City Matters Do Data Center really benefit a community? 2026 08 19

The stakes are bigger than one project. This episode gets into how developer influence, utility costs, and rushed approvals can leave residents paying the price long after the vote is over. If you care about local government, land use, data centers, or what it takes to make city leaders answer to citizens instead of special interests, this is essential listening.  Data centers are coming to neighborhoods whether cities are actually ready or not - and this conversation shows what happens when the process, the numbers, and the public all get squeezed out. Kat Gayle and Dana Dugan of Integrity Matters lay out why they say this proposed hyperscale build is being pushed through without proper ordinances, proper public input, or a clear paper trail.