Chris Kelly Opinion: Data Centers on ‘Sunday Morning’ and Monday night

Archbald, Pennsylvania residents are intensely opposing the proposed Wildcat Ridge Data Center "Campus" by Brooklyn-based Cornell Realty Management. During a recent third "conditional use" hearing for the project, over 500 citizens packed the Valley View High School auditorium to voice their strong disapproval. The grassroots group Stop Archbald Data Centers facilitated a "Wildcat Ridge Propaganda Mailer Return" box at the event, which was quickly filled with hundreds of discarded pro-project mailers. The article criticizes a recent segment on "CBS News Sunday Morning" for featuring Pennsylvania Senator Dave McCormick without disclosing his wife, Dina Powell McCormick, is president and vice chairman of Meta, a significant player in the data center industry. This omission sparked further outrage among Archbald residents, who view it as a scandalous conflict of interest. Senator McCormick, referred to as "Data Center Dave," is accused of promoting the "benefits" of data centers without acknowledging this connection. Legal counsel for Wildcat Ridge, Edmund J. Campbell Jr., attempted to address the agitated crowd, drawing boos when he complained about the mailer return box. He also suggested a "silent majority" supports the data centers, a claim refuted by the strong turnout and unified opposition. Former Lackawanna County Judge Tom Munley, Lackawanna County Commissioner Bill Gaughan, and Archbald resident Madonna Munley delivered powerful speeches against the project, emphasizing that local residents are self-funding their efforts to safeguard their community against invasive data center development.