What's are the positives for local communities for data centers? I see only negatives. At least prisons have to hire people.
The local officials get slightly richer.
Meta to receive $3.3B in tax breaks for its $10B Louisiana data center
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Re: Meta to receive $3.3B in tax breaks for its $10B Louisiana data center
#102Isn't LA soon to be underwater
Richland Parish is pretty far north, so not likely to be under sea water.
It is, however, in the Mississippi River delta... so I wouldn't put flooding out of the picture.
Re: Meta to receive $3.3B in tax breaks for its $10B Louisiana data center
#103What's are the positives for local communities for data centers? I see only negatives. At least prisons have to hire people.
Higher energy prices.
Oh, you mean net positives? I can't see any unfortunately..
Re: Meta to receive $3.3B in tax breaks for its $10B Louisiana data center
#104What's are the positives for local communities for data centers? I see only negatives. At least prisons have to hire people.
Jobs that exist only during construction, ambient noise, higher electricity and water prices. They also get the privilege of living near technology that represents the future: degraded education, unemployment and spiraling inequality.
Re: Meta to receive $3.3B in tax breaks for its $10B Louisiana data center
#105From https://sherwood.news/tech/hyperion/ >> Per the report, the package of tax breaks and incentives was achieved through local officials bound by nondisclosure agreements, quietly struck legislative deals, and parliamentary sleight of hand to avoid public scrutiny of the deal. >> So the residents of Richland Parish did not have much of a heads-up on what was coming. No voting, no public interests, only closed-door…
There was a public hearing of the state public service commission I attended which essentially boiled down to well all these big Wall Street banks are guaranteeing payment so it should be fine and plus we need jobs up there.
Re: Meta to receive $3.3B in tax breaks for its $10B Louisiana data center
#106From https://sherwood.news/tech/hyperion/ >> Per the report, the package of tax breaks and incentives was achieved through local officials bound by nondisclosure agreements, quietly struck legislative deals, and parliamentary sleight of hand to avoid public scrutiny of the deal. >> So the residents of Richland Parish did not have much of a heads-up on what was coming. No voting, no public interests, only closed-door…
I'm not at all surprised to learn that Republican politicians royally screwed their constituents. I was going to say maybe these people will vote better next time just to read that Colorado governor is commuting the sentence of Tina Peters. Democratic leadership is so freaking weak it's unbelievable. With one party full of grifters and the other with full of weaklings, we need to abolish this two-party system.
Louisiana had a Democratic governor from 2016-2024.
Re: Meta to receive $3.3B in tax breaks for its $10B Louisiana data center
#107What's are the positives for local communities for data centers? I see only negatives. At least prisons have to hire people.
The local officials get slightly richer.
I'm not that cynical, I think they got stars in their eyes, were charmed at the idea of doing business with big money / tech and didn't do any actual cost/benefit analysis. Maybe they get an opportunity to make a very powerful friend/crony and took it without considering their duty to their constituents.
Re: Meta to receive $3.3B in tax breaks for its $10B Louisiana data center
#108What's are the positives for local communities for data centers? I see only negatives. At least prisons have to hire people.
Jobs that exist only during construction, ambient noise, higher electricity and water prices. They also get the privilege of living near technology that represents the future: degraded education, unemployment and spiraling inequality.
I believe in Richland Parish people were excited about the opportunity to sell hot plates to the construction workers.
Re: Meta to receive $3.3B in tax breaks for its $10B Louisiana data center
#109Earlier quoted context omitted.
If they are willing to spend 35B there's no doubt they could spend 30B without asking the government to reach into the people's wallet. The US needs to do something about lobbying. It seems too late already, but maybe you can get things to improve a bit.
It's funny that the US still uses the word lobbying. At this point this has been corruption for years now. Corruption in the US is rampant
Yup, lobbying is a made-up integrity-washing concept after all
Re: Meta to receive $3.3B in tax breaks for its $10B Louisiana data center
#110From https://sherwood.news/tech/hyperion/ >> Per the report, the package of tax breaks and incentives was achieved through local officials bound by nondisclosure agreements, quietly struck legislative deals, and parliamentary sleight of hand to avoid public scrutiny of the deal. >> So the residents of Richland Parish did not have much of a heads-up on what was coming. No voting, no public interests, only closed-door…
Yet another moment where Strangers in Their Own Land[0] is prescient. From an interview[1] given by the author: "I think the next most important reason they distrusted the federal government is their experience with protective agencies in the state of Louisiana, and they thought, “Gosh, these are a lot of people we pay taxes to but they don't really protect us.” And they’re right, because Louisiana is an oil state -…
Man, "instrument of the 'line cutters'" describes my government to a tee and I live in one of the wealthiest states.