The home of Indianapolis City-County Council member Ron Gibson was shot at on Monday, with the assailant leaving a note saying, “NO DATA CENTERS.” Many people have recently been vehemently opposing the construction of data centers, especially as many are concerned about the negative effects it has on the community. These include increased electricity costs and diminished power quality, as well as apprehension about its effect on the water supply. According to CBS News, Gibson supported the proposed Metrobloks data center, but was met with boos when he spoke up about the benefits of the project during a Metropolitan Development Commission meeting last week.
“There are real benefits tied to this development,” Gibson said during the public hearing. “Construction is expected to support roughly 300 jobs over a three-year period.” However, the members of the public who opposed the project were asked to stand up; most of the people in the meeting were seen taking a stand. Despite this, the Metropolitan Development Commission approved the proposed rezoning to accommodate the planned data center. This is not a done deal yet, though, as the proposal still needs approval from the Indianapolis City-County Council, of which Gibson is a member.
