Records show city official wanted police presence at data center forum following protests
Following public protests against a data center rezoning request, city officials in Jackson, Mississippi, increased security and limited occupancy at public meetings. The Jackson City Council subsequently enacted a 183-day moratorium on data center developments to allow time for new regulatory guidelines to be established.
City officials in Jackson, Mississippi, responded to heightened public concern over data center developments by implementing increased security measures at public meetings. Records obtained by 3 On Your Side revealed that the city's Planning Director, Angela Brown, requested police presence at a public education forum on data centers, citing prior protests at a Planning Board meeting on May 27. These protests saw dozens oppose Saxum Investment Group's request to rezone 190 acres in Northwest Jackson for a data center site.
In addition to police presence, the Jackson Fire Marshal began strictly enforcing a 60-person occupancy limit at City Council Chambers, a rule previously overlooked. Officials, including Communications Director Nic Lott, expressed concern about the public narrative, with Lott advising against using images of data centers or phrases like "data centers in Jackson" on forum flyers to avoid implying a predetermined outcome.
Ultimately, the Jackson City Council passed a temporary 183-day moratorium on data center development. This ban will provide the city with time to develop comprehensive new rules and regulations to govern future data center projects within its jurisdiction.