Last night, Red Wine & Blue founder Katie Paris asked Robert F. Kennedy Jr. a question at a sold-out event in Cleveland.
She was inspired to attend the event because of a conversation we had on our podcast a few weeks ago. Annette, another Ohio mom, shared that her kids love playing at a playground that’s now directly next to an AI data center. Not only has it ruined her neighborhood’s wilderness, with deer disappearing and trees being cut down, the site is being fast-tracked to becoming a full-on power plant… all without listening to local residents like Annette.
With those kids in mind, Katie took the mic and asked RFK Jr. this question:
“Tech companies are building data centers all over our state, over the objections of residents. It’s been found that these facilities could contribute to 600,000 cases of asthma… yet your administration issued an executive order to fast-track the building of them. How does giving kids asthma make America healthy?”
So, you may ask, what was RFK Jr.’s response to Katie’s question?
“I’m concerned” and “we’re continuing to study it.” No commitment to take action to protect kids. No acknowledgment of the executive order. Just… “we’re watching it.”
At that point, the event organizers cut off Katie’s mic. But she continued to press for a real response. “We need to not just study it!” she called out. “We need to stop it!" RFK Jr.’s only response to that was a look of annoyance.
The good news is that you don’t have to wait for RFK Jr. or Trump to stop AI data centers in your neighborhood — the permitting for data centers is often up to your city council or other local officials. Communities across the country, like Monroe Township NJ and Lordstown OH, have been successfully pushing back.
If you want to hear more of Annette’s story and how communities can stand up against data centers, check out our recent episode called Neighbors Vs. Data Centers! You can hear it on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get podcasts.
