BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - A state lawmaker wants answers on Tesla's controversial plant in South Buffalo.
Assemblyman Pat Burke, whose district includes Tesla Gigafactory 2 on South Park Avenue in South Buffalo, was frustrated over the company receiving yet another extension by Empire State Development on its jobs quota. Tesla was required to have 1,460 jobs at its plant or face a $41.3 million fine from the state.
"It's not just the extension on the jobs," Burke said. "This whole project has been mired in corruption and scandal and all sorts of problems and excuses and excuses. We're tired of it."
The company was given a one-year deferral of their obligation to the end of the year. They were previously given a deferral to April 30 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"...our operations at Gigafactory New York have not yet fully ramped due to a number of factors related to the pandemic," the company said according to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. "Given that we would have met all targets originally required as of April 30, 2020 if they had been measured prior to the mandated reduction of operations in March 2020, and we are currently in excess of such targets relating to investments and personnel in the State of New York, we do not currently expect any issues meeting our applicable obligations following this expected deferral or in the years beyond."
Prior to the pandemic, Tesla reported having 1,834 employees. The company is worth more than $650 billion.
"It's reasonable to say the pandemic affected this," Burke said. "But when you've got so many ugly things on the other end of it, that's why people are saying it doesn't pass the sniff test anymore."
READ MORE: Tesla posts $438M in 1Q profit on strong electric vehicle sales (April 26, 2021)
Tesla will give a report to the state by the end of the month. Burke said he looks forward to reading the report and holding them accountable.
The $950 million facility has been criticized for years for its use of taxpayer dollars to build the plant, a lack of transparency over its operations and job numbers, and also an illegal bid-rigging scheme that resulted in members of the Cuomo administration going to prison.
"Where we're at is not good," Burke said. "I think people have fatigue with that plant. You appreciate the investment. I'm not going to complain about someone putting $1 billion in my district. I'm not going to be the one saying no. But you've got to do it right."
The company made $438 million in the three-month period that ended March 31, as sales more than doubled the same period last year to nearly 185,000 vehicles.
Tesla did not respond to our requests for comment.
