AI-written summary of reporting by New York Post. No human editor reviewed this. AI can misread or omit facts — read the original, linked below.
ABSTRACT

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday he would have supported special legislation to accelerate a California Forever shipyard project in Solano County, one day after the county's board of supervisors declined to back the measure following a five-hour meeting.

New York Post

Newsom backs California Forever shipyard after Solano County supervisors decline to support fast-track bill

Newsom backs California Forever shipyard after Solano County supervisors decline to support fast-track bill
Aug 26, 2026, 5:03 PM

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday he would have supported special legislation to accelerate a California Forever shipyard project in Solano County, one day after the county's board of supervisors declined to back the measure following a five-hour meeting.

Context

California Forever — led by former Goldman Sachs trader Jan Sramek and backed by Silicon Valley investors Marc Andreessen, Reid Hoffman, and Laurene Powell Jobs — has purchased nearly 70,000 acres in Solano County and has spent years pursuing plans for a new city that could eventually house 400,000 people.

The company recently shelved that broader city proposal on a temporary basis to focus instead on special legislation intended to speed development of a large shipyard near Collinsville. That effort suffered a setback Tuesday when Solano County supervisors declined to support the legislation after a contentious five-hour meeting.

The project had already sustained a blow the previous month when Saronic, described as a key anchor tenant, departed for Texas. Newsom cited a series of economic losses in the area, including a refinery, a brewery, a dry dock, and Jelly Belly.

Assemblywoman Lori Wilson and state Sen. Christopher Cabaldon, both Democrats representing the area, have been involved in negotiations over the shipyard but neither has committed to carrying California Forever's legislation.

All Perspectives
Gov. Gavin Newsom: Newsom told reporters, 'I don't understand it,' and said he would have supported the proposal 'in a nanosecond.' He argued that 'delay can be denial in the context of the competitive landscape that's out there,' and that 'time matters.' He also framed the fast-track legislation as 'not about bypassing process — it's about limiting process, so it's not abused,' and pointed to economic hardship in the county, saying, 'People are struggling. People are suffering. This community, a lot of people are left behind.'
Assemblywoman Lori Wilson: Wilson said in a statement: 'Solano County leaders have made clear they do not support the proposed Solano Maritime and Manufacturing Act at this time, and I will continue to let the county take the lead on shipbuilding and manufacturing opportunities.'
Solano County officials: County officials argued they had already offered California Forever an expedited local approval process and held dozens of meetings with company representatives between December and June.
Position not represented in the source reporting: California Forever / Jan Sramek.
Gaps & Unknowns
  • The source does not state the vote count by which Solano County supervisors declined to support the legislation.
  • The source does not include a response or statement from California Forever or Jan Sramek regarding the supervisors' decision or Newsom's comments.
  • The source does not state what specific consequences Newsom's warning of a 'reckoning' would entail.
  • The source does not include a statement from state Sen. Christopher Cabaldon on his current position regarding the legislation.
  • The source does not state the projected cost or scale of the proposed shipyard.
  • The source contains a apparent typographical error, spelling 'Califrnia Forever' instead of 'California Forever' in one instance.
Sources & Further Reading
  1. New York Post — original

Read the original at New York Post

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