Tesla's Musk says ready for arrest as he reopens California plant against local order

[webfact]

Tesla's Musk says ready for arrest as he reopens California plant against local order

By Tina Bellon

 

California Governor Gavin Newsom (L) and Tesla CEO Elon Musk (R) are seen in a combination photo. REUTERS/Mike Blake/Joe Skipper

 

(Reuters) - Tesla Inc <TSLA.O> Chief Executive Elon Musk on Monday said production was resuming at the company's primary vehicle factory in California and asked to be the only one arrested as he defied local officials who said the plant should remain closed to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

 

The scuffle comes as states and cities around the United States are experimenting with ways to safely reopen their economies after the virus outbreak shuttered businesses and forced tens of millions of Americans out of work.

 

Musk over the weekend threatened to leave California for Texas or Nevada over the fight. His move has highlighted the competition for jobs and ignited a rush to woo the billionaire executive by states that have reopened their economies more quickly in response to encouragement from U.S. President Donald Trump.

 

In an email on Monday, Tesla referred to an order on Thursday by California's governor allowing manufacturers to resume operations and said that as of Sunday, previously furloughed employees were back to their regular employment status.

 

"We're happy to get back to work and have implemented very detailed plans to help you keep safe as you return," according to the email seen by Reuters and titled "Furlough Has Ended And We Are Back To Work in Production!"

 

Musk in a tweet said production was resuming on Monday, adding that he would join workers on the assembly line. "If anyone is arrested, I ask that it only be me," he wrote.

 

Health officials in Alameda County, where the Fremont factory is based, said on Friday and Saturday it must remain closed as long as local lockdown measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus remain in effect.

 

The county's order says violations are punishable by fine, imprisonment or both.

 

Alameda County health officials did not respond to requests for comment on whether they would take any steps to shut down factory operations.

 

A spokeswoman for the Fremont Police Department on Monday said her office was enforcing the lockdown order at the direction of the health department and had been advised that the county is working with Tesla directly.

 

Separately on Monday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said California should do whatever is necessary to help the electric carmaker reopen its only U.S. vehicle factory if it wants to keep the company in its state.

 

California Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday said he spoke to Musk several days ago and that the Tesla founder’s concerns helped prompt the state to begin its phased reopening of manufacturing last week.

 

“I have not only known that company but I have known its founder for many, many years,” Newsom said in his daily coronavirus press briefing. “I have great reverence for their technology, for their innovative spirit, for their leadership.”

 

Tesla, which also has a vehicle plant in Shanghai and is building another in Berlin, on Saturday sued the county, alleging it had violated California's constitution by defying Newsom's orders allowing manufacturers to reopen.

 

Musk has discussed opening a second U.S. factory outside California in the past. In a tweet in February, he solicited comments on potentially opening a factory in Texas.

 

Since his threat to leave California on Saturday, officials from Texas, Georgia, Utah, Oklahoma and Nevada have reached out to Musk on Twitter, encouraging him to relocate to their state.

 

A Texas official said his county was available immediately to accommodate Tesla and invited the billionaire CEO for a visit.

 

"We have a motivated, pro-business governor," Richard Cortez, county judge of Texas' Hidalgo County, said on Monday. "What we no longer have is a shelter at home mandate."

 

Musk in response tweeted: "Note is much appreciated."

 

(Reporting by Tina Bellon in New York; Additional reporting by Sharon Bernstein in Sacramento; Editing by Richard Chang and Dan Grebler)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-05-12

 

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[Crazy Alex]

I predict Musk prevails. As well he should. There is little rhyme nor reason to how businesses are targeted.

[Relocated]

I will vote for Musk in 2024. 

[Mama Noodle]

39 minutes ago, webfact said:

Since his threat to leave California on Saturday, officials from Texas, Georgia, Utah, Oklahoma and Nevada have reached out to Musk on Twitter, encouraging him to relocate to their state.

 

Texas, move to Texas and Sleazeball Gavin Newsom can eat crow. 

[TopDeadSenter]

I like it when Musk goes off script. He must be the last conservative left in California. Time for Newsom to learn a harsh lesson in economics. When all the businesses have left, and all you have are tent cities and pavements thick with human excrement, who pays all the bills?

[Bluespunk]

If he does break the ongoing governing restrictions on opening I hope they do lock him up.
 

Arrogant capitalists should not be allowed to break the laws anymore than anyone else. 

[Chomper Higgot]

And the dead bodies continue to pile up.

[Chomper Higgot]

1 hour ago, Crazy Alex said:

I predict Musk prevails. As well he should. There is little rhyme nor reason to how businesses are targeted.

I’m impressed by the speed at which language travels from the podium to

being repeated here on TVF.

 

Tragically the only ‘prevailing’ being done is that of the virus.

 

The shutdown was explained, as have been the arguments against reopening businesses too early. 

 

 

[Crazy Alex]

2 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

I’m impressed by the speed at which language travels from the podium to

being repeated here on TVF.

 

Tragically the only ‘prevailing’ being done is that of the virus.

 

The shutdown was explained, as have been the arguments against reopening businesses too early. 

 

 

Life goes on. Please know that if the economy opens up completely tomorrow, you are free to stay at home if for whatever reason you think you need to.

[Crazy Alex]

37 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

If he does break the ongoing governing restrictions on opening I hope they do lock him up.
 

Arrogant capitalists should not be allowed to break the laws anymore than anyone else. 

What laws is Musk breaking?

[Chomper Higgot]

15 minutes ago, Crazy Alex said:

Life goes on. Please know that if the economy opens up completely tomorrow, you are free to stay at home if for whatever reason you think you need to.

For over 80,000 American victims of this virus, life does not ‘go on’.

 

And tragically that number is still climbing rapidly.

[Crazy Alex]

3 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

For over 80,000 American victims of this virus, life does not ‘go on’.

 

And tragically that number is still climbing rapidly.

Life goes on.

[Bluespunk]

1 hour ago, Crazy Alex said:

What laws is Musk breaking?

Why is musk talking about being arrested if he isn’t?
 

“ChiefExecutive Elon Musk on Monday said production was resuming at thecompany's primary vehicle factory in California and asked to be the only one arrested”

[Baerboxer]

4 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

For over 80,000 American victims of this virus, life does not ‘go on’.

 

And tragically that number is still climbing rapidly.

 

And how many more infections and deaths do you think the re-opening of this particular plant will cause?

 

Or is it more about a capitalist neo-conservative business man daring to challenge the rule of a socialist politician?

[Baerboxer]

4 hours ago, Crazy Alex said:

What laws is Musk breaking?

 

Er, the one referred to in the article, which also states the consequences possible.

[Siamjim]

how dare Musk...doesn't he know DEMS politicians are a great bunch to be with...nah

 

[tifino]

9 hours ago, Crazy Alex said:

I predict Musk prevails. As well he should. There is little rhyme nor reason to how businesses are targeted.

I'd say ol' Sherrif Roscoe P Coltrane is eyeing the thought he's going to succeed (not) in twisting Elons arm, for a fleet of Tesla Pursuits! 

[JAG]

8 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

And the dead bodies continue to pile up.

No matter - most of them are old and/or poor. Old and/or poor people don't buy Mr Musk's izzy whizzy electric cars...

[phantomfiddler]

7 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

For over 80,000 American victims of this virus, life does not ‘go on’.

 

And tragically that number is still climbing rapidly.

Don,t forget to mention the other 1,025,000 poor souls who have died in America since this thing began !

[Acharn]

I think Musk is facing some kind of deadline. He's desperate. Should be in jail already for stock manipulation and fraud.

[Crazy Alex]

4 hours ago, phantomfiddler said:

Don,t forget to mention the other 1,025,000 poor souls who have died in America since this thing began !

Those don't matter. No political points to be scored. And the 1,000,000 who die each year from TB? Who cares? Mostly brown and black people in poor countries. How does that help the GET TRUMP AT ALL COSTS campaign?

[Mayhem11]

I can think of a crime if Musk opens that plant and someone dies homicide.

[Crazy Alex]

1 minute ago, Mayhem11 said:

I can think of a crime if Musk opens that plant and someone dies homicide.

 

Homicide isn't necessarily a crime.

[MikeyIdea]

Musk can move to Europe or Asia instead if he doesn't like the US. Less viruses because of why?

[Crazy Alex]

1 minute ago, MikeyIdea said:

Musk can move to Europe or Asia instead if he doesn't like the US. Less viruses because of why?

He didn't say he didn't like the US. He said he doesn't like California. Big difference. And yes, there is much less of a virus presence in blue states. For example, Texas has a higher population than New York, yet New York has over 20 times the virus deaths.

 

Elon Musk is smart enough to have Texas at or near the top of a very short list of places to move to after fleeing California. Thousands of very smart people have moved their companies from California to Texas and other states that aren't waging a war on productive people like California does.

[Crazy Alex]

1 hour ago, Acharn said:

I think Musk is facing some kind of deadline. He's desperate. Should be in jail already for stock manipulation and fraud.

Now you know why many of us are against corporate welfare.

[Cryingdick]

There is no law cited in the article. It's a local "order". Just like the governors really have no right to declare lockdown laws. Making laws is for the legislature. Just like Trump couldn't tell the states to open or close. Sounds like nobody has bothered Musk so far. 

 

He is almost begging to be arrested so he can be the one with the legal team to put this to a fight. If they don't arrest him it is because he is doing nothing wrong. End of story. 

[Saint Nick]

Oh, Elon...you are such a hero!

Especially, when you pay every fine with couch- change!

Not so easy for your workers, right?!

 

Oh and as you are such a great man for all your workers...how about NOT making them jobless by moving somewhere else and just WAIT, like everybody else, you selfish little ...man!

[Cryingdick]

2 minutes ago, Saint Nick said:

Oh, Elon...you are such a hero!

Especially, when you pay every fine with couch- change!

Not so easy for your workers, right?!

 

Oh and as you are such a great man for all your workers...how about NOT making them jobless by moving somewhere else and just WAIT, like everybody else, you selfish little ...man!

he is a hero to stop the maniacal leaders in California that have usurped the laws. I haven't heard any more news so I assume the factory is manufacturing cars right now.

[AgMech Cowboy]

Musk will want to be close to a port so Nueces, San Patricio and Aransas will have a better chance than Hidalgo. But good for the county judge there twitting Musk and trying to peak his interest.  Obviously the counties around Galveston & Harris county where Houston is located will be attractive, but the South has better beaches.