A growing grassroots coalition in Yolo County has submitted a petition with over 1,000 signatures urging the Yolo County Board of Supervisors and city governments in Woodland, Davis, West Sacramento, and Winters to formally end business relationships with Elon Musk—controlled companies, including Tesla, SpaceX, Starlink, Neuralink, X (formerly Twitter), The Boring Company, and xAI.

The effort, organized by the Divest Musk Yolo group, is part of a broader national campaign known as Tesla Takedown, which aims to hold Musk’s companies accountable for a pattern of financial risk, regulatory violations, worker abuse, and political extremism.

Supporters are calling for immediate local action to prevent public funds and government contracts from supporting what they describe as “a deeply unethical and increasingly unstable corporate empire.”

“Our local governments have a responsibility to act in the best interests of the community,” stated Cath Posehn, an organizer with Divest Musk Yolo. “That means ending financial support to companies that endanger workers, violate environmental laws, and fuel political extremism. It’s time to take a stand.”

Key demands from the petition include

Halt all new financial agreements with Musk-controlled companies, including contracts, subsidies, tax incentives, or purchases (such as Tesla vehicles).

Review and cancel existing agreements where legally and logistically feasible.

End the official use of Musk’s platforms, including X and xAI, for municipal communications or services.

Urge CalPERS—which holds approximately $2 billion in Tesla stock—not to make new Tesla purchases and to begin responsibly divesting from current holdings.

Ensure transparency and due diligence before approving any future projects involving Musk companies (e.g., Tesla showrooms, Starlink installations, charging stations, or xAI data centers).

The petition outlines numerous concerns across multiple areas of public interest, including financial instability and poor performance, erratic and irresponsible leadership, labor and safety violations, environmental and regulatory offenses, and ongoing legal and ethical violations.

A call for ethical public stewardship

Supporters of the petition say that Yolo County and its cities have a moral and fiduciary duty to act. Even if no current contracts exist, taking a proactive stand sends a powerful message about public values.

“Our communities should not be subsidizing billionaires who flout the law, exploit workers, and pollute the planet,” said a local resident and petition signer. “We expect our elected officials to protect public assets and uphold democratic principles—not bankroll corporate misconduct.”

Recent actions in the US include:

Charlotte, NC (June 2025): Passed legislation to exclude Tesla from new electric vehicle purchases for the city fleet.

Lehigh County Pension, PA (May 2025): Halted new investments in Tesla across actively managed funds.

New York State: 23 Senators and 28 Assembly Members urged the State Comptroller to divest the $267B state pension fund from Tesla.

California: State Controller Malia Cohen and seven state treasurers have publicly raised concerns about Musk’s focus and leadership at Tesla. Legislation is pending to require safety drivers in autonomous vehicles.

Tennessee: The NAACP is urging Memphis officials to block operations of xAI’s controversial data center.

New York City: Councilman Justin Brannan and leading comptroller candidates have pledged to divest city pensions from Tesla.

“There is now a clear and growing consensus: Elon Musk’s companies pose unacceptable financial, ethical, and governance risks,” Posehn stated. “From Europe to local school boards, public institutions are waking up—and taking action.”

The Divest Musk Yolo group is continuing to work with allied groups nationwide to amplify the call for accountability.