Councilor critical, mayor silent on Meta's Tulsa AI data center announcement

Meta, the corporate giant behind Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, officially announced its plan to build a massive $1 billion AI data center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, located in the Fair Oaks Industrial Park. This announcement followed a celebratory press conference, though not all officials shared the enthusiasm. Under a 25-year tax incentive district agreement, Meta will fully fund the construction of the facility and contribute $25 million for public infrastructure. The City of Tulsa will also receive $62.5 million for other infrastructure instead of direct taxes, and Meta will only pay 15% of its property tax bill during the agreement period. Tulsa City Councilor Laura Bella, who previously led a vote on a city data center moratorium through the end of the year, expressed strong criticism of the project. She stated that she and her council colleagues were repeatedly given the "runaround" by officials throughout the process and that Meta has not agreed to public meetings beyond local organizations. The mayor, Monroe Nichols, was notably absent from the announcement and could not comment, reportedly due to other focuses. Partner Tulsa's Michelle Barnett, however, viewed the economic agreement as favorable, citing future grant opportunities for community and neighborhood groups. A Meta spokesperson affirmed the company's commitment to being "good neighbors" and working with local partners to address community needs.