Tesla’s plant in Fremont opened again for production Monday, this time with the blessing of Alameda County officials.
“Oh yeah it’s full bore. They’re all back,” said Mike Knoy, who owns an automobile restoration company across the street from the plant, which has not been allowed to reopen. He says Tesla employees were once again parking near his business because the plant’s parking lot was overflowing.
County officials announced last week that they had reached a health and safety agreement with the company to allow it to safely reopen. It came after CEO Elon Musk opened the plant one full week ago in direct violation of county orders, accusing health officials of overstepping. Musk also threatened to move the plant outside of California if the company was not treated better.
“Alameda’s always been a really strong county in my opinion, and I told my buddies they’re going to fight this all the way and I wouldn’t be surprised if they arrest him,” says Knoy. “And that didn’t happen, and now they said it’s ok for him to break the law and we’ll go ahead and bend it for you. I don’t agree with that.”
Alameda County officials released an updated health order Monday allowing for manufacturing to resume.