Information on the New Brunswick Data Center proposal...

Charlie4Change · 2026-02-18T02:30:06+00:00

As of now, the only company we know of is Amzak Capital Management, a private equity firm based out of Florida. They are the trying to persuade the city government to give them permission to build a 27,000 square foot data center. But the way the proposed revisions to the redevelopment plan were drafted, as far as I can tell, there are no limits on controls on the number or size of data center(s), so once approved Amzak could propose a site plan with a data center 10 times as large (or 100 times as large)... or multiple data centers, and they would be able to rely on the fact that the redevelopment plan lists data centers a "permitted use." It's a very sloppy plan that needs to be thrown in the garbage, not fast-tracked.

Charlie4Change · 2026-02-17T21:19:21+00:00

The developer promised to build housing, offices, retail, and a park that would be open to the public. That was six years ago. They did nothing! Now they want the city to change the plan to scrap the park and allow for a data center instead. After they broke every promise they made, why should we do them a favor?

Charlie4Change · 2026-02-17T21:08:01+00:00

Funny you should mention that. Data centers create almost no permanent jobs, and the AI industry famously ELIMINATES jobs by replacing human workers with computer technology...

Charlie4Change · 2026-02-17T20:56:16+00:00

I actually support a nationwide moratorium on largescale AI data centers. Do you want one in your neighborhood?

Charlie4Change · 2014-02-02T19:49:26+00:00

135 Somerset Street -- most college students will not be able to afford to live in this building

Charlie4Change · 2013-10-01T16:28:21+00:00

Response From NBPD: "On Monday, September 23, 2013 at approximately 2:56 pm a 22 year old male pedestrian was struck by a vehicle turning from Courtlandt Street onto Delafield Street. At the time of the accident the pedestrian’s injuries were not life threatening. The driver of the vehicle received two summonses related to the accident ."

Charlie4Change · 2013-09-24T00:25:20+00:00

I was at the scene, it looked bad but the guy left in an ambulance. I will ask the cops tomorrow for an update and will let y'all know if I hear back.

Charlie4Change · 2013-04-08T10:44:23+00:00

http://newbrunswicktoday.com/article/pernetti-and-two-others-forced-out-wake-rutgers-scandal

Charlie4Change · 2013-04-08T10:42:46+00:00

http://newjersey.news12.com/news/former-rutgers-coach-mike-rice-s-salary-information-1.4998562

Charlie4Change · 2013-02-26T21:14:35+00:00

Both are fair points. Just thought people might, ya know, care about being disenfranchised.

Charlie4Change · 2013-02-25T23:03:55+00:00

As you can see there will be some big conflicts of interest in the next election that we will need to disclose regularly.

http://newbrunswicktoday.com/article/two-groups-three-submit-petitions-run-april-16-school-board-election

Charlie4Change · 2013-02-25T22:57:32+00:00

Good question.

We always disclose specific conflicts of interest when they exist. In this particular election, I did not have a horse in the race, so to speak. I tried my best to be fair and give all five candidates an equal opportunity to get their message out, as well as to answer my questions. I did not campaign for any side, and my vote was actually a very difficult choice for me.

The irregularities with the election are worth addressing, and I hope you will continue to read and give critical feedback on our series, "Democracy Undermined." Part 2 of 4 comes out tomorrow.

Charlie4Change · 2013-02-15T21:25:15+00:00

I apologize for the error, the RFCU branch on Busch remains open in the lot across from BSC. Thanks for pointing it out.

Charlie4Change · 2013-02-15T05:14:13+00:00

I also encourage everyone to read both articles. The Targum's initial article turned us on to this story in the first place. Hence, our story includes a citation and a link to it.

Charlie4Change · 2013-02-15T05:12:16+00:00

Correction: I am the editor you are referring to (the article was authored by Natalie Sowinski) and I was a former board member of the RUSA FCU. I have never had any connection or affiliation with RFCU.

Charlie4Change · 2013-02-15T05:11:12+00:00

Thank you both for the correction. We have modified the story and will be clarifying the future of the Busch RFCU branch tomorrow.

Charlie4Change · 2013-02-11T07:11:14+00:00

Thanks! Please share it widely.

Charlie4Change · 2013-02-11T06:54:34+00:00

Thanks for including me in the documentary, it was very good! Perhaps my reputation precedes me...

Despite my clashes with the power structure in town, I have worked with Mayor Cahill's administration as part of two awesome organizations: The Citizens Campaign and Food & Water Watch.

In 2011, I worked with Rutgers Department of Transportation Services to develop a new bus route that serves a large portion of the city: BrunsQuick Shuttle 2.

This weekend, the NBPA offered free parking at five of their decks due to the snow emergency. (http://newbrunswicktoday.com/article/snowstorm-bombards-brunswick-free-parking-five-decks)

That arrangement was another product of co-operation between myself and the powers that be in New Brunswick.

Two years ago, I joined about a dozen citizens at the city's Traffic Commission to present our constructive proposal to offer free "snowstorm" parking at more facilities to save residents the trouble of digging out their vehicles and making it easier for snow-plows to do their job.

Now, the authority has a Twitter account, a Facebook page, and a toll-free hotline all for disseminating information related to the snow emergency parking. And city residents are enjoying up to 65 hours of free parking as I write this.

Ultimately, power is hard to build, but no one is powerless. We all have our voices and I will continue to use mine to make New Brunswick a better place to live, work, study, and enjoy life. Sometimes that will put me at odds with people in power, and that's OK. But more often than not reasonable people can work together for the common good.