All hands on deck for public outcry against proposed economic incentives for Data Centers, ai companies, defense tech, and autonomous vehicles!

This week's Austin City Council Agenda includes “Item 24” a resolution directing the City Manager to create a new package of economic incentives for businesses, including some "target industries." (Link to full language of resolution. Link to all Item 24 docs)

The Problem: “Target industries” for these incentives includes the “ai industry.” Without specific bans, we are deeply concerned that this will result in economic incentives for data centers!!

Our Ask: We are calling on Council to ban specific industries and companies from getting economic incentives in the future, including…

• Data Centers

• Companies linked to Defense Tech (AKA military industrial)

• Autonomous Vehicle Companies

• Ai and ai surveillance companies

• Companies that have paid zero in federal income tax (in any or all years within the last 7-10 years)

Our Goal: (biggest win) Get the resolution vote this thursday may 7 delayed (acceptable) Get a specific list of banned companies included in the economic incentives package when passed this thursday

Call to Action:

CALL & EMAIL before Thursday @ 9 am: Phone numbers & emails of council

Testify in-person or online on Thursday:

• Online registration for in-person and virtual testimony closes Wednesday, May 6 @ 12 p.m. Register here.

• You can also register in person at the Austin City Hall kiosk by 9:15 a.m. on May 7.

DEETS: In-person speakers can donate time to each other. No speaker can take donated time from more than 2 individuals. Translation services are available for both in-person and virtual speakers. Handouts or other documents that speakers wish to provide to Council must be emailed to city.clerk@austintexas.gov by 5 p.m. the night before the meeting. This information will be provided to the Mayor and Council in advance of the meeting. (don’t forget to get your parking validated by the front desk if you testify in-person or attend the council meeting!)

Vote Schedule:

> This Thursday, May 7, Austin City Council is voting on the resolution (aka the directive) that puts the city manager’s office on the job of compiling the old and new incentives.

> If the resolution passes this Thursday, in 180 days the City Manager will present the compiled incentives as an ordinance and there will be another council vote to make it law

Data Centers

• Over the last 100 years, Texas has consistently faced droughts. As Austin and surrounding municipalities continue to welcome new residents, increasing the pressure on our water supply, the aquifers and lakes that provide our drinking water are facing increased pollution and industrial use. If we want Austin to exist in 50 years, we need to protect our water supply now. We do not have the water to spare for data centers.  Note: Pflugerville, just north of Austin, is at risk of running out of water. Same with Corpus Cristi Reading: Austin Monthly article, SOS, Austin Water

• Additionally, data centers are increasingly linked to health issues for communities near the facilities. “Diesel backup generators and HVAC systems emit nitrogen oxides, PM2.5, and greenhouse gases, increasing risks of asthma, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer, with projected annual fatalities potentially reaching 1,300 by 2030. Data centers generate noise levels that may exceed 90 decibels. Noise levels above 85 decibels are harmful to hearing.” - Environmental Health Project

Autonomous Vehicle Companies

• WAYMO blocking EMS on the evening of the 6th street mass shooting is still top of mind for Austinites, especially after the company refused to send representatives to meet with the City recently, communicating that they feel they are above city regulation. City representatives have assured us that they cannot regulate WAYMO in the current political environment. Why would we incentivize such an industry? 

• WAYMO and self-driving taxis have yet to solve the issues of harassment and violence against riders, clearly illustrated in a 2024 report from SF when a woman was trapped inside a vehicle by men who blocked the path of the vehicle, demanding her phone number. (HOCTX President Sophia Mirto personally asked the WAYMO S/W region sales rep if they had solved this problem in 2024, and she was told they had not, and no further solution has been made public.)

Companies linked to Defense Tech (AKA military industrial)

• In the “Dept of War” era, defense tech is not hurting for federal funding and incentives. Violence does not reflect the values of the City or residents of Austin. The long history of the defense industry exploiting communities and misrepresenting their behavior to the public - we don't want to invite more profit-from-murder companies into our city, which already has too many defense tech startups.

Companies that have paid zero in federal income tax (in any or all years within the last 7-10 years)

• This is to prevent additional economic incentives for companies (like Amazon) that historically sidestep taxes and therefore their economic responsibility to our nation. This corporate behavior is indicative of companies who ground their business model in exploitation - these companies will not operate responsibly in our community or in good faith with our City.