Faraday’s future and Nevada’s

With the special session for the consideration of subsidies to ensure Faraday Future’s move to Nevada now history, it is important that we remain cautious. Faraday Future is not from Nevada, nor do they have a record of success that we can look to. There are a number of issues that are important to keep in mind as Faraday Future begins its move to Nevada.

It is important to ensure the best results for Nevada residents, considering both what Nevada has promised them, as well as what they have promised Nevada. The first of which is Faraday Future’s promise to ensure that half of their workforce, both during and after construction, are Nevadans. Faraday Future should take care to give priority to the residents of North Las Vegas, the future location of their production facility. The population of North Las Vegas is both predominantly people of color and has a lower than average per capita income. They should be the first to see the benefits of this new company joining their community.

Moreover, the jobs that become available must be well-paying, full-time jobs, rather than unpredictable, precarious part-time employment without benefits. Faraday Future states that it will pay an average of $22 per hour. While these are certainly good wages, it is crucial that top-level management are not included in this average, distorting the number. A livable wage needs to be ensured for all employees, not just the high-ranking.

In addition to contributing to a strong Nevada workforce, Faraday Future also promises to pay $1 million into K-12 education in Nevada over six years, starting in 2018. Funds to support our education system should be a priority for all Nevadans, but in the event that Faraday Future is unsuccessful (given that they do not have a product or track record), how can we ensure that Nevada’s students benefit? It is vital that we put our youth first, even if Faraday Future does not make it to 2018 and beyond.

Even with all of this in mind, Nevada officials should be pushed to consider the focus on subsidies for big corporations, such as Tesla and Faraday Future. These subsidies shift the playing field, working against small-business in Nevada. Small businesses and robust local economies should be a priority for Nevada, not just big corporations. Care should be taken to ensure that people and planet come first, not just the desires of big corporations, as more companies seek success in our state.