Mattel Pendo was among the speakers who urged the council to place a moratorium on data centers and ICE detention centers. (Screen shot from Gainesville video of meeting)

Mattel Pendo was among the speakers who urged the council to place a moratorium on data centers and ICE detention centers. (Screen shot from Gainesville video of meeting)

GCC asked to OK moratoriums on ICE detention centers, data centers, high-density housing

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Five speakers urged the Gainesville Mayor and City Council Tuesday night to place a moratorium on ICE detention facilities as well as data centers. One also called for a freeze on high-density residential developments. (Link to video of meeting at the end of this story.)

Three of the speakers were Gainesville residents; the other two were from out of the county. Each expressed their concern for the ICE facility which is slated for opening in Oakwood as well as the prospects for data centers in the county, two things that have spawned widespread opposition in the community.

Mayor Zack Thompson promised the council will take their concerns and suggestions under advisement and added “you know where I stand,” alluding to a statement he issued a few weeks ago in support of Oakwood’s opposition to the detention center planned there.

Councilwoman Abigail Guzman was the only member of the council to address the issue echoing what most of the speakers said.

(Click here to see a video of the entire meeting: Gainesville City Council Meetings on Vimeo)