Lies, Lies, Lies
Friends and Constituents,
I hope you’re well. Please forgive the radio silence. A lot has been going on, and I’m behind on both my constituent correspondence and these weekly newsletters and videos. But I am pretty proud of this week’s video. Watch the video, then keep reading:
(Obligatory note: alcoholism is no joke; I was drinking strawberry lemonade for this video. But it gave me the excuse to ham it up on camera and act goofy, which are two talents of mine. If you’re drinking more than you want to, seek help - you’re more fun without it, I promise.)
Data centers have remained at the front of everyone’s minds lately.
The proposed Sabey data center in Decatur Township has led to a lawsuit.
A new proposed data center project just off the Pennsy Trail has just been announced.
The Martindale-Brightwood data center is barreling towards May 4th, when the full Council will vote on whether to have a public hearing about the issue.
And the Hogsett Administration has proposed a new data center special use zoning district which is already being panned by environmentalists and neighborhood groups. This special use district will make it far easier for developers to build data centers in Indianapolis, and it does not protect residents. The media has correctly highlighted that this administration has been far from neutral - they’ve backed up the pro-development groups who are actively courting data centers to come to Indianapolis.
Many of us are fighting back, though.
You’ll be seeing us resist the flood of AI data centers in a number of creative ways. And the first one is coming up on Tuesday evening!
Hogsett wanted us to be stuck at virtual-only, online “information sessions” about the new proposed data center regulations next week. But Councilor Crista Wells and I decided that public decisions should be made in public, not just behind computer screens. So we used our power as Councilors to reserve the public space for the public to get together.
On Tuesday, during the time of the virtual info session from 6:00 to 7:30 pm, the two uncaucused Councilors are hosting a “silent disco” style public meeting at the Public Assembly Room in the City County Building to learn and process together. We are inviting all our friends, all our fellow Councilors, and the media. Bring a pair of headphones and your smartphone or laptop, and we can stream the virtual meeting together in person and talk about how we feel about it together.
Click here to let us know you’re coming on Tuesday evening!
On Thursday, there will be a repeat session from 11:30 am to 1 pm. Councilors Wells can’t attend that one, but I’ll be in the Public Assembly Room once again to chat and hear directly from you what you think of these new proposed zoning regulations. Once again, bring your friends and your headphones and devices so we can all listen in and share thoughts.
More strategies to come - if you know any lawyers interested in environmental law and city government, please send them my way for another part of the resistance!
And as always - remember that if you can't join public meetings you can always chip in a few dollars to help the rest of us keep fighting!
In love and solidarity,
Jesse