Fistfight erupts, protesters storm dais after Memphis punts Musk data-center vote

BS BULLETIN:

Memphis City Council voted 7-5 to postpone a decision on a proposed 12-month moratorium on new data centers until Oct. 20.
Protesters erupted, chanting “This is our city” as police cleared the chamber and demonstrators moved toward the council dais.
The politicians joined the festivities: Councilwoman Yolanda Cooper-Sutton ripped moratorium sponsor J.B. Smiley Jr., saying, “That’s all you do, JB Smiley, confuse the people over, over, over and over!”

Apparently artificial intelligence doesn’t need to become sentient to create chaos.

It just needs to show up at Memphis City Hall.

A Memphis City Council meeting went spectacularly off the rails Tuesday night after lawmakers once again postponed a highly anticipated vote on a proposed 12-month moratorium on new data centers.

The council voted 7-5 to push the decision until Oct. 20.

The crowd was not interested in patiently updating its calendar.

Roughly 100 protesters had reportedly arrived expecting council members to finally decide whether Memphis should temporarily halt new data-center development while officials study the industry’s effects on health, electricity, water and other infrastructure. Instead, they got another delay.

Then they let City Hall know exactly how they felt about it. “This is our city,” protesters chanted. “Show me what democracy looks like.”

Another protester produced a bullhorn and began leading the crowd in chants of “ain’t no power like the power of the people.”

Council Chairwoman Jana Swearengen Washington called a recess and police began clearing the chamber.

But the spectacle wasn’t finished. Protesters moved toward the dais, shouting at council members as the lawmakers gathered together. Some demonstrators reportedly called the elected officials “sellouts.”

And while police worked to restore order inside, things became even more civilized outside. Two women got into a fight in the lobby. Video showed punches being thrown, although Memphis police said nobody was detained or injured. Authorities said it wasn’t clear what started the fight or whether it was directly connected to the council meeting.

Naturally, the council members themselves weren’t about to let the audience have all the fun. Councilwoman Yolanda Cooper-Sutton exchanged words with protesters and then turned her attention toward Councilman J.B. Smiley Jr., the lead sponsor of the proposed moratorium. “That’s all he does; he brings up mess,” Cooper-Sutton said.

Then she addressed Smiley directly: That’s all you do, JB Smiley, confuse the people over, over, over and over! Anytime there is an election.”

Nothing says orderly deliberative government quite like one elected official accusing another of repeatedly confusing everybody while police empty the room.

Smiley had opposed postponing the vote. “When the community shows up, we just have to listen to them,” Smiley said afterward. “I’m disappointed that we didn’t listen with ears, okay, I hear you, I understand. Let’s figure out how we can do what you want, but also what we believe would be in the best interest of the community.”

The underlying issue is serious — and potentially enormous for Memphis.

Elon Musk’s xAI has established its massive Colossus computing operations in the area, and residents have raised concerns about electricity consumption, water use, noise and air pollution.

The proposed ordinance would impose a 12-month pause on new data-center projects while Memphis studies those effects and develops rules for future facilities. But opponents of a moratorium argue that Memphis could simply drive billions of dollars in potential investment over the city line. Councilman Jeff Warren put the problem rather plainly. “If we pass a moratorium, there’s no reason for them to think they need to come here,” Warren said.

“They get the same benefit from going to DeSoto County, Crittenden County, Fayette County, Tipton County.”

Memphis Mayor Paul Young has also called for stronger rules governing data centers without shutting the door on the tax revenue and economic activity they bring. “We need to keep the pressure high and make sure that we get the guardrails in place that we need for our community to feel protected,” Young said.

So there actually is a legitimate policy fight buried underneath all the shouting. Memphis has landed at ground zero of America’s AI infrastructure boom, and residents want to know exactly what enormous computing facilities will cost them in electricity, water, air quality and quality of life. Businesses, meanwhile, would presumably like to know whether Memphis actually wants them there.

The City Council’s solution Tuesday? Don’t decide. Come back Oct. 20.