Memphis council postpones final vote on proposed data center moratorium
The Memphis City Council postponed its final vote on a proposed data center moratorium after a contentious meeting that ended with protests and fights. Councilman JB Smiley Jr., the ordinance’s sponsor, said he supports slowing development and involving the community in creating a regulatory framework.
The Memphis City Council postponed a final vote on a proposed data center moratorium, with seven council members voting to delay consideration. The move followed a contentious meeting that ended abruptly amid protests and reported fights.
Councilman JB Smiley Jr., who sponsored the ordinance, said residents were not seeking to ban all data centers but wanted development slowed while the city establishes a framework with community input. Smiley also criticized colleagues who he said had not taken enough time to review the 10-page proposal. He later called for a criminal investigation into the events surrounding the meeting.