Silicon Valley-backed company, Flannery Associates, has come under fire for allegedly coercing farmers to sell their land in order to create a new city in California. The farmers in Solano County claim that the company used pressure tactics and litigation to acquire their land, including evicting those who refused to negotiate. The company, supported by investors such as Marc Andreessen and Reid Hoffman, has purchased 52,000 acres of land in northern California with the intention of building a utopian city.
The accusations surfaced in response to a lawsuit filed by Flannery Associates, accusing the Solano County landowners of fixing prices and overcharging for their land. However, the defendants, including families who have been farming the land for generations, counter-sued, alleging that Flannery used aggressive tactics, canceled leases, and pitted farmers against each other. They compared the company’s actions to “mobster tactics,” with Congressman John Garamendi supporting their claims.
One instance cited in the lawsuit involved Flannery attempting to purchase a plot of land owned by eight different groups of descendants from the same family. When seven of the groups refused to sell, Flannery acquired one-eighth of the share and sued the other owners, using the threat of costly litigation to force them into selling. A spokesperson for Flannery asserted that the company had evidence of price fixing and had made settlement offers to the remaining defendants.
Flannery Associates, through its parent company California Forever, has been quietly acquiring thousands of acres of land in northern California since 2018, with an expenditure of $800 million to date. The CEO of California Forever, Jan Sramek, stated that the group aims to construct a retro-themed “city of yesterday” focused on sustainability and accessibility. However, the plans have faced skepticism and opposition from developers and locals. Some doubt that the project will come to fruition, while others criticize it for catering solely to the elite.
The concept of creating futuristic “smart cities” has long fascinated Silicon Valley investors, especially as concerns grow regarding San Francisco’s increasing crime rates and homelessness issues. Flannery’s endeavor aligns with this interest, but it has generated controversy within the community.
Insider reached out to California Forever for comment on the allegations, but did not receive an immediate response.
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