California Democrat says 'F**k Elon Musk' after Tesla founder tweets company HQ 'will move to Texas or Nevada immediately' after California county health official says factory CAN'T reopen - despite Gov Gavin Newsom giving it green light (14 Pics)
A California Democrat had choice words for entrepreneur Elon Musk after he announced that he plans to move the Tesla HQ to Texas and Nevada 'immediately' after a California county health official said that his plant could not reopen.
'F**k Elon Musk,' San Diego assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez tweeted Satuday.
Gonzalez's statement drew both praise and condemnation, particularly from people who pointed out the number of job losses if the Tesla factory moves.
Tesla's Freemont factory employs 10,000 people.
San Diego assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez did not hold back her feelings about Elon Musk's tweet stating that he would move Tesla's headquarters out of California to Texas or Nevada
While Gonzalez washed her hands of Musk, Texas and Nevada Republicans were eager to embrace his decision to move to their states
Unlike Gonzalez, Texas and Nevada Republicans were quick to embrace Musk's plans.
'Texas gets better every day. Good conservative principles make good governance, and attract the best and the brightest. The future is happening in Texas,' Texas congressman Dan Crenshaw tweeted Saturday.
Nevada congressional hopeful Dan Rodimer tweeted: 'Nevada NEEDS these jobs most of all right now, @elonmusk. We would love to have you and Tesla HQ right here in the Battleborn State!'
Musk took to a comment thread on Twitter on Saturday to share that he was also planning to file a lawsuit against Alameda County.
Musk's fury was directed towards Alameda County Health Officer Erica Pan, who on Friday announced that the Fremont company would not be able to reopen, despite California Governor Gavin Newsom lifting some coronavirus restrictions.
'Frankly, this is the final straw. Tesla will now move its HQ and future programs to Texas/Nevada immediately,' he said in the Saturday tweet.
'If we even retain Fremont manufacturing activity at all, it will be dependent on how Tesla is treated in the future. Tesla is the last carmaker left in CA.'
The disgruntled CEO took to a comment thread on Twitter to share that he was also planning to file a lawsuit against Alameda County and move the Tesla HQ
'Frankly, this is the final straw. Tesla will now move its HQ and future programs to Texas/Nevada immediately,' he said in the Saturday tweet. 'If we even retain Fremont manufacturing activity at all, it will be dependent on how Tesla is treated in the future. Tesla is the last carmaker left in CA'
Musk's fury was directed towards Alameda County Health Officer Erica Pan, who on Friday announced that the Fremont company would not be able to reopen
'Tesla is filing a lawsuit against Alameda County immediately,' he said in an earlier tweet. 'The unelected & ignorant “Interim Health Officer” of Alameda is acting contrary to the Governor, the President, our Constitutional freedoms & just plain common sense!'
On Friday afternoon, CEO Musk told Tesla employees that the multi-billion dollar car manufacturer would restart production at its plant in Fremont, CNBC reports.
But hours later, Pan said of Tesla: 'We've been working with them, but we have not given the green light. We have not said it is appropriate to move forward.'
On Friday afternoon, CEO Elon Musk told employees that the multi-billion dollar car manufacturer would restart production at its plant in Fremont
'We've been working with them, but we have not given the green light,' Alameda County Health Officer Erica Pan said of Tesla. 'We have not said it is appropriate to move forward'
Musk, 48, cited California Gov. Gavin Newsom's announcement that manufacturers can reopen this week as reason to move forward.
'In light of Governor Gavin Newsom's statement earlier today approving manufacturing in California, we will aim to restart production in Fremont tomorrow afternoon,' Musk said Thursday.
'I will be on the line personally helping wherever I can. However, if you feel uncomfortable coming back to work at this time, please do not feel obligated to do so.'
But Newsom's orders don't override those of Alameda County, which has stay-at-home guidelines in place through May 31.
Musk, 48, cited California Gov. Gavin Newsom's announcement that manufacturers can reopen this week as reason to move forward
This may cause friction between local and state officials as they try reopen California in phases.
A separate email was sent to staffers from Valeria Capers Workman, Tesla's HR head in the US, on Thursday night with additional details.
Workman said the Fremont plant would go ahead with restricted operations and bring back 30 per cent of employees normally working a shift.
Valeria Capers Workman (pictured) of Tesla revealed that '30% our normal headcount per shift' was set to return
'... Limited operations will resume at the Fremont factory starting at 30% our normal headcount per shift,' she wrote.
It's unclear if Tesla will be able to properly manufacture vehicles with the reduced headcount.
Employees who are asked to come back must watch a training video on the new safety protocols Tesla will implement amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The reopening will likely bring back some staffers who were sent home to work or furloughed after the Fremont plant shuttered on March 23.
Tesla, as well as other businesses in California, were closed in March after Gov. Newsom enforced stay-at-home orders in the state.
Similar orders were implemented in Alameda County where the Fremont plant is located.
Musk initially defied the lockdown orders and continued operations for five days before they closed amid pressure.
Tesla tried to claim it was an essential business, but was shutdown by public health officers.
Some employees were asked to work at home, some furloughed and contract workers dismissed. Top staffers received pay cuts and furloughed workers retained health benefits.
Musk later tried to rally dozens of employees together and asked them to return to work in late April, NBC Bay Area reports.
Last week, Musk lambasted state officials over lockdown orders he called 'fascist' and unconstitutional.
But he appeared in high spirits on Thursday with Newsom's new guidelines in mind. Musk tweeted 'Yeah!!' in response to Newsom's announcement.
Gov. Gavin Newsom of California (pictured) announced that manufacturers could begin to reopen their businesses on Friday
However, local officials said Bay Area health orders will remain in affect.
'We will continue to work with our community and business leaders to accomplish careful, measured progress that allows us to maintain our gains as we move forward to further reopening and better times ahead,' they said in a statement.
Tesla hasn't produced any new vehicles in five weeks after the US plant shutdown and its only other factory, based in the Shanghai, was ordered to remain closed.
Bloomberg reports that many workers in China were set to return on Wednesday following a Labor Day break, but were told the shutdown would be extended until May 9.
This raises another concern with Tesla's reopening as many suppliers are still bound by their state's lockdown orders.
The United Auto Workers, whose members include some Tesla supplier staff, had initially resisted attempts to reopen plants.
Union President Rory Gamble said they would defer to manufacturers after having meetings regarding worker safety.
'We all knew this day would come at some point,' Gamble said in a statement.
'While the companies have the sole contractual right to determine the opening of plants, our UAW focus and role is and will continue to be, on health and safety protocols in which we have the contractual right to protect our members.'
The announcement of Tesla's reopening raised the company's stock five per cent on Friday.
Between Thursday and Friday at 4pm, the stock value increased from $784.77 to $817.78.
This comes after Tesla stocks dropped more than 10 per cent last week after Musk's Twitter rant.
Musk tweeted that the electric carmaker's high-flying stock was overly expensive.
'Tesla stock price is too high,' Musk said on Twitter in one of several unusual messages, including ones quoting parts of the US national anthem and that he would sell almost all his physical possessions.
The subsequent share drop erased around $13billion from Tesla's market value and nearly $3billion from the value of Musk's stake.
California Democrat says 'F**k Elon Musk' after Tesla founder tweets company HQ 'will move to Texas or Nevada immediately' after California county health official says factory CAN'T reopen - despite Gov Gavin Newsom giving it green light (14 Pics)
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May 10, 2020
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