The mayor of Shelbyville, Indiana, says only people who live in ‘dirty houses’ oppose data centers

A wants to $2 billion data center has been a political upheaval in the small town of Shelbyville, Indiana. And the conflict has become more intense after the mayor, Mr. Scott Furgeson, was caught on camera referring to the “No Data Center” signs going up, “I’ve seen a lot of these all over town, but I see them in ugly buildings,” before adding, “most of them are rentals.”

The woman he talks to in the picture quickly pushes back, saying that they are “employees,” and someone dreams of adding something that the mayor should not be told about the people he owns: “it doesn’t matter if they rent, they are still people.”

Shelbyville residents understand to be taken back is Furgeson’s critical language applied to his subjects. Alexas Williams called the mayor’s comments “disrespectful” and “hurtful” in an interview with NBC affiliates. WTHR.

The mayor declined to comment further, even a spokeswoman for the mayor’s office issued a statement saying, “The mayor is sorry that his choice of words may be offensive.