Activists urge NY to halt lease extension with Tesla
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BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- Community leaders are calling on New York State to pump the brakes on extending Tesla’s lease agreement at the South Buffalo Gigafactory.
Critics argue the factory’s deal with the state was “wasteful” from the beginning and are now urging state leaders to explore alternative companies to occupy the South Park Avenue facility.
“They are failing to address any of the concerns by advocates here,” said Andrea Ó Súilleabháin, executive director of the Partnership for the Public Good (PPG).
The state is currently considering an extension of Tesla’s lease at the publicly-owned factory. The proposed agreement would prolong Tesla’s occupancy from 2029 through 2034.
According to PPG, the facility -- funded by taxpayer dollars -- is falling short of expectations.
“See if somebody can do better with it. Can somebody produce more jobs, more high-quality jobs, with less harm to the environment and less harm to the community? Is there a more reliable partner?” said Sam Magavern, senior policy fellow at PPG.
The current workforce at the site includes about 2,000 full-time employees following layoffs last year. Advocacy groups argue that any renewed lease should include higher job targets, improved wages and benefits, union recognition, and stronger workplace protections.
“There have been numerous complaints of racial harassment, poor working conditions, and being treated as a robot -- not a human,” Magavern said.
State Assemblymember Pat Burke echoed those concerns, suggesting the state should open the opportunity to fair competition to determine which company can offer the most high-quality jobs and public benefits.
“Everyone else is running away from Tesla -- its investors are running away. Everyone is fleeing Tesla. And now New York State wants to double down with a sweetheart deal? It doesn’t make any sense,” said Burke.
In a statement to WIVB News 4 Monday night, State Senator April Baskin criticized the current arrangement: “The plant pays $0 in property taxes. The jobs that are offered do not provide career-advancing opportunities, and the labor environment is not pro-worker. She emphasized the need for a “better economic and environmental return on this public investment.”
Additional concerns have emerged over Tesla’s reported plans to build an AI supercomputer at the site. Environmental advocates are sounding the alarm on the potential consequences.
“Consequences of the use of all the enormous energy demands include added stress to the grid, increased emissions, threats to ecosystems, water supplies, and human health. So we are extremely concerned,” said Chris Murawski, executive director of the Clean Air Coalition of Western New York.
The pushback has also raised questions about what might happen to current workers if Tesla is removed from the facility.
News 4 has reached out to both Tesla and Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office for comment.
Dillon Morello is a reporter from Pittsburgh who has been part of the News 4 team since September of 2023. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.