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Utah senator smacks ABC reporters phone out of hand amid Data Center controversy

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Re: Utah senator smacks ABC reporters phone out of hand amid Data Center controversy

#31

Post by ryandrake »

tragiclos wrote: post #24
janice1999 wrote: post #4

> ABC4’s crew was also issued a trespassing notice. The class system in the US has never been more on display with the datacenter build outs. A senator who attacks a journalist gets them threatened by the police. Town halls to listen to local "concerns" are charades where they look for any excuse to arrest anyone who voices opposition [1]. [1] https://www.newson6.com/tulsa-oklahoma-news/arrest-made-duri...

On the other hand, even if the town council takes concerns seriously and denies permission to build, the companies doing the building will just sue and build them anyways[1]. [1] https://fortune.com/2026/05/06/ai-data-center-michigan-salin...

It's almost as if constituents are treated like cattle and it doesn't ultimately matter what they want.

I guess this is what they mean when they say they want to "run government like a business:" They mean run government to enrich themselves and be totally unaccountable to the public.

Re: Utah senator smacks ABC reporters phone out of hand amid Data Center controversy

#32

Post by Worf »

sizzzzlerz wrote: post #27
krupan wrote: post #18

People in Utah are super upset about this data center project (and no, they aren't bussed-in paid protestors like "Mr. Wonderful" claims). Check Instagram and ksl.com for all the drama, it's very entertaining. Utahns are being asked to save water at every opportunity and then this world-record sized data center gets green lit by the state government with zero explanation as to how that jives with the drought narrativ…

You know there has to be money being passed under the table to the council members, state legislature, and governor's office by the billionaire's wanting to build these things. There is absolutely no benefit to the local's to have this in their backyard. The construction money will go to out-of-the-area contractor's to build it, they'll staff it (minimal as it will be) with H1B visa holders from India, and money that…

> All they'll have is higher property taxes, water, and electricity bills.

How would the datacenter lead to higher taxes and bills? Genuinely curious.

Re: Utah senator smacks ABC reporters phone out of hand amid Data Center controversy

#33

Post by randycupertino »

dlenski wrote: post #16
mike_d wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He is a Utah senator. It is a job title.

Many people reading this headline will initially assume, as I did, that it refers to one of Utah's two US senators. Why not add the word "state" and immediately clarify this?

The strict HN title character limits make you consolidate the headline as much as possible.

Re: Utah senator smacks ABC reporters phone out of hand amid Data Center controversy

#35

Post by skeledrew »

Worf wrote: post #32
sizzzzlerz wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You know there has to be money being passed under the table to the council members, state legislature, and governor's office by the billionaire's wanting to build these things. There is absolutely no benefit to the local's to have this in their backyard. The construction money will go to out-of-the-area contractor's to build it, they'll staff it (minimal as it will be) with H1B visa holders from India, and money that…

> All they'll have is higher property taxes, water, and electricity bills. How would the datacenter lead to higher taxes and bills? Genuinely curious.

For the utilities at least, data centers take a crazy amount of electricity and water to operate. These costs are subsidized through some sort of arrangement - that I've never really understood - with the respective companies and spread out among the residents. Maybe there's something similar re property with the area becoming more "valuable", leading to something akin to gentrification.

Re: Utah senator smacks ABC reporters phone out of hand amid Data Center controversy

#36

Post by xethos »

randycupertino wrote: post #33
dlenski wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Many people reading this headline will initially assume, as I did, that it refers to one of Utah's two US senators. Why not add the word "state" and immediately clarify this?

The strict HN title character limits make you consolidate the headline as much as possible.

I actually went to call you on this before double-checking just to be sure. No, you were right - 80 characters exactly. Couldn't even fit the apostrophe for "reporter's"

Re: Utah senator smacks ABC reporters phone out of hand amid Data Center controversy

#37

Post by Freedom2 »

HumblyTossed wrote: post #20
janice1999 wrote: post #4

> ABC4’s crew was also issued a trespassing notice. The class system in the US has never been more on display with the datacenter build outs. A senator who attacks a journalist gets them threatened by the police. Town halls to listen to local "concerns" are charades where they look for any excuse to arrest anyone who voices opposition [1]. [1] https://www.newson6.com/tulsa-oklahoma-news/arrest-made-duri...

>>> Claremore police arrested Darren Blanchard for trespassing during the meeting after officers said he refused to follow the rules after going over his allotted time to speak. Police escorted the man out of the meeting and booked him into the Rogers County Jail. There's something very very wrong with that.

I'm just glad that this can never happen in America thanks to our constitution!

Re: Utah senator smacks ABC reporters phone out of hand amid Data Center controversy

#38

Post by xtiansimon »

happytoexplain wrote: post #25
dlenski wrote: post #7

Problems with the title: 1. The story is not about one of Utah's 2 US senators, but about one of its state senators. The title should probably say "Utah state senator." 2. There is a missing apostrophe in "reporter's"

I am absolutely amazed to discover that, despite spending my whole life living in the US, I've never known that states also have their own senates. I'm starting to think that there is no age at which I will stop being embarrassed by the things I do not know.

> “… I will stop being embarrassed by the things I do not know.”

Come to the dark side…darnit, I learned something new today.

Re: Utah senator smacks ABC reporters phone out of hand amid Data Center controversy

#39

Post by LocalH »

stvltvs wrote: post #11
janice1999 wrote: post #4

> ABC4’s crew was also issued a trespassing notice. The class system in the US has never been more on display with the datacenter build outs. A senator who attacks a journalist gets them threatened by the police. Town halls to listen to local "concerns" are charades where they look for any excuse to arrest anyone who voices opposition [1]. [1] https://www.newson6.com/tulsa-oklahoma-news/arrest-made-duri...

It often seems that police officers' most sacred duty is to protect the property rights of the wealthy.

ACAB is real, because good cops either quit or they fight the system from within and receive abuse, and then they quit (or die)
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