LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: A secret and enigmatic group known as Flannery Associates has been making headlines for acquiring 52,000 acres around the Travis Air Force Base in California.
Locals have recently received a survey from this group, sparking curiosity and concern about the future development of this land into what has been described as a "new city with thousands of homes."
Who bought 52000 acres in the Bay Area?
The latest development in the acquisition saga around Travis Air Force Base has caught the attention of Congressman John Garamendi.
He has raised alarms about the potential national security risks posed by Flannery Associates, the anonymous group of investors behind these acquisitions.
While the intentions and background of Flannery Associates remain shrouded in mystery, Garamendi's warnings highlight the importance of understanding the group's motives and potential impact on security.
"The bottom-line question is: who the hell are these people? We still don't know," the Congressman for California's 8th district told NBC Bay Area.
He added, "It's very concerning - the land that they have purchased which is right up against the fence on three sides of the base, positioning whoever is there to be in a place to gain intelligence or information, or possibly to disrupt operations."
Local authorities and residents perplexed by Flannery Associates
The lack of transparency surrounding Flannery Associates has left local authorities and residents perplexed.
Mayor Catherine Moy, who presides over the city of Fairfield near the acquired land, has expressed her concern regarding the group and the survey they sent out to residents.
Mayor Moy told NBC Bay Area, "We need that land around Travis Air Force Base protected. It's over 50,000 acres of land - they're the largest landholder in Solano County now."
She acontinued, "They (Flannery Associates) want to build a new city but they still haven't talked to anybody here. They have plenty of land for a city - but they're in for a fight... I'm asking them to call me - let's talk."
She added, "This is not the way to go about making friends."
Public records revealed that Flannery Associates has invested a staggering $800M since 2018 to acquire the land surrounding the Travis Air Force Base.
This significant financial commitment has raised questions about the group's motives and long-term goals for the acquired land.
What further adds to the intrigue is the fact that the land was purchased from families who had initially expressed no desire to sell, with the investors reportedly offering inflated prices to secure the properties.
Flannery Associates' survey and vision for a new city
The survey distributed by Flannery Associates to Fairfield City residents provides a glimpse into the group's vision for the land.
It outlines a concept for a new city that emphasized on a "college town feel," complete with new schools, housing options, restaurants, and a focus on environmentally friendly transportation.
The proposed development also envisions a large solar energy farm, extensive orchards, and vast green spaces.
The survey also includes proposals for financing and operating the new city. These proposals range from providing priority and downpayment assistance for purchasing or leasing homes to modernizing the city's aqueduct, per SFGate.
While some residents might find these proposals appealing, there is widespread skepticism among both residents and officials.
Local resident George Kennedy told NBC Bay Area, "It just doesn't pass the smell test to me."
Flannery associates acquisition raises national security concerns
Garamendi has articulated the possibility that an adversarial entity could exploit the adjacency of the land to engage in activities such as monitoring communications, eavesdropping, or even disrupting the flow of equipment and operations at the base.
"It's very concerning that the land they have purchased is right up against the fence," Garamendi remarked, reflecting the urgency and seriousness with which these potential security risks are being viewed by officials.
Furthermore, the Congressman's assertion that the acquisition might be linked to China, despite lacking concrete evidence, highlighted the need for careful scrutiny of Flannery Associates' activities.
What company is buying land around Travis AFB?
Flannery Associates' presence has sparked investigations and speculation.
The group's incorporation in Delaware in 2018, the premium rates at which they acquired land, and their legal actions against local landowners suggest a complex and intriguing operation.
Despite claims of being an agricultural business, Flannery Associates has raised suspicions due to the lack of transparency regarding their leadership and intentions.
The enigmatic nature of Flannery Associates has attracted the attention of various governmental bodies.
In July, the Wall Street Journal reported that the Air Force's Foreign Investment Risk Review office had undertaken an extensive eight-month investigation into Flannery's land acquisitions.
Concurrently, the Department of Agriculture expressed interest in understanding Flannery's ownership of the acquired land.
Moreover, recent reports from CNN revealed that the Federal Committee on Foreign Investment has initiated its own review of these land acquisitions.
Despite the scrutiny, Flannery Associates maintains an aura of secrecy. Strikingly, the company lacks a known website and offers no information about its CEO on its registration with the state.
While Flannery Associates portrays itself as an agricultural business, its activities and intentions suggest a more intricate operation.
An attorney representing the company has informed the Wall Street Journal that Flannery Associates is controlled by US citizens and primarily funded by US investors, with a smaller portion of capital coming from British and Irish investors.
Despite months of investigation by the Air Force's 'Foreign Investment Risk Review Office,' the veil of secrecy surrounding Flannery Associates remains intact.
Notably, even after an extended period of scrutiny, the investigating body has not yet identified a single individual associated with the group.
This lack of identifiable leadership or key figures further deepens the mystery surrounding Flannery Associates' intentions and operations.
