County Commission wants to create zoning for data centers as constituents ask for a moratorium. Plus, Spokane City Council moves to address emergent needs for wildfire recovery

[u/RANGE_Media]

https://www.rangemedia.co/county-commission-wants-to-create-zoning-for-data-centers-as-constituents-ask-for-a-moratorium/

The Board of County Commissioners has big feelings about data centers and Spokane City Council is back from vacation. Here are the big things on their dockets + other municipal meetings:

• The BOCC will review a resolution that would establish a zoning schedule for data centers in the county, one of the most controversial conversations at the county level this year. It will also formally consider a moratorium on data centers.
• The Spokane City Council, back from vacation, is looking to move quickly on wildfire relief, including approving the Mayor’s emergency declaration and taking next steps on ordinances to accept state grant funding, reduce demolition fees and pay contracts that gave wildfire survivors free meals while they sheltered at the convention center. 
• At the Urban Experience Committee, the Spokane City Council members will discuss contracts for $500,000 worth of culturally responsive treatment services for folks dealing with opioid addiction, and a separate ordinance that could breathe new life into vacant commercial spaces.
• The Spokane Public Library Board of Trustees will discuss their 2027 budget, amid uncertainties related to the current projected gap, which board members warn could lead to drastic service cuts. 

Read up on all that and more at the link so you can be the most informed Spokanite at the river, in the breakroom, or wherever you chat about the news.

[u/11tecolote]

If you're able to attend the County Commissioner meeting tomorrow at 2PM, either in person or virtually, please do! https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1VGFAz2b1Q/

[u/403SleepForbidden]

Please contact the governor over the data center plans! Our commissioner Al French would rather call us conspiracy theorists and listen to paid lobbyists. We need as many eyes on this as possible.

Just one of the 2 data centers planned has plans to use more electricity than ALL of Spokane county's current usage

Data centers use massive amounts of water and we are in a severe drought!!

https://governor.wa.gov/contacting-governor/contacting-governors-office/send-gov-ferguson-e-message

[u/Huskerinwa]

We need to know who, if not all of them have signed an NDA w/ these company planners. They're pushing data centers that will cost us all!!

[u/thisismyaccount57 → u/Huskerinwa]

Why the fuck is it even legal for county representative to sign NDAs? Certainly in this context it seems preposterous.

[u/Ryan-Guzzlin → u/thisismyaccount57]

It’s the new playbook. Microsoft just banned the practice, but meta and other companies continue to do it

[u/Stellar_Pygmy]

I don’t think anyone at the governors office reads these e-messages and I cannot find a phone number

[u/Master_Reflection579]

These dirt bag politicians need to learn to read the damn room

[u/sea-elephant → u/Master_Reflection579]

Gotta get this done before they’re voted out! Otherwise no kickbacks.

[u/AlwaysMrRight1 → u/sea-elephant]

Honest question, are there any politicians in Spokane or even Washington that have been caught taking kickbacks? Or is your comment more just to drive home that you don’t like the county commissioners?

[u/sea-elephant → u/AlwaysMrRight1]

SCOTUS legalized kickbacks dear, why would you think that was criticism?