Since Mayor Scott Furgeson's 'shitty houses' video surfaced and we covered it on June 6, the story has taken on a life of its own — and the fallout for Furgeson keeps growing.

Where Things Stand Now

Furgeson has NOT resigned. He has NOT given an on-camera interview. His office released a single damage-control statement saying the mayor 'regrets that his choice of words may have caused offense,' according to The Verge. A politician saying he's sorry you got upset is not the same as an apology.

Resident Alexas Williams told NBC affiliate WTHR that Furgeson's comments were 'kind of disrespectful' and 'kind of hurtful.' A resident had to explain to an elected official that renters are human beings — something that should be obvious to anyone they voted into office.

What the Mayor Actually Said

Furgeson looked at the 'No Data Center' signs going up around town and said, 'I've seen a lot of these all over town, but I only see them in shitty houses' — then added 'most of them are rentals.'

The woman he was talking to immediately pushed back, calling the residents 'working class.' Someone else in the conversation reminded the mayor of something basic: 'it doesn't matter whether they're rentals, they're still human beings.'

The Project at the Center of It

The proposed development is a $2 billion data center for Shelbyville — a city of roughly 20,000 people. Supporters argue it brings jobs and tax revenue. Opponents have concerns about power consumption, water use, noise, and what it means for their neighborhoods.

Those are legitimate questions that deserve real answers from city leadership — not dismissal tied to the assessed value of someone's home.

The Broader Pattern

Shelbyville isn't an isolated case. WSMV reported this week that developers are pushing to build a 69,000-square-foot data center next to the Nashville Zoo, and residents there are voicing similar concerns. New York lawmakers passed a one-year ban on new data centers as of June 5, according to The Verge. In Utah, developer Kevin O'Leary agreed to downsize a massive data center project after local pushback.

Communities across the country are pushing back on Big Tech's land grab, and local officials are being put in the position of choosing between corporate investment and constituent trust. Most are choosing wrong.

What the Media Is Getting Wrong

Left-leaning coverage — including The Verge — correctly calls out Furgeson's contempt for working-class residents. But the framing often implies that opposition to data centers is progressive activism.

Opposing a massive industrial project being planted in your neighborhood — with real consequences for power grids, water tables, and property values — is common sense. You don't have to be a climate activist to ask why a $2 billion facility is being built next to your kid's school or near a zoo.

Right-leaning outlets haven't covered this story much at all. A Republican mayor caught on video mocking his working-class constituents for living in rental homes should be news everywhere. It's a basic accountability issue, not a left-right one.

The Real Accountability Failure

Furgeson was elected to represent ALL of Shelbyville — not just homeowners, not just landlords, not just the business community angling for a $2 billion development deal. Renters pay taxes. Renters vote. Renters are constituents.

The idea that someone's opinion about a proposed development should carry less weight because they rent instead of own is the kind of elite contempt that makes people distrust government. And it came from a small-city mayor in Indiana, not some coastal political operative — which makes it worse, not better.

What Happens Next

Furgeson shows no signs of stepping down, and the data center project continues moving through the approval process. Shelbyville residents who oppose the development now have to fight that battle while their mayor has already told them — on camera — what he thinks of them.

If Furgeson wants to champion a $2 billion investment for his city, make the case. Answer the questions. Hold town halls. But you don't get to call your constituents trash and then wonder why they're not on board.