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Memphis City Council Postpones Data Center Vote Amid Chaos
Developing
In Short: A Memphis City Council meeting descended into chaos Tuesday night as lawmakers postponed a vote on a proposed moratorium on new data centers.
The council voted 7-5 to delay the moratorium vote until Oct. 20, after protesters chanted inside City Hall and police cleared the chamber.
Some residents have raised concerns about data centers' use of power and water, along with their effects on air quality, noise, and nearby neighborhoods.
Protesters chanted, 'This is our city,' and, 'Show me what democracy looks like,' as police moved to clear people from the chamber.
Mayor Paul Young has called for more rules governing data centers while also pointing to the tax revenue they generate.
Council member J.B. Smiley was criticized for confusing the people, and council member Cara Galloway argued that the evening’s events illustrated her concerns about the invocation policy.
Matt Dalbey, a former Ottumwa City Council member, delivered an invocation that included a reference to Satan, sparking immediate confrontation.
The policy explicitly says the city intends to respect organized and unorganized religious denominations, as well as other faiths, belief systems, or the lack thereof.
Council member Galloway told Bick that he should wait until the portion of the meeting designated for public comment.
The policy also prohibits speakers from proselytizing or disparaging other religions or beliefs, while specifically stating that city officials and staff may not conduct prior review or restriction of the content of an invocation.
The Memphis Police Department spokesperson told Fox News that no one was detained or injured during the chaos.
Council member Smiley said council members should have done more to listen to residents who attended the meeting.
Mayor Young told WREG, 'When the community shows up, we just have to listen to them.'
What this adds
The chaos at the meeting highlights the tensions between economic development and community concerns over data centers.
The invocation policy and its implementation have become a contentious issue, with some council members arguing for more restrictions.
The postponement of the moratorium vote until Oct. 20 leaves the issue unresolved for now, with both supporters and opponents of data centers continuing to voice their concerns.
Background
In addition to the data center bill, the Senate is also considering a bill designed to prohibit congressional stock trading.
What's still developing
- "That’s all he does; he brings up mess," Cooper-Sutton said of Smiley.
- It was unclear what sparked the fight or whether it was connected to the council meeting.
- The council then ironically proceeded to the Pledge of Allegiance, including the words “one nation under God.” The invocation prompted an immediate confrontation once the pledge was finished, according to the Ottumwa Courier.
- Rath said the city could revisit the policy but warned that restricting it could expose Ottumwa to legal challenges.
- “Let us pray, dear Dark Father,” Dalbey began.
- "There’s a role for all of our agencies to play in ensuring we put the proper guardrails in place. The thing that I want to make sure is that we do it expeditiously."
- "I’m disappointed that we didn’t listen with ears, okay, I hear you, I understand. Let’s figure out how we can do what you want, but also what we believe would be in the best interest of the community."
- "They get the same benefit from going to DeSoto County, Crittenden County, Fayette County, Tipton County."
- "If we pass a moratorium, there’s no reason for them to think they need to come here," Warren said, according to WREG.
- "We need to keep the pressure high and make sure that we get the guardrails in place that we need for our community to feel protected," Young told WREG.