By Eric Johnson
Published May 06, 2024

California Forever's proposed city (in blue) is located roughly halfway between San Francisco and Sacramento.

The California Exodus and California Forever, Redux

On January 29, The Newsletter ran a piece under the headline “The California Exodus and ‘California Forever’.” Both of these big stories moved significantly over the past week, and we revisit them today.

Also, as always: Peruse your cureated local News Feed; learn about a local nonprofit doing good work; and check out our Recipe of the Week.

Brand New City on the Delta Takes a Step Forward

Last Tuesday, the company that plans to build a high-tech, green, walkable city of 400,000 in rural Solano County announced that it had gathered enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot. The story involves an insane amount of money, some insanely powerful billionaires, and a detailed set of plans that appear to be quite sane, if not visionary. Here, amid well-earned controversy, we offer two pieces that consider the project on its own terms.

California Forever: Building a New Community From the Ground Up

A view of the Helen Madere Memorial Bridge crossing the Sacramento River at Rio Vista in Solano County, California.

We take a closer look at ambitious plans to build a new community of up to 400,000 residents in Solano County.

California Forever CEO on Democracy and City Planning

California Forever CEO Jan Sramek announces that he has gathered enough signatures to get his plan on the November ballot in Solano County.

Jan Sramek disavows techno-libertarian 'Network State,' explains why master-planned cities are All-American, and talks of his love for walkable communities.

They're Coming Back to Cali

The California Department of Finance announced this week that the state’s population rose last year, after declining in both 2021 and 2022.

Is the ‘California Exodus’ Over?

San Jose is finally working to fix its housing shortage, as are many California cities. This could help quell the hoards heading out of state.

Despite predictions that the party on the West Coast is winding down, California’s population increased last year for the first time since 2020.

Recipe of the Week

Our friends at Sacramento Digs Gardening publish a recipe from their gardens every Sunday, which we feature here so you can start your week with some yum.

See more recipes in their Taste Spring! cookbook.

Happy Cinco de Mayo! Time to dig into this fruity salsa

Fresh strawberries combine with oranges and chilies for a fruity spring salsa

NEW! Fresh strawberry-orange salsa with green onions

Recent Statewide News

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● Metal Detectors, Fear, Frustration. College Commencements Altered Amid Gaza War Protests

At many universities across the country, graduation for the Class of 2024 will feel more like making it through airport security than a procession through a free-flowing campus green or a cheering stadium crowd.

(05/04/2024) Los Angeles Times

● How Congress Is Letting Die an Internet Connectivity Lifeline for Millions

More than half of the U.S. House supports a bill to extend the funds, but it can’t get out of committee.

(05/04/2024) CalMatters

● California's Population Increased Last Year for First Time Since 2020

During the much-ballyhooed “California exodus” amid the pandemic, remote workers moved to other states where they could live for a fraction of the cost compared to cities like Los Angeles or San Francisco.

(04/29/2024) Los Angeles Times

Government Announcements

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	Recall_Supplier Recalls Impact Two Hy-Vee Products Third-Party Manufacturers Alert Retailer of Potential for Contamination; No Illnesses Reported
Hy-Vee, Inc., based in West Des Moines, Iowa, is voluntarily recalling two varieties of its Hy-Vee Cream Cheese Spread out of an abundance of caution due to the potential for contamination with Salmonella. Additionally, Hy-Vee is voluntarily recalling its bulk-packaged Cookies & Cream Mix out of an United States (05/06/2024)

	Palmer Candy Company Recalls White Confectionary Products Because of Possible Health Risk
Palmer Candy Company, Sioux City, Iowa, is recalling its "White Coated Confectionary Items" because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immu United States (05/05/2024)

	Chuao Chocolatier Recalls Its: .39 oz /11 Gram Potato Chip Mini Bar Lot 4022 Due to Undeclared Hazelnuts
May 3, 2024, Chuao Chocolatier is voluntarily recalling a single production of Potato Chip mini bar .39oz/11 gram LOT 4022 because some packages may contain undeclared hazelnut. People who are sensitive or have allergies to hazelnut could be at risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reactio United States (05/03/2024)

	Hormel Foods Sales, LLC Recalls a Limited Number of Planters® Honey Roasted Peanuts 4 Oz. and Planters® Deluxe Lightly Salted Mixed Nuts 8.75 Oz. Because of Possible Health Risk
Hormel Foods Sales, LLC is voluntarily recalling a limited number of two PLANTERS products that were produced at one of its facilities in April. This recall only impacts two retailers in five states. These products are being recalled because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria United States (05/03/2024)

	FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Raw Pork Chorizo Products Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination
WASHINGTON, May. 2, 2024 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert due to concerns of raw pork chorizo products... United States (05/02/2024)

	Cargill Meat Solutions Recalls Ground Beef Products Due to Possible E. coli O157:H7 Contamination
WASHINGTON, May 1, 2024 - Cargill Meat Solutions, a Hazleton, Pa., establishment, is recalling approximately 16,243 pounds of raw ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7... United States (05/01/2024)

	Gibson Farms Voluntarily Recalls Organic Light Halves and Pieces Shelled Walnuts Because of Possible Health Risk
On 04/26/2024, Gibson Farms recalled Organic Light Halves and Pieces shelled walnuts because Gibson Farms received information that they may have the potential to be contaminated with E. Coli 0157:H7. E. coli O157:H7 causes a diarrheal illness often with bloody stools. Although most healthy adults c United States (04/30/2024)

	H-E-B Issues Voluntary Recall for 3-Ounce Cups of Creamy Creations Ice Cream in Select Flavors
Committed to the safety and quality of its products, H-E-B is voluntarily issuing a recall for 12-count packages of 3-ounce cups of Creamy Creations ice cream in select flavors for potential metal. The affected products were distributed to all H-E-B stores in Texas and Mexico and Central Market, Joe United States (04/27/2024)

	802 VT Frozen Recalls Frozen Meat Pizza Products Due to Misbranding and Undeclared Allergens
WASHINGTON, April 26, 2024 - 802 VT Frozen, a Newport, Vt. establishment, is recalling approximately 8,221 pounds of frozen meat pizza due to misbranding and undeclared allergens, the U.S. Department... United States (04/26/2024)

	Tama Corporation Recalls Product Because of Possible Health Risk
Tama Corporation of Doral FL is recalling 24-ounce containers of "Oueso de Mano PAISA" have contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy indivi United States (04/24/2024)