Interestingly, the bill had the support of Gov. Gavin Newsom. And the company enlisted two big-time Democratic former legislative leaders, Darrell Steinberg of Sacramento and Bob Hertzberg of Los Angeles, to advocate on its behalf. The project also has union support, which is a major political plus in the state Capitol — but to no avail.

The company is also trying a different tack to streamline approvals. As CalMatters added, the company tried to “bypass county restrictions on building by being absorbed into Suisun City boundaries.” That underdeveloped city, surrounded by wetlands near Fairfield, sees incorporation as a solution to its ongoing budget difficulties. Last year, the proposal passed its first municipal hurdle as city staff approved the company’s initial filing.

The city seems excited about the process and boasts: “Expansion of Suisun’s borders would allow growth, economic development and enhanced services for Suisun City residents for years to come.” This appears to be the most promising approach for the project at this point. The city recently sold California Forever some downtown properties, as a means to redevelop the area and build relationships with the company — although it’s not directly connected to the annexation effort.

The new city project still faces enormous hurdles from other Solano County cities such as Rio Vista, and local residents, with opinion polls showing strong opposition to the proposal. There’s plenty to criticize in how California Forever’s backers have handled themselves — including their secretive land acquisitions, lawsuits against local farmers over alleged price fixing, and reportedly high-pressure legislative efforts. Some critics see it as a cram down from Bay Area elites — and billionaires aren’t too popular these days. But the fundamental issues go far beyond any one project.

If California is going to build the housing that its population needs and create high-paying private-sector jobs, it needs to efficiently build large-scale projects that it used to routinely build. California Forever had envisioned an “urban blank slate where everything from design to construction methods and new forms of governance could be rethought.” That’s up the Free Cities Center’s alley, as we seek out innovative ideas for urban life. But California’s political and bureaucratic systems are forcing major compromises, delays and uncertainties. It’s iffy whether this project will come to fruition.

By having to rely on exemptions, California Forever and other companies by definition have to rely on politics and need to spend years and millions of dollars focusing on initiative campaigns, lobbying efforts, public relations and legal maneuvers. Even business-friendly states such as Texas impose hurdles, but they are lower and the political culture is more supportive of economic growth and development. Is it any wonder Saronic Technologies chose an existing port over a proposed one that might require years of state approvals?

The California Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a November initiative (Proposition 45) that would provide broader exemptions to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) rather than just piecemeal ones. That, however, is just the first step in creating a development climate that would allow such a useful project to proceed — as well other projects the state will need in the future.