community meetings picking up again in January. 

The Daily Mail reached out to California For Never and California Forever for comment.