Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek ordered the state to cancel a land sale for a controversial $5.1B Verrus data center near Salem. The project drew union support and resident pushback over water, energy and infrastructure.
"The protests that came out at last Monday's City Council meeting was the most intense and emotional; in just the sheer numbers they've ever seen on any subject in Salem," said Salem resident Brian Hines.
He went on to say, "I had mixed feelings, but now I think I'm happy [with Kotek's decision], because it shows, like the sayings go at every protest that I've been to, you know, this is democracy in action when people come out loud, angry, sometimes impolite, but it got the city's attention, and it looks like it got Gov. Kotek's attention."
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