Former New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who was later replaced by the much more popular Zohran Mamdani, faced major backlash from Wisconsin Rapids residents while presenting plans for an AI data center in the area.
During an appearance at the Wisconsin Rapids municipal library, footage first shared on the Wisconsin subreddit showed Adams being met with boos as he introduced himself at the gathering. One protester shouted, “You belong in prison!” while another yelled, “You’re here to steal our water!”
Adams, known for frequently sharing personal stories during his speeches, was there to promote the proposed data center on behalf of PNK Group, a New York-based property developer. During his remarks, he claimed that a friend of his was able to receive a breast cancer diagnosis with the help of AI technology.
The story was quickly challenged by members of the audience, with one resident asking, “Is this story true?” Others shouted, “What are you doing here?”
According to Hell Gate NYC, Wisconsin Rapids residents have been opposing plans to build a data center near the city, with critics arguing that the facility could reduce water availability for residents, farmers, and other local businesses. The proposed site from PNK Group is located near the Wisconsin River, where a former paper mill once stood.
Residents were also surprised by Adams’ involvement in the project, considering the former mayor has pursued several ventures since leaving office, including a cryptocurrency-related project.
“Our entire town does not want him here at all,” said South Wood County Neighbors for Responsible Development member Kaitlyn Federwitz. “We want our resources to be properly safeguarded, our farmers to be protected, our waterways protected. When the [paper] mill closed, we lost 900 jobs. We understand that we need jobs and industry in our city, but we are not willing to accept that a data center is the solution to that problem.”
Adams was elected Mayor of New York City in 2021 and officially began his term on January 1, 2022. Facing ongoing legal challenges and multiple lawsuits, Adams announced plans to seek reelection in 2025 but chose to run without the backing of a major political party. He later dropped out of the race and endorsed Andrew Cuomo, who was ultimately defeated by Zohran Mamdani.
As for his involvement in the Wisconsin Rapids project, reports indicate that Adams has been connected to PNK Group’s proposed data center plans since at least May. The company says the facility could create between 50 and 150 permanent jobs, a significant drop from the approximately 900 positions previously provided by the paper mill that shut down in 2020.
