One current and compelling example comes from Theresa Loconsolo, an 82-year-old New Jersey resident, who has recently garnered national attention. She courageously rejected a billion-dollar deal with a prominent artificial intelligence company to construct a data center on her land. Although there were other bidders, the company submitted an unmatchable offer of $26 million for the land. Loconsolo said no, in passionate terms describing her determination to fight for her home.
Though originally from Kentucky, Loconsolo has spent most of his adult life residing in New Jersey. There, she received her bachelor’s of Communication degree from Monmouth University. The financial incentive is clearly significant, her decision points to a greater commitment to her land and community. As technology evolves and data becomes more central to most sectors, the AI company looked to take advantage of the huge uptick in demand for data storage. Loconsolo’s intransigence is a telling example of how these companies often behave when negotiating under threat of eminent domain against landowners.
The AI company’s early proposal called for a state-of-the-art data farm facility equipped to house and manage massive data processing. It’s a story of the tech sector’s rapid growth, with many tech companies in a mad scramble after land to meet their infrastructure demands. Loconsolo’s refusal of the offer highlights the very human stakes involved in these deals. It’s further evidence of the extensive and adverse effect that’s having on local communities.
In a time when technology-driven solutions seem to overshadow every other approach, Loconsolo’s decision is refreshing. Together, it inspires us to remember the undeniable power of personal values and civic engagement. She can be contacted directly via email (theresa.loconsolo@techcrunch.com) by anyone interested in talking more about her experience.
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