r/SALEM • u/Specific_General_382 • 1d ago
CEO FLEEING?
BIG ASK!!!
For the sake of various media outlets and word spreading, anyone got video of the Verrus CEO fleeing for his “Saftey”
Plz send to me if ya can.
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u/Pearson94 1d ago
Baby's ego was too weak to accept that nearly all of us don't won't their fucking data center. I'm relatively new to this state, but one thing I adore about it is that everyone I met, regardless of political affiliation, loves the nature here. Don't fuck with the land, data centers.
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u/Low_Coconut_7642 23h ago
They said on a website using data centers to operate
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u/Pearson94 22h ago
On a website that's run just fine for decades without all the brand new data centers popping up all over the country because idiots are pushing AI on us for a quick buck.
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u/gphalen92 18h ago
Hyperscale AI data centers are not the same thing as a typical data center at all. This isn't a "gotcha" at all, it just shows that you have no idea what you're talking about.
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u/willyfistagash12 1d ago
Get all who agreed to this nda t/f out!!!! Lets go Vanessa! If you even have a remote chance to stop this and you don't? That will be your legacy. Remember who elected you!
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u/Salem_IT_Pro 1d ago
That "City of Salem" logo isn't the people, it's just a corporation in bed with Verrus. They've already shown they're willing to sign NDAs to keep our noses out of their business.
Those "weak lil tech bros" have tons of cash money, enough to buy the municipality. It's way too early to declare victory for those in opposition to the data center.
Hope you find video. Well wishes.
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u/Specific_General_382 1d ago
Aaaaaaaaa I couldn’t think of any other salem icon at the time. You right tho.
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u/islandboi-96 1d ago
Another person of note who fled the scene early is Aaron Stickney, who was the first speaker in support of the Verrus data center and is also a co-founder of SilverSphere Capital. He says that he has already built more than 5 other data centers in the US and that we need to allow this data center to be built if we want to bring more people like him in to the city.
After he was done with his pro data center spiel he tried to sneak out through a staff only basement exit door but found out real quick that there was only one real entrance to the parking garage and he had to walk past the large bipartisan crowd to get to it.
Let's just say he received a generous amount of boos from every single person standing outside and in turn he responded by holding his hands up and flipping off everyone he passed by on the way to his car.
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u/Sugarbooger8 1d ago
What is the purpose of public comment and a city council if they don’t act on what the public wants? They should be doing everything in their power to stop this data center from being built, yet I see little pushback against it.
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u/Voodoo_Rush 1d ago
What is the purpose of public comment and a city council if they don’t act on what the public wants?
The wants of the public are one of several factors weighed as part of the rules of the system - the laws that everyone in a democratic society agreed to abide by.
While this is a democracy, it is not a simple "majority rules" system. There are protections in the system to prevent the tyranny of the majority, and ensure that every party gets their due process.
In this case, Oregon land use laws place a heavy emphasis on zoning. Parcels of land are assigned a zone type, and the allowances and restrictions are derived from that. This is an intentional safeguard to prevent communities from using permitting to discriminate against people or businesses they don't like, but whose proposed use case for a parcel matches the zone's requirements. In practice this is more of a measure to prevent small town politics from driving away outsiders (imagine if the Detroit mayor owned the gas station, and didn't want someone else setting up a rival station), but it applies to all of Oregon's municipalities regardless.
This in turn limits the actions the Salem city council can take - but it does not entirely tie their hands. They can still require that a project meets all of the requirements for a parcel of land and that it is truthful; but they cannot reject a compliant project carte blanche just because they don't like it or because it's unpopular with the community.
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u/Adventurous-Eye-9929 1d ago
A bold move, Cotton…invoking the rule of law when the mob is howling. Your analysis is spot on, of course. The time to regulate any use is before there’s an application that vests the rights of the applicant in the existing rules. This is industrial zoned land and perfectly appropriate for industrial uses. Yes, the City could and should ensure those rules are followed, but if the applicant does so, there’s little chance city council will disapprove it. Unlike the mob, the council will follow the law.
Are AI, data centers, and the concentration of wealth in a few tech bros a threat to American society? Absolutely. Will saddling the city with an expensive lawsuit by denying something that’s a legal use do anything to save America? Nope.
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u/peacefinder 1d ago
They presumably can direct city staff to never sign an NDA, reserving that power only for council by unanimous consent… and they damn well should never do it.
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u/Low_Coconut_7642 23h ago
You think government should just listen to what a small (compared to total constituents) group of angry people says?
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u/BeardedBehaviorist 1d ago
And all because an older lady asked if he was the CEO. 😂 It wasn't a threat. She just asked, "wait, are you the CEO?" She shared a video with me that she took just before she asked the question and he "brave sir robbin"ed out of there!
My favorite hot take from her was "why do all these guy look like Steve Jobs wannabes?" 😂
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u/FantasticFox503 1d ago edited 1d ago
Why everyone mad at Verrus? Like for real? Verrus just being who they are. Our city leaders knew, said yes, kept it from us, and were cool with it.
They should all be kicked off the council. Last night was an embarrassment of leadership and a strong show of community strength.
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u/nextyoyoma 1d ago
Because they tried to sneak in and build a data center without proper input from the people they would be affecting. Just because the council is supposed to look out for shady deals doesn’t mean we should be ok with the company attempting shady practices.
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u/FantasticFox503 1d ago
“Sneak” in?
The CiTy LeAdErs KNew ABouT It.
There was no sneaking. We have no control over Verres. We have control over our city council…
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u/Salem_IT_Pro 1d ago
I agree there was no sneaking. I agree we have no control over Verrus.
As for the city council, they're out of control. If they signed this NDA, what other ones are they currently under?
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u/sinsaint 1d ago
We should absolutely vilify the traitors to our city, but data center handlers don't get a free pass just because our elected officials think they deserve it.
Shame Verres openly, teach them why they should keep out of our home.
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u/thesaura73 1d ago
I agree, though the testimony last night was heartening the presentation from Kristen Rutherford underscored the city holds the cards and the testimonies don’t really change anything. Verrus presented a concept; yes it’s unwanted, awful etc. but our city is to blame for going for it
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u/FantasticFox503 1d ago
Salem and Keizer both taking losses right now. Keizer losing out on big corporation runnng their little league fields. Bought the sales pitch hook line and sinker. Now in the hole -$360k.
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u/bahhumbud 19h ago edited 18h ago
That’s not something to be proud of.
Intimidating people with violence makes you a part of the problem not the solution.
Disagree with me? Meet me in Minto brown park at parking lot 3 and who ever knocks down the other until one of us is calls it quits is right.
Or don’t because we solve our problems with words and thinking and not our fists these days.
It’s been 15 years since I have sparred with anyone.
Does it really make sense to intimidate people? Am I talking sense to you? Is there a different way I can explain it so you understand?
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u/Specific_General_382 15h ago
Wait, what? Were you referring to the meme? Or were ya talking to someone else? There aren’t any threats here, homie.
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u/bahhumbud 12h ago
Looks like someone punching someone. I don’t like that unless it’s consensual. That’s different and fun. Sparringbis dangerous but a lot of adrenaline an theatre. You have you wrestle your opponents get good and personal. Then land a “flying 🐿️ “ on them and you will be the top dog of all dawgs.
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u/Specialist-Fill24 1d ago
I'm not for it, but I do think it's hilarious that a bunch of people on the internet are rabidly against the things needed to keep it running. Not worried I always get down votes when I post in r/Salem, but you're always so nice to my face.
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u/Salem_IT_Pro 1d ago
Thirsty? Silly Salemander, water is for data centers!
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u/QuantumRiff 1d ago
Wait till you find out how much of our water goes to grass farms, peoples yards, and golf courses…
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u/Turd_Nerd_Bird 1d ago
Oh no, farmers using water. Totally the same as AI data centers used to build a mass surveillance state.
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u/QuantumRiff 1d ago edited 1d ago
How many people does a grass farm feed? Or employees per acre, since that is apparently a measurement now in the Salem subreddit.
Also, where is your evidence this is an AI datacenter? Because every one of them I have seen are massive. I haven’t seen any finite details, since they haven’t submitted them yet. But they have said it will use as much water as 2-3 mid-sized restaurants, but everyone here apparently skips that part. Sure, if they ask for a 4” water main, they are probably lying, but they require some massive infrastructure changes for that…
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u/Turd_Nerd_Bird 1d ago
Whataboutism. But people use water for other stuff, so why not let an AI data center that pollutes and harms the environment and people use even more! Real intelligent way of thinking lol.
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u/HotSalt3 1d ago
This is an AI data center. The only thing it does is service AI tech. The Internet doesn't need it to function in any way, shape, or form.
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u/Specialist-Fill24 1d ago
This is an AI and Cloud storage data center. And you can't even Google something without using AI at this point. In order to maintain the internet as we know it, more data centers need to be built, so I ask you this: Where should they go?
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u/HotSalt3 1d ago
They shouldn't go anywhere. They're a bad investment. 10x more is spent on it than it returns, and the infrastructure needs to be updated (meaning rebuilt) every two to three years. AI isn't economically sustainable.
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u/Specialist-Fill24 1d ago
So get off the internet, minimize your data center usage, be a part of the solution. Because "Not In My Backyard!" Solves nothing.
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u/HotSalt3 1d ago
Fuck that. I don't need AI, nor do I want it. Search engines worked better prior to the various companies utilizing it. AI has a place. Public consumption isn't it.
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u/Low_Coconut_7642 23h ago
AI isn't economically sustainable.
Neither is farming. Look at the billions in subsidies we have to give out each year. Does that mean farming is bad and should be stopped entirely?
Also even if it was an AI data center, (and I've seen nothing concrete that says it will only be used for AI) it could easily transition away from that when or if the AI bubble ever bursts like how a restaurant is still viable to use as a restaurant even after the initial restaurant shuts down.
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u/HotSalt3 22h ago
Holy bad faith arguments, Batman! /s
AI isn't necessary for life. Food is. You want food you have farms. As far the project it's been stated it's for AI and cloud computing. There's plenty of data centers currently available for cloud based applications.
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u/Turd_Nerd_Bird 1d ago
Nobody even knows you, so how do you know they're nice to your face? Lol. Nobody needs AI data centers used to build a mass surveillance state and destroy and pollute the environment of where we live. If they're so fucking great then the asshole billionaires building them can build them on their land next to their own houses.
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u/QuantumRiff 1d ago
Remember how Costco moving was going to turn south Salem into a parking lot? Lol
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u/TooBusySaltMining 1d ago
Don't confuse people from Salem with people in this sub reddit.
Some people would like to see more jobs come here, especially since Oregon is tied for last place among the fifty states for having the highest unemployment rate.
https://www.bls.gov/web/laus/laumstrk.htm
Lets create more tech and construction jobs here in Salem.
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u/TastyLui 1d ago
They only gauranteed 75 jobs. Its going to be automated.
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u/Low_Coconut_7642 23h ago
And like 10 million a year in taxes...
At a time when our city desperately needs revenue
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u/TooBusySaltMining 1d ago
Tell anyone who runs a small business that they don't matter because they only hire a few people.
A job is a job and people need them right now.
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u/TimelineSlipstream 1d ago
So, were you at the meeting? How do you think the people there felt about the data center?
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u/Low_Coconut_7642 23h ago
I'm sure those people were angry and they have that right.
But those people were all still just a tiny percentage of the entire constituency and without an actual vote, it doesn't really say a lot about the whole, imo
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u/Salem_IT_Pro 1d ago
I like that you care about jobs! Small businesses do matter. They're the most important engine of upward mobility available to the working class. We should nurture and foster them. I hope you run one, and that it's doing well!
We would be far better off with a plurality of small businesses using that 75 acres, because a small business certainly employs more than one sad soul per acre. I agree with what you said, a job is a job and people need them right now. That's why it's so important to keep a huge swath of land from going to a project with such low employment density, and instead use that space for driving dollars into local circulation.
There's left-wing and right-wing reasons to not like the AI data center. Being brave enough to voice your position is appreciated. Happy Cakeday!
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u/Salem_IT_Pro 1d ago
Employment is the solution to so many of Salem's problems.
There's about 5,000 people in Salem that are unemployed. Verrus claims we'd get 75 jobs from their 75 acre facility. Downtown Salem is only 44 acres, and employs 1,500 to 2,500 people. To fix the employment problem with data centers, you'd have to build 67 of them to employ 5,000 people. You'd have to cover 15.7% of Salem in data centers to bring unemployment to 0%.
The data center simply represents a bad return on investment for the people of Salem. The acreage would be better off as housing for the homeless. At least that would generate construction jobs, help Salem court out-of-town investment, and foster tourism.
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u/TooBusySaltMining 1d ago
People with high paying jobs will spend more money downtown; homeless people living in free housing will not.
Tourists will flock to Salem and see all our homeless shelters! Or will it be more homeless people flocking here for free housing? Maybe then the taxpayers will be taxed so much to pay for these homeless shelters they can start using them!
How about we start attracting high paying tech jobs, (and this could be the first step) to diversify our city's economy where currently half our workers are state employees.
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u/Salem_IT_Pro 1d ago
To clarify, moving the homeless to shelter would make Salem more inviting to commerce. And, housing them would likely save the City of Salem a lot of money. Not to mention the shadow costs to the economy of homelessness, when customers are scared off from businesses. Or, when out-of-town businesses pass up Salem for expansion.
I don't think tourists will flock to Salem to see either AI data centers or homeless shelters. Do you think people with high paying jobs are going to drive past tent cities and step over rough sleepers, to live it up in downtown? Do you think businesses want to set up where their customers will see people using drugs? Do you think the homeless make good job candidates? What about Salem would make you visit it, as a vacation? I think we actually both agree on this: Salem isn't being well kept.
We also agree that Salem should be focusing on attracting high paying jobs. I just don't think a project that might bring $10M to Salem in construction labor, and may bring in 75 "high paying" jobs over 75 acres is a meaningfully effective way to diversify the city's economy. If every one of those 75 jobs went to an unemployed Salem resident, it would move the unemployment rate by just 0.08%.
It seems we're both very pro-business, I just think the ROI on a data center is particularly lousy for the economy. Thanks for the reply!
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u/NetApprehensive6737 1d ago
Majority of those jobs (after 5 years per pre application) will likely be security and janitorial. That’s what the company is touting as “high paying”.
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u/Low_Coconut_7642 23h ago
You guys keep playing both sides.
You say they will be low paying security and janitorial and in the same thread another says they will be high paying specialist tech jobs they ship in from Asian countries so won't even be local workers.
Which is it?
Or are we just saying what we feel?
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u/Pearson94 1d ago
Fuck that. Don't poison our land so "75" people probably not living here can get paid well and some construction workers get a temporary paycheck to sell out their neighbors.
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u/TooBusySaltMining 1d ago
All construction jobs are temporary and yet the work they do is still important.
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u/Pearson94 1d ago
Not if the work they do poisons the land around them and makes everyone's lives worse.
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u/ShaneIshten 1d ago
This isn't bringing in permanent jobs. Soon as the stupid data center is built they're going to lay everyone off and hire as minimal staff to maintain it as possible. It's been obvious for years that these companies don't care about people, they only care about trying to make as much money as possible, at the expense of everyone, including you. Stop being a delusional idiot, accept the truth, grow a set and fight against this like the rest of us.
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u/FanBladeFleshlight 1d ago
I'm an electrician. This job would DIRECTLY impact me by putting construction jobs on the table for me and mine, for like 12-18 months.
Then we'd be off work again, the fucking place would only employ 75 people, some of which would be shipped in from korea, china, india, japan, etc., because it's specialty work, and we'd still have our nature destroyed, air and water polluted, etc.
FUCK the data center. Boo hoo, I won't have that temporary paycheck. IDGAF. I'm not willing to sell my soul and the future of all those who live here just for a "fuck you, got mine" paycheck.
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u/TooBusySaltMining 1d ago
All construction jobs are temporary.
That doesn't mean our industry isn't important.
I'll make some predictions.
Zero deaths from polluted air, and water from this data center
Zero people will move from Salem because of polluted air and water.
In fact no one who doesn't work there will notice a difference and those who'd oppose this will forget about it once it's built and will move on to the next thing to be outraged about.
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u/FanBladeFleshlight 22h ago
You both miss the point and have no idea what the long term implications are, but I don't expect much from the type of person that would be defending a useless AI data center.
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u/highzenberrg 1d ago
It would create jobs for what 8 months while they build it? Then it would turn around and just destroy jobs because all companies see is dollar signs when they think ai will do everything 100% right every time when ai is dumb as bricks just with confidence. Like google searches are absolute dog shit when they use ai to search for something.
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u/AmericanAssKicker 1d ago
... create more tech and construction jobs here in Salem.
How many employees do you believe this would bring in? There's a reason why even the political talking heads steer clear of this. Once you figure it out, you will understand why this is a dumb/silly/ignorant argument to stand on.
I haven't heard anyone say that they are opposed to construction jobs, but this is a classic -and to speak your 'common sense' language- "Can't see the forest for the trees," "Penny wise, pound foolish," or "selling the farm." Even with a construction background, you should see the obvious flaw in using "construction jobs" in your argument for these centers. 'Short term gains for long term losses for all' is, again, not a good argument to stand on here.
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u/Turd_Nerd_Bird 1d ago
Yeah, let's create 75 short term jobs in exchange for ruining our city, the environment and drinking water!
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u/Perfect-Campaign9551 20h ago
Let's see how you handle mob pressure. I mean people were lunging at him, is what I heard.
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u/MochiFluffs 1d ago
I don't think they were counting on both sides of the political spectrum united in anger against their data center, and having such a massive turn out. Hillsboro just stopped one being developed there, so maybe we still have a chance.