A company named Flannery Associates has made significant land purchases near the Travis Air Force Base in California, totaling nearly $1 billion, causing a stir among federal officials and lawmakers. The company has acquired around 54,000 acres of land since 2018, all zoned for agricultural use.
Legal representation for Flannery Associates claims that the group is controlled by U.S. citizens, with 97% of its capital coming from U.S.-based investors. However, after eight months of investigation, federal officials have not been able to verify this claim or determine who is backing the company.
The extensive land purchases, especially surrounding a strategic location like an Air Force base, have raised red flags and triggered a federal investigation into the company’s intentions. The Air Force’s Foreign Investment Risk Review office is currently conducting this investigation.
Amid the ongoing mystery surrounding these land purchases, some lawmakers, including Rep. John Garamendi (D-California), have voiced concerns about the possibility of the group having ties to foreign adversaries.
This situation echoes previous incidents where land purchases near military bases have raised security concerns. For instance, a thwarted deal involving the Chinese-owned Fufeng Group in Grand Forks, North Dakota, sparked worries about potential espionage. Similarly, a project in Green Charter Township, Michigan, by Chinese electric vehicle battery maker Gotion faced delays due to similar concerns.
As personal injury bloggers, our primary focus is on issues around personal harm and legal rights. However, we believe it’s important to bring attention to situations like this, which highlight the close ties between land ownership and national security.
We hope that the ongoing investigation will shed more light on Flannery Associates’ intentions and take the necessary measures to ensure national security. In the meantime, we urge our readers to stay informed about such developments, understanding their potential implications for our nation’s security.