en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Forever
2 corrections found
In September 2023, the group collected enough signatures for a ballot initiative to change the county's "orderly growth initiative" and legalize the construction of the planned city.
This timeline is wrong. Solano County records show the initiative process began in January 2024, signatures could only be collected after March 7, 2024, they were filed on April 30, 2024, and the registrar found the petition sufficient on June 11, 2024.
Full reasoning
Solano County's official election record contradicts the claim that California Forever had already collected enough signatures in September 2023.
According to the county:
- proponents filed the notice of intention for the initiative on January 17, 2024;
- they filed revised versions on January 29, 2024 and February 14, 2024;
- the county counsel provided the ballot title/summary on February 29, 2024;
- the registrar said proponents could only begin collecting signatures after publication, and proof of publication was provided on March 7, 2024;
- proponents filed 20,473 signatures on April 30, 2024;
- the Registrar of Voters determined the petition was sufficient on June 11, 2024.
Because the initiative paperwork was not even filed until January 2024, and signature gathering could not begin until March 2024, the statement that the group had already collected enough signatures in September 2023 is factually impossible.
1 source
- Solano County - File #: 24-467
On January 17, 2024, proponents ... filed a notice of intention to circulate an initiative petition... On February 14, 2024, the proponents filed another revised initiative... On March 7th, 2024, proponents provided official proof of publication... On April 30, 2024, proponents filed 20,473 raw signatures... On June 11, 2024, the ROV completed the check... the petition was deemed sufficient.
The group submitted a ballot proposal under the name "East Solano Plan" in February 2024.
The February 2024 initiative was not formally submitted under the name “East Solano Plan.” Solano County records show the filed measure was titled “East Solano Homes, Jobs, and Clean Energy Initiative.”
Full reasoning
Solano County's official filing record says the February 14, 2024 revised initiative was self-entitled "East Solano Homes, Jobs, and Clean Energy Initiative."
California Forever's own archive also distinguishes between the two phrases: it has a page titled "Archive for East Solano Homes, Jobs, and Clean Energy initiative" and lists posts such as "Announcing the East Solano Homes, Jobs, and Clean Energy Initiative" alongside separate campaign-style references to "East Solano Plan." That indicates "East Solano Plan" was used as branding for the broader campaign, but it was not the formal name of the ballot proposal submitted in February 2024.
2 sources
- Solano County - File #: 24-467
On February 14, 2024, the proponents filed another revised initiative... The self-entitled "East Solano Homes, Jobs, and Clean Energy Initiative" proposes to amend the County's General Plan and Zoning Code...
- Archive for East Solano Homes, Jobs, and Clean Energy initiative - California Forever
Archive for East Solano Homes, Jobs, and Clean Energy initiative... Announcing the East Solano Homes, Jobs, and Clean Energy Initiative... Statement regarding Solano Land Trust's opposition to East Solano Plan.