{"id":7153,"date":"2026-02-19T22:01:22","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T21:01:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tesliens.com\/non-categorise\/davis-boycotts-musk-but-keeps-starlink-why\/"},"modified":"2026-02-21T13:14:22","modified_gmt":"2026-02-21T12:14:22","slug":"davis-boycotts-musk-but-keeps-starlink-why","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tesliens.com\/en\/news\/davis-boycotts-musk-but-keeps-starlink-why\/","title":{"rendered":"Davis Boycotts Musk… but Keeps Starlink: Why?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On February 19, 2026, the Davis City Council in California unanimously adopted a resolution against Elon Musk’s companies<\/strong>. Tesla, SpaceX, X, xAI, The Boring Company… all are targeted by this symbolic boycott intended to mark a clear political opposition. <\/p>\n\n

But here’s where it gets interesting: Starlink receives a last-minute exemption<\/strong>. Why? Because the city’s emergency services\u2014EMS, fire, police\u2014depend on this satellite technology for their critical communications. <\/p>\n\n

When political ideology meets technological reality, pragmatism sometimes wins. And this contradiction says a lot about our dependence on innovations<\/strong>, even when they come from controversial figures. <\/p>\n\n

Let’s break down this decision that perfectly illustrates the modern tensions between principles and practical necessities.<\/p>\n\n

Davis Votes Against Musk: What Really Happened?<\/h2>\n\n

At its February 19 meeting, the Davis City Council unanimously adopted a resolution with an explicit title<\/strong>: “Resolution Ending Engagement With Elon Musk-Controlled Companies and To Encourage CalPERS To Divest Stock In These Companies”.<\/p>\n\n

The companies targeted<\/strong>? Tesla, SpaceX, Starlink (initially), X, xAI, and The Boring Company. The stated reasons revolve around accusations of political activities that would threaten “democratic norms”<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n

The resolution also calls on CalPERS, the California pension fund, to divest from these companies. But it’s important to understand the actual practical scope<\/strong>: this decision only concerns new contracts<\/strong>, not equipment already in place. <\/p>\n\n

And here’s the juicy detail: Davis currently has no active contracts<\/strong> with these companies. The impact is therefore primarily symbolic, a political signal more than a concrete measure. <\/p>\n

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\"Davis<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

The Last-Minute Amendment<\/h3>\n\n

Initially, Starlink was indeed on the list of boycotted companies. But at the time of the vote, an amendment was adopted<\/strong>: exemption for Starlink regarding emergency communications. <\/p>\n\n

The services concerned? EMS (medical emergencies), fire, and police. The official justification? The absence of a viable alternative<\/strong> for these critical services<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n