Mesa activists oppose Japanese data center, seek audience with city council
Community activists in Mesa, Arizona, are vocally opposing plans for a 173-acre data center to be operated by Japanese tech firm NTT. Residents express concerns about water usage, environmental impact, and a lack of transparency from Mesa city leaders, who they feel are not adequately addressing their issues. The opposition intensified during a recent city council meeting, leading to an arrest and changes in meeting rules.
Residents of Mesa, Arizona, are actively opposing the development of a 173-acre data center proposed by Japanese tech firm NTT. NTT acquired the land in March and is seeking changes to the city's allowances for the project. According to city spokespersons, the issue is frequently discussed in public meetings.
Activists Megan O'Connor and Gillian Ryan, who lead East Valley neighborhoods, voiced their strong disapproval of the project. Their concerns include potential water shortages, the overall aesthetic impact of the data center, a perceived lack of transparency from the city, and the potential harm to local wildlife. They argue that the data centers will negatively affect property values and that the city council is unresponsive to their arguments, often appearing dismissive.
The opposition's frustrations escalated at a late July council meeting, where one individual was arrested and removed. Following this incident, the city council implemented new rules, including banning signs from meetings. Opponents believe these changes disproportionately silence them, while supporters of the council maintain that the rules ensure fair and orderly proceedings. A spokesperson for Mesa emphasized that the public is always welcome to attend meetings or contact their city council representatives directly.
Despite the challenges, O'Connor and Ryan have affirmed their intent to continue attending meetings and voicing their objections to the data center development.