A proposed $2 billion data center has change into a political flashpoint within the small metropolis of Shelbyville, Indiana. And the controversy has solely grown extra intense after the mayor, Scott Furgeson, was caught on camera saying of the “No Information Heart” indicators going up that, “I’ve seen quite a lot of these throughout city, however I solely see them in shitty homes,” earlier than including, “most of them are leases.”
The lady talking to him within the clip rapidly pushes again, saying that they’re “working class,” and somebody chimes in so as to add one thing {that a} mayor shouldn’t must be advised about their constituents: “it doesn’t matter whether or not they’re leases, they’re nonetheless human beings.”
Residents of Shelbyville are understandably taken aback by Furgeson’s dismissive language used in the direction of his constituents. Alexas Williams referred to as the mayor’s phrases “type of disrespectful” and “type of hurtful” when talking to native NBC affiliate WTHR.
The mayor has declined to remark additional, although a spokesperson for the mayor’s workplace released a statement saying that, “The mayor regrets that his alternative of phrases might have prompted offense.”
