Eric Adams, former mayor of New York City, encountered strong opposition at a Wisconsin meeting while discussing a proposed AI data center. The audience vocally expressed their discontent, with one person shouting that Adams belonged ‘in prison.’ This interruption referred to a past federal corruption case against him that was dismissed.
Currently, Adams acts as a representative for various tech companies linked to real estate, securing a significant portion of his business dealings. During this event, he represented PNK Group, which plans to establish a 209-acre data center at a site of a previously operational paper mill on the Wisconsin River.
‘Whether we like it or not, folks, data centers are going to be here,’ Adams stated amid vocal protests from the audience.
The proposed project drew resistance, with attendees voicing concerns about the resource demands of data centers and their impact on local communities. One audience member accused Adams of planning to ‘steal our water.’ As the discussion continued, the crowd showed interest in balancing job growth with environmental considerations.
In response to the heckling, Adams expressed a desire for dialogue, sharing how AI had positively impacted his personal health care experience. Yet, his remarks were again met with boos from parts of the audience. Despite efforts to present his perspective, Adams faced challenges in addressing the vocal crowd.
One supporter asked for the crowd to allow Adams to speak, but the meeting remained contentious. Adams’ team later released a statement, addressing the portrayal of the event by some media outlets. Todd Shapiro, his communications officer, emphasized the positive aspects of the presentation that were not captured in short video clips. Shapiro stressed the importance of the economic benefits and job creation opportunities that the data center could bring to communities.