Brandon Fletcher
Big Tech’s encroachment into Small Town, USA is sparking unexpected resistance. Across the nation, city council meetings, which usually focus on local issues, are transforming into arenas for intense political and ethical discussions, driven by the presence of major technology companies. City council members find themselves increasingly scrutinized as they navigate these contentious topics, and many are facing significant challenges in their roles.
Consider Saline Township, Michigan, a rural community chosen to host Oracle and OpenAI’s ambitious Stargate project. This $16 billion initiative faced substantial opposition from the town’s approximately 3,000 residents, who urged their local government to reject the zoning requests from the companies intending to construct a massive CPU farm. Rather than reconsider their plans, Related Digital, the firm leading the data center project, opted for legal action against the township. the town decided to settle, allowing the project to proceed.
Since that settlement, local residents have sought to remove officials from their positions, including town treasurer Jennifer Zink. According to 404 Media, Zink announced her resignation this week, citing death threats she received following the settlement. “I’m submitting my resignation effective May 29th. I can’t take it anymore. The threats. The ‘I’m gonna tar and feather you,’” she expressed during a recent township meeting. “It’s disgusting.”
Zink is not the only official stepping away from their role. Kevin Lahner, the city manager of Janesville, Wisconsin, resigned earlier this month in a “mutually agreed” separation, following severe criticism from residents concerned about a perceived lack of transparency regarding a proposed data center. Similarly, Staci Templeton, a city council member from Festus, Missouri, left her post earlier this year under comparable circumstances. While these officials managed to exit on relatively amicable terms, others nationwide are being voted out for their support of such controversial projects.
The backlash isn’t limited to data centers. Surveillance issues are increasingly prompting voters to resist the growing influence of Big Tech. Flock Safety, a company specializing in automated license plate readers, has faced significant opposition from residents eager to eliminate these surveillance cameras from their neighborhoods.
This growing unrest has placed pro-Flock representatives in challenging positions. A prime example is Bandera, Texas councilmember Jeff Flowers. Following the council’s decision to terminate their contract with Flock, Flowers—one of the dissenting votes—responded dramatically. He is reportedly drafting a “Bandera Declaration of Digital Independence,” which aims to prohibit smartphones and other connected devices, claiming they pose similar risks as the surveillance cameras provided by Flock.
“I have seen the eye rolls, and I’ve even encountered ‘Nazi rhetoric,’ the alarming assertion that advocating for accountability and community safety equates to totalitarianism,” Flowers wrote, while calling for a “complete termination of all internet services and electronic record-keeping.”
While Flowers raises a valid concern about the surveillance state we inhabit, his pro-Flock stance appears to suggest a resignation to the situation. At least the town has opted for a more measured approach than outright acceptance of such dystopian outcomes.
Daniel Mercer
Ethan Carter
