Newsom and state OES denied PRA requests about Chinese mask deal from LA Times and AP

"California is expected to be refunded $247 million it paid to a Chinese car company under a $1 billion deal that has attracted criticism for Gov. Gavin Newsom's administration, officials said Wednesday."



"Newsom's administration announced the refund that covered about half of its investment after the company, BYD, which stands for Build Your Dreams, failed to meet its deadline. California paid about half the contract that would have sent about 500 million masks to the state."

"An amendment to the contract on Wednesday pushed the certification deadline back to May 31. California would get the rest of its money back in June if the deadline isn't met, according to the amendment."

"Newsom's office has been criticized for the lack of transparency into the contract for weeks. Last month, Democratic state Assemblyman Richard Bloom, a budget committee member, said details of the BYD deal were 'very murky'."

"The governor previously denied a public records' request from the Los Angeles Times seeking details into the deal, according to the paper. The state’s Office of Emergency Services and Department of General Services denied the Associated Press’ request for the contract on Tuesday because they said it could jeopardize the delivery of the supplies."

https://www.foxnews.com/health/california-247m-refund-murky-masks-deal-chinese-company-delay

"Gov. Gavin Newsom released details on Wednesday of a secretive $1-billion deal to purchase protective masks from a Chinese electric-car maker that revealed the company must reimburse the state $247.5 million by the end of the week."

"The release of the contract came amid growing questions over the administration’s refusal to provide details about the deal. Just two days earlier, officials had refused to divulge more information after The Times filed a Public Records Act request."

"The repayment by BYD, through its U.S. subsidiary headquartered in Los Angeles, was attributed to a one-month delay in certification of the company’s N95 masks. Those masks may not be approved for effectiveness by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health until the end of May."



https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-05-06/gavin-newsom-releases-california-coronavirus-mask-contract