Seven hours in, neighbors call vote a done deal. Mayor calls it a starting point to welcome SK hynix … and to hold the South Korean company accountable for what it’s promised West Lafayette
Thank you, Dave Bangert, for doing such a thorough job of reporting on the SK Hynix project. A true journalist, and one I value as a positive contributor to our community. Kudos!
Dave, you have done a fantastic job thoroughly reporting this story from start to finish. You have kept us informed of every development in a way no other media source has, and it's not even close. A sincere and heartfelt thank you, Dave! You've done an amazing job and we really appreciate you! Thank you!
Dave - a sincere thank you for your extensive coverage of this important event. I agree with others that you exemplify what journalism is supposed to be. You are a true professional - head and shoulders above any other media outlet (not intended to disparage other outlets).
I wouldn’t be surprised if every council member that voted yes sees a serious run on their seat, but the mayor is probably safe because of the face saving measure of letting everyone speak. Very smart politics I think, now the city council has to own all of this. Purdue wins again unfortunately
Seems like you could accomplish this by getting one or two a fraternities on your side. Here are the vote totals from the last WL City Council election:
Yes
Iris O'Donnell Bellisario (At-Lg) 2006
James Blanco (At-Lg) 1881
Larry J. Leverenz (Dist 4) 768
Michelle Dennis (Dist 2) 495
Stacey Baitinger Burr (Dist 6) 109
Colin Lee (Dist 3) 31
No
David A. Sanders (At-Lg) 1807
Kathy Parker (Dist 5) 865
Laila Veidemanis (Dist 1) 32
Is this what representative democracy is supposed to look like? Or do we need fewer districts and more at-large seats?
Even though the vote count from the areas closest to the University are small, those areas still need representation. It is true that a clever student campaigner might get a few fraternities or sororities to vote in a city election. So what? This, at least, gives college students a chance to participate in meaningful elections. There may be a risk in getting some particularly weak or provincial young person on the Council--but also maybe that young person would quickly become serious about city issues. And weakness and provincialism is not limited by age. Been there, seen that.
Joseph, you have lived her for a long time (maybe your entire life, I cannot recall), can you name the strong City Councilors from the student districts that did right by the larger community?
And I agree, weakness and provincialism is not bound by age. I bet you can, for this exercise, name several City Councilors who fit this description.
For me, it's laughable how low the vote is for all of the districts. May this be another turning point in West Lafayette politics.
Remember, up until 2013(?) when the city annexed 231 and Purdues campus, any student living in the dorms registered to vote, didn’t vote in city elections anyway since they weren’t in city limits.
And I would be interested in know how many students are actually registered to vote locally. And when they do register, how frequently are they actually updating their address with the election office? I moved every year I was a student, I don’t recall updating my address on my license or election registration ever until I graduated. And I registered to vote locally in 2004 for the Presidential election. I still lived in the dorms at that point.
I don’t recall if if voted in an election between then and the 2008 election, but at that point I was married and had updated my license to reflect my new address.
Students voting locally and frequently updating this address has been an issue for decades, and I don’t imagine that will change any time soon.
Yes. I remember the pre-2013 times (I moved here in 2001).
We can certainly find out the number of registered voters based on precincts. The current list costs a bit of money, but I think it would be worth it for the public analysis. I wonder if the Tippecanoe Election Division keeps voter rolls over time.
It's only an issue if a student makes it one. If they are determined to participate in the local elections, it's a small ask to make sure you have an updated ID and register appropriately. If they weren't a student, they would be expected to update it with their current address regardless of circumstances. In Indiana, we don't have any snap elections, so everyone knows when they are coming and can plan accordingly.
Why should we lower the bar simply because the 18+ year olds are students at a University? If they need help with transportation, take CityBus, walk, bike, use an Uber, or ask for a ride from a friend or fellow student with a vehicle. I'm sure it is done all of the time for dinner, the movies, concerts, parties, etc.
Quite a few years ago the _"so-called student districts" had at least three older women who represented the First District. All were responsible Councilors. Mary Cook, Linda??. and Mrs. ??? Yoder. I know that Mayor Sonya Margerum probably recruited all three.
Thanks, Joseph. And that helps prove the case that when Mayor Margerum wanted quality people on the Council, she did not recruit students. She recruited townies and people who had roots in the community and would represent their district in that fashion.
Now you have me curious to find a roster of all City Councilors in West Lafayette over time.
You might have to pick away at Journal and Courier articles. I do not remember any such rosters on plaques, in books, or even in my own memory bank. Microfiche/Microfilm research probably required by city election years.
I am pointing out a vulnerability. What law would deter a skyscraper owner who gets his content on the Purdue subreddit and offers a $100 rent discount for every "I voted" sticker? Bigger districts are no less representative and would presumably attract more than a busload of voters. At large seats do a better job representing the city as a whole, and they do not Gerrymander students. I presume this would be easier to do than moving city council elections to presidential election years.
I am personally against moving local elections to presidential election years on the premise that the local elections will be drowned out by the State and Federal ones.
Let's not lower the bar of elections, but raise people up to it.
you make a good point. We can see on the national level, what particularly wealthy individual can do with his well-placed donations and resulting governmental decisions. Maybe there should be one more at-large making it 4 at large and 5 districts.
Thanks. I think you are right, a small change is all that is needed. Might even occasionally get a Republican (just one!) on the council. This person could protect us from some of the bullying by Rokita et al. Not sure what we could really do about a Felon Mush coming to town.
We need to encourage people to vote more. I would bet if you look at the population break down for each district, you will find a disparate number of people voting in specific district. The CC is a fairly thankless, low paid part time job.
Mike, it's not a job. It's an elected position. If someone is doing it for the pay, they shouldn't be in the position.
And it's certainly not thankless. Do you not thank your public servants? I thank mine often. If a Councilor wants to hear more thank yous, they should do more things the community is thankful for.
Elected positions are still jobs. Even if they are paid or unpaid.
Positions like CC typically have very little pay and mostly are people complaining about things they don’t like.
How often does someone come to a public comment section of a meeting and say “hey that ordinance you passed 3 years ago, that was really good. Thanks!” No it’s people complaining that things are bad or needed fixed.
For me, I look at the City Council position as a volunteer role. They do get paid, however, but it isn't a job. It is supposedly pursued for a greater purpose than money. And just like someone dedicates their time, talent, and expertise to volunteer roles, they do the same for a non-full time elected position.
To be critical is to be examining life, right?
I have extended, when warranted, many a compliment in the public comments section of meetings.
Others have, too. And still others do, as you say, complain.
To do so at a meeting is to also get it on the public record and have it documented. It's also a way to address a particular problem since there is now mutual knowledge when aired in a public meeting.
Well, regardless of whether or not an elected position, particularly a very part role, is a job or volunteer, being a CC member is a fairly thankless job. Very few people show up to say “thank you for approving this resolution”.
Sorry I wasn’t aware you had to live here a certain amount of time in order to be able to care about the community, my b.
FYI, I’ve lived here since 2021.
The reason I speak of this “Purdue Wins” thing often is because they always win and it’s ruined different aspects of WL community over decades. By winning; they get their way. In this instance, they got another sweetheart deal for PRF that will likely not benefit anyone directly unless they receive a job, which wasn’t promised in any real way.
Don’t be mad at me and put up obstacles to being able to be a part of the conversation in our community just since you support neoliberal policies and I don’t. I care about this community too, John.
I didn't say that at all, I was just asking how long you have lived here because it matters to me. This is a weird community, it doesn't operate like other cities. PRF isn't some sneaky organization, I lived in one of their apartments in 2000-2003. This was the plan. West Lafayette is Purdue.
And to say it will only benefit people who get jobs there is a horrible take that shows a general lack of economic understanding.
I have no idea what neoliberal policies are. If Purdue wins, West Lafayette wins, it's the only option.
I disagree that West Lafayette is Purdue, that’s just a matter of opinion, actually it was a community that existed before Purdue.
Purdue contributes to the housing shortage by lack of action because they know they can get away with it. They can use their leverage how they please, and everyone knows it.
Mayor Margerum helped keep the university in check to preserve civic space and culture in the community, but that time is long gone. The city could have simply asked SK to occupy their originally chosen site as a show that they are in control, but they city council wouldn’t even do that let along get assurances From them in writing about jobs going to Greater Lafayette citizens and the like. It’s all based on a promise.
Historically Purdue existed before West Lafayette. WL incorporated in 1888 and Purdue founded in 1869.
Now, there was a unincorporated town called Chauncey formed 1866, but they requested to be annexed by Lafayette in 1871. That request was rejected and Chauncey continued as a small unincorporated community until incorporating as WL in 1888.
Purdue even had their address listed as being in Lafayette until early in the 1900s.
Regardless, if Purdue picked and moved completely to a different city or state, West Lafayette as we know it would cease to exist. People would move, commence would dry up and the town would pretty much die. So is WL, Purdue? No. But WLs future is tied directly to Purdue.
We both agree that a community existed in WL before Purdue, despite the official incorporation date of 1888.
I’d personally love to see Purdue pack it’s bags and go, but they would likely never do that. It would ironically make rent cheaper before it caused WL to wither away. Knowing that will never happen, I’d prefer for the citizens to have more bargaining power and feel less like serfs of Purdue University.
The city of West Lafayette might exist (Purdue University was here first), but WL would pale in comparison to what it is with Purdue. To believe otherwise is obtuse.
Hello BCA. We don't know that it would pale in comparison to what it is today without Purdue. Is it possible? Sure. Different? Yes.
And we also don't know what West Lafayette would be like if there was genuine and transparent cooperation, coordination, and communication between Purdue, Purdue Research Foundation, and the City.
Hey John. I think it is the other way around: Purdue is West Lafayette. We annexed them back 2013, among other reasons, to use the student population and appear bigger than what we really are on paper, allowing us to change our City Classification (Class 3 to a Class 2) and make us more eligible for different funding programs at the State and Federal level.
And this line from the Exponent rings louder than ever:
"Annexing Purdue and West Lafayette is a decision that was long overdue and one that will benefit Purdue for years to come."
However we want to equate it, they still equal each other. Any conversation about West Lafayette being anything without Purdue is just wild. What's next, are we going to discuss what North America would be without England?
Yes. There is a relationship between West Lafayette and Purdue. I have never denied this.
These types of discussion, I feel, are rooted in the perceived ratio of mutualistic and parasitic symbiosis between the political entities of West Lafayette and Purdue.
Some feel that Purdue gets too much without giving enough.
Others feel that Purdue doesn't get enough and is held back.
Purdue will always be very important to West Lafayette but this could help diversify West Lafayette's economy so it does not have to rely on Purdue quite as much.
How long people will live here is a made up number. But, they both matter. I've been here since 1988 and plan to be here forever. When you are here for a long time, you know that most people rent and are here for about 5-10 years. I believe renters have an equal voice, but there are renters out by Walmart that would like better jobs. Say SK created 150 jobs that take from local retail, production and restaurant management positions. Even that small of a change makes a huge difference.
Lots of assumptions being made here about someone based on a 3 sentence partial quote.
You’re free to interpret her words however you want - this is a free country (well, kind of…).
I am not the citizen from the story, nor do I know her.
I might assume she was referring to potential downsides of heavy I3 factories when she said ‘factory town’. This would be environmental, noise, traffic, etc., especially so close to residential areas.
She also may be referring to tax benefits given to a company that comes into town making promises about ‘projected’ hiring, and what the IEDC will recoup from the deal - that may end up not being that beneficial for the immediate local community.
Lots of CAT and Subaru employees live in the neighborhoods closest to this rezoning, and lots (not all) have been active in speaking out about this location for SKhynix.
I hope for all that SKhynix lives up to their projections for hiring, and environmental protections, and that they are an exemplary company partner and not one of the many examples elsewhere where things go wrong.
Going back and forth on the internet is never successful, so I’ll stop here. Have a good day.
I think that’s exactly what that person meant. For the 30ish years I’ve lived in WL there has always been a negative bias toward industry and those who make a living in more industrial settings.
Reminds me of when they were having hearings for closing down the West Lafayette BMV, one of the commenters expressed fears over the dangers of having to go over into Lafayette.
Thank you, Dave Bangert, for doing such a thorough job of reporting on the SK Hynix project. A true journalist, and one I value as a positive contributor to our community. Kudos!
Thanks for reading it. It's still a lot to take in.
Dave,
Thanks again for your fantastic work on this issue.
You are vital to our community in knowing the details about this topic and so many others that affect us.
Chris
Thanks for reading it. And for saying hey when we cross paths.
Hope to see you and Carol at the "magician thing" at the Art Center on Friday. ;-)
I'm afraid Dave's fingers are going to fall off with as much reporting as he'd been doing in the last couple of weeks!
Dave, you have done a fantastic job thoroughly reporting this story from start to finish. You have kept us informed of every development in a way no other media source has, and it's not even close. A sincere and heartfelt thank you, Dave! You've done an amazing job and we really appreciate you! Thank you!
Dave - a sincere thank you for your extensive coverage of this important event. I agree with others that you exemplify what journalism is supposed to be. You are a true professional - head and shoulders above any other media outlet (not intended to disparage other outlets).
I wouldn’t be surprised if every council member that voted yes sees a serious run on their seat, but the mayor is probably safe because of the face saving measure of letting everyone speak. Very smart politics I think, now the city council has to own all of this. Purdue wins again unfortunately
Seems like you could accomplish this by getting one or two a fraternities on your side. Here are the vote totals from the last WL City Council election:
Yes
Iris O'Donnell Bellisario (At-Lg) 2006
James Blanco (At-Lg) 1881
Larry J. Leverenz (Dist 4) 768
Michelle Dennis (Dist 2) 495
Stacey Baitinger Burr (Dist 6) 109
Colin Lee (Dist 3) 31
No
David A. Sanders (At-Lg) 1807
Kathy Parker (Dist 5) 865
Laila Veidemanis (Dist 1) 32
Is this what representative democracy is supposed to look like? Or do we need fewer districts and more at-large seats?
Even though the vote count from the areas closest to the University are small, those areas still need representation. It is true that a clever student campaigner might get a few fraternities or sororities to vote in a city election. So what? This, at least, gives college students a chance to participate in meaningful elections. There may be a risk in getting some particularly weak or provincial young person on the Council--but also maybe that young person would quickly become serious about city issues. And weakness and provincialism is not limited by age. Been there, seen that.
Joseph, you have lived her for a long time (maybe your entire life, I cannot recall), can you name the strong City Councilors from the student districts that did right by the larger community?
And I agree, weakness and provincialism is not bound by age. I bet you can, for this exercise, name several City Councilors who fit this description.
For me, it's laughable how low the vote is for all of the districts. May this be another turning point in West Lafayette politics.
Remember, up until 2013(?) when the city annexed 231 and Purdues campus, any student living in the dorms registered to vote, didn’t vote in city elections anyway since they weren’t in city limits.
And I would be interested in know how many students are actually registered to vote locally. And when they do register, how frequently are they actually updating their address with the election office? I moved every year I was a student, I don’t recall updating my address on my license or election registration ever until I graduated. And I registered to vote locally in 2004 for the Presidential election. I still lived in the dorms at that point.
I don’t recall if if voted in an election between then and the 2008 election, but at that point I was married and had updated my license to reflect my new address.
Students voting locally and frequently updating this address has been an issue for decades, and I don’t imagine that will change any time soon.
Yes. I remember the pre-2013 times (I moved here in 2001).
We can certainly find out the number of registered voters based on precincts. The current list costs a bit of money, but I think it would be worth it for the public analysis. I wonder if the Tippecanoe Election Division keeps voter rolls over time.
It's only an issue if a student makes it one. If they are determined to participate in the local elections, it's a small ask to make sure you have an updated ID and register appropriately. If they weren't a student, they would be expected to update it with their current address regardless of circumstances. In Indiana, we don't have any snap elections, so everyone knows when they are coming and can plan accordingly.
Why should we lower the bar simply because the 18+ year olds are students at a University? If they need help with transportation, take CityBus, walk, bike, use an Uber, or ask for a ride from a friend or fellow student with a vehicle. I'm sure it is done all of the time for dinner, the movies, concerts, parties, etc.
Quite a few years ago the _"so-called student districts" had at least three older women who represented the First District. All were responsible Councilors. Mary Cook, Linda??. and Mrs. ??? Yoder. I know that Mayor Sonya Margerum probably recruited all three.
Thanks, Joseph. And that helps prove the case that when Mayor Margerum wanted quality people on the Council, she did not recruit students. She recruited townies and people who had roots in the community and would represent their district in that fashion.
Now you have me curious to find a roster of all City Councilors in West Lafayette over time.
You might have to pick away at Journal and Courier articles. I do not remember any such rosters on plaques, in books, or even in my own memory bank. Microfiche/Microfilm research probably required by city election years.
I am pointing out a vulnerability. What law would deter a skyscraper owner who gets his content on the Purdue subreddit and offers a $100 rent discount for every "I voted" sticker? Bigger districts are no less representative and would presumably attract more than a busload of voters. At large seats do a better job representing the city as a whole, and they do not Gerrymander students. I presume this would be easier to do than moving city council elections to presidential election years.
I am personally against moving local elections to presidential election years on the premise that the local elections will be drowned out by the State and Federal ones.
Let's not lower the bar of elections, but raise people up to it.
I agree. I thought the 2023 election surfaced some good discussions, once we realized everyone agreed on wanting to keep our water!
Hear, hear. Imagine what the conversation would have been like if it was in 2024?
you make a good point. We can see on the national level, what particularly wealthy individual can do with his well-placed donations and resulting governmental decisions. Maybe there should be one more at-large making it 4 at large and 5 districts.
Thanks. I think you are right, a small change is all that is needed. Might even occasionally get a Republican (just one!) on the council. This person could protect us from some of the bullying by Rokita et al. Not sure what we could really do about a Felon Mush coming to town.
We need to encourage people to vote more. I would bet if you look at the population break down for each district, you will find a disparate number of people voting in specific district. The CC is a fairly thankless, low paid part time job.
Mike, it's not a job. It's an elected position. If someone is doing it for the pay, they shouldn't be in the position.
And it's certainly not thankless. Do you not thank your public servants? I thank mine often. If a Councilor wants to hear more thank yous, they should do more things the community is thankful for.
Elected positions are still jobs. Even if they are paid or unpaid.
Positions like CC typically have very little pay and mostly are people complaining about things they don’t like.
How often does someone come to a public comment section of a meeting and say “hey that ordinance you passed 3 years ago, that was really good. Thanks!” No it’s people complaining that things are bad or needed fixed.
For me, I look at the City Council position as a volunteer role. They do get paid, however, but it isn't a job. It is supposedly pursued for a greater purpose than money. And just like someone dedicates their time, talent, and expertise to volunteer roles, they do the same for a non-full time elected position.
To be critical is to be examining life, right?
I have extended, when warranted, many a compliment in the public comments section of meetings.
Others have, too. And still others do, as you say, complain.
To do so at a meeting is to also get it on the public record and have it documented. It's also a way to address a particular problem since there is now mutual knowledge when aired in a public meeting.
Do you view this as a bad thing?
Well, regardless of whether or not an elected position, particularly a very part role, is a job or volunteer, being a CC member is a fairly thankless job. Very few people show up to say “thank you for approving this resolution”.
You're right, Devon. I know I'll be working hard against those 6 going forward.
You speak of this "Purdue wins" things often. I don't understand what that means. How long have you lived in West Lafayette?
Sorry I wasn’t aware you had to live here a certain amount of time in order to be able to care about the community, my b.
FYI, I’ve lived here since 2021.
The reason I speak of this “Purdue Wins” thing often is because they always win and it’s ruined different aspects of WL community over decades. By winning; they get their way. In this instance, they got another sweetheart deal for PRF that will likely not benefit anyone directly unless they receive a job, which wasn’t promised in any real way.
Don’t be mad at me and put up obstacles to being able to be a part of the conversation in our community just since you support neoliberal policies and I don’t. I care about this community too, John.
You belong and your opinions matter.
I didn't say that at all, I was just asking how long you have lived here because it matters to me. This is a weird community, it doesn't operate like other cities. PRF isn't some sneaky organization, I lived in one of their apartments in 2000-2003. This was the plan. West Lafayette is Purdue.
And to say it will only benefit people who get jobs there is a horrible take that shows a general lack of economic understanding.
I have no idea what neoliberal policies are. If Purdue wins, West Lafayette wins, it's the only option.
I disagree that West Lafayette is Purdue, that’s just a matter of opinion, actually it was a community that existed before Purdue.
Purdue contributes to the housing shortage by lack of action because they know they can get away with it. They can use their leverage how they please, and everyone knows it.
Mayor Margerum helped keep the university in check to preserve civic space and culture in the community, but that time is long gone. The city could have simply asked SK to occupy their originally chosen site as a show that they are in control, but they city council wouldn’t even do that let along get assurances From them in writing about jobs going to Greater Lafayette citizens and the like. It’s all based on a promise.
Historically Purdue existed before West Lafayette. WL incorporated in 1888 and Purdue founded in 1869.
Now, there was a unincorporated town called Chauncey formed 1866, but they requested to be annexed by Lafayette in 1871. That request was rejected and Chauncey continued as a small unincorporated community until incorporating as WL in 1888.
Purdue even had their address listed as being in Lafayette until early in the 1900s.
Regardless, if Purdue picked and moved completely to a different city or state, West Lafayette as we know it would cease to exist. People would move, commence would dry up and the town would pretty much die. So is WL, Purdue? No. But WLs future is tied directly to Purdue.
We both agree that a community existed in WL before Purdue, despite the official incorporation date of 1888.
I’d personally love to see Purdue pack it’s bags and go, but they would likely never do that. It would ironically make rent cheaper before it caused WL to wither away. Knowing that will never happen, I’d prefer for the citizens to have more bargaining power and feel less like serfs of Purdue University.
The city of West Lafayette might exist (Purdue University was here first), but WL would pale in comparison to what it is with Purdue. To believe otherwise is obtuse.
Hello BCA. We don't know that it would pale in comparison to what it is today without Purdue. Is it possible? Sure. Different? Yes.
And we also don't know what West Lafayette would be like if there was genuine and transparent cooperation, coordination, and communication between Purdue, Purdue Research Foundation, and the City.
Hey John. I think it is the other way around: Purdue is West Lafayette. We annexed them back 2013, among other reasons, to use the student population and appear bigger than what we really are on paper, allowing us to change our City Classification (Class 3 to a Class 2) and make us more eligible for different funding programs at the State and Federal level.
And this line from the Exponent rings louder than ever:
"Annexing Purdue and West Lafayette is a decision that was long overdue and one that will benefit Purdue for years to come."
https://www.purdueexponent.org/opinion/annexation-opens-opportunities-for-purdue/article_d7d5d7dd-3c21-5cce-9549-3d8c0c721dbc.html
I think that's the sentiment that Devon is referring to.
However we want to equate it, they still equal each other. Any conversation about West Lafayette being anything without Purdue is just wild. What's next, are we going to discuss what North America would be without England?
Well that's a jump in scale. Ha!
Yes. There is a relationship between West Lafayette and Purdue. I have never denied this.
These types of discussion, I feel, are rooted in the perceived ratio of mutualistic and parasitic symbiosis between the political entities of West Lafayette and Purdue.
Some feel that Purdue gets too much without giving enough.
Others feel that Purdue doesn't get enough and is held back.
And still others feel something else.
Purdue will always be very important to West Lafayette but this could help diversify West Lafayette's economy so it does not have to rely on Purdue quite as much.
What matters is how long you will live in WL, not where you came from.
We can talk about the renter occupied rates in local neighborhoods if you want to. I think it's too high.
Pass
How long people will live here is a made up number. But, they both matter. I've been here since 1988 and plan to be here forever. When you are here for a long time, you know that most people rent and are here for about 5-10 years. I believe renters have an equal voice, but there are renters out by Walmart that would like better jobs. Say SK created 150 jobs that take from local retail, production and restaurant management positions. Even that small of a change makes a huge difference.
I too appreciate your tenacity in following this story. We are glad to have you here. Local media is a little light on substance.
Thank you to those who spoke last night. It took patience (and bravery, for some) to wait for your three minutes.
I guess “factory workers” are not welcome in WL according to the person who commented.
Tom,
It seems obvious that Ms. Smyth has never been to a true (heavy industry--NIMBY term) factory town, nor has seen one depicted on film.
As a college student, I lived in downtown Erie, PA back when it was a thriving industrial city with more to offer than factories.
Six blocks away from campus was the 12th Street industrial corridor with small steel mills and other manufacturers.
When on campus, one would have seen no example of our being situated in a "factory town."
Furthermore, Ms. Smyth also hasn't seen films depicting pimps.
Her overwrought statement casts Purdue in a role that is not only undeserved, but also rather bizzare.
I guess she was going for effect over substance.
Chris
Lots of assumptions being made here about someone based on a 3 sentence partial quote.
You’re free to interpret her words however you want - this is a free country (well, kind of…).
I am not the citizen from the story, nor do I know her.
I might assume she was referring to potential downsides of heavy I3 factories when she said ‘factory town’. This would be environmental, noise, traffic, etc., especially so close to residential areas.
She also may be referring to tax benefits given to a company that comes into town making promises about ‘projected’ hiring, and what the IEDC will recoup from the deal - that may end up not being that beneficial for the immediate local community.
Lots of CAT and Subaru employees live in the neighborhoods closest to this rezoning, and lots (not all) have been active in speaking out about this location for SKhynix.
I hope for all that SKhynix lives up to their projections for hiring, and environmental protections, and that they are an exemplary company partner and not one of the many examples elsewhere where things go wrong.
Going back and forth on the internet is never successful, so I’ll stop here. Have a good day.
I think that’s exactly what that person meant. For the 30ish years I’ve lived in WL there has always been a negative bias toward industry and those who make a living in more industrial settings.
Reminds me of when they were having hearings for closing down the West Lafayette BMV, one of the commenters expressed fears over the dangers of having to go over into Lafayette.
I just re-read the article - you quoted “factory workers” - that term never appeared in the article?
You might be referring to the citizen that commented “how that will change, if we become a factory town”?
Because an interpretation of that to mean “factory workers” are not welcome in WL is a big stretch.
p.s. Great first name
Thank you, Dave Bangert, for your clear-eyed reporting. I just subscribed to Substack because of your fine work.
Welcome aboard.
Thank you, Dave! You are a well oiled machine.