Eyes on Governor Newscum and his deal with China for protective masks. The masks are being made by BYD, known as "the Chinese Tesla" auto manufacturer formed in 1995 as a seller of batteries, battery-powered bicycles, buses, and trucks.
Investor Warren Buffett (Bershire Hathaway) backed BYD with 24.6% stake in 2008 .
BYD is late on delivery and as of today "California will be refunded $247 million it paid to a Chinese company under a major deal for protective masks after the company failed to meet a deadline for federal certification of the masks", Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration said Wednesday.
—YUP! FAILED to meet a deadline for FEDERAL (😉) certification of the masks - missed an April 30 deadline outlined in the contract for certification of the N95 masks by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
No details (yet) on what (or who) caused the certification delay. 🇺🇸!
An Amendment was signed today giving BYD another month to meet the certification. If the masks aren’t certified by May 31, California can get the rest of the payment back in early June.
The state paid $3.30 per N95 and 55 cents per surgical mask under the contract. The state made a separate $104.7 million payment last week for the delivery of the surgical masks.
Newscum said the state’s payment of $3.30 per mask was low compared to other states and federal buyers that had paid about $6 to $7 per mask.
The contract shows the agreement with BYD goes through June 2020, with an option for one-month extensions. It states everything made under the agreement must be “newly manufactured” and that the company cannot use sweatshop, forced, child or other controversial labor practices (Yeah right).
BYD has in the past faced accusations of unfair labor practices.
"Documents from the treasurer’s office indicated Newsom’s administration hadn’t finished vetting BYD before Newsom publicly announced the contract or before his administration asked the state treasurer’s office to prepare the initial wire transfer."
sauce - https://ktla.com/news/nationworld/california-pays-3-30-per-coronavirus-mask-under-quiet-deal-with-chinese-company-totaling-close-to-1-billion/