NYS lawmakers introduce bill targeting Buffalo Tesla plant

BUFFALO, N.Y. — A new piece of legislation introduced by State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal (D, WFP-Manhattan) and Assemblymember Micah Lasher (D-Manhattan), takes aim at Elon Musk's company Tesla, and its dealings with the state.

The bill introduced by the downstate New York lawmakers calls for an audit on the Tesla plant in South Buffalo, which is the company's largest factory operation in the state. RELATED: 'Global day of action': Buffalo protest targets Tesla CEO's practices The factory is in State Assemblyman Pat Burke's district. "I am a little frustrated by, you know, two Manhattan legislators opining on a facility in my district without communicating that to me," the assemblyman said.



Nevertheless, Burke plans on speaking with the lawmakers said he is not opposed to the idea of an audit on the factory. He said that this is what he hopes to come from a possible state probe. "One, never do something like this again.

Two, shopping around to see what we can actually get in there. But then three, if it's with Tesla, it's that they're not paying $1 a year for rent. They're paying whatever the market rate for that facility is," the assemblyman said.

State Senator Sean Ryan is also in support of a possible audit, though he's more keen on keeping the Telsa factory in Buffalo. When asked if pulling out of a lease agreement with Tesla, the senator said: "I don't think that's a practical option. You know, right now, we're trying to, we're struggling to refill the this former Sumitomo plant.

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