Exclusive | Inside Gavin Newsoms desperate bid to save billionaire pals dream city
Gov.Gavin Newsom has been quietly whipping support for California’s billionaire-backed megacity as it faces the loss of a key tenant, The Post has learned.While staying publicly mum on the controversial megaproject, Newsom privately met with California Forever’s CEO this spring before launching a behind the scenes push to win support for the project during his final months in office — with his staff even telling lawmakers the project may be a matter of national security.Newly obtained records show Newsom met privately with California Forever officials, including CEO Jen Sramek, for 35 minutes on April 1.
The Post has also learned that Newsom’s chief of staff Nathan Barankin, who briefed the governor on the project ahead of April’s meeting, has summoned Solano County officials for a meeting Thursday to discuss the project.The governor’s office declined to comment on the meetings and California Forever’s proposal, but Newsom’s administration declared in a bullish memo last week that the proposed Solano Shipyard and Solano Foundry projects has the best potential of any project in the state to lure billions of dollars in investment, adding that it is not only a local and state issue but could become a matter of “national security.”The memo seems to be clearly directed at state legislators, who are being pushed to pass special legislation when they return to session next week after the July recess.California Forever’s proposal also includes the nation’s first walkable city with 170,000 new homes over 40 years.Altogether, the moves signal an escalating push by Newsom’s office to coordinate local and state support for California Forever after Saronic — a defense startup with plans to build a massive shipyard — chose Texas over Solano County’s bid.The previously undisclosed meetings offer the clearest glimpse yet into Newsom’s personal involvement in a project that has evolved from a controversial proposal to build a city of 400,000 reside...