Remarks by Philip Spinosa
70 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 1 of 3
- Play at 0:02
“All right, good afternoon. Sorry we're a little late. Today is, what is today? Thursday, October the 8th. That's right. Welcome to a special called Planning and Zoning Committee discussion over data center legislation. I'm gonna read the focus item for this meeting. But just to clarify, the Memphis City Council session from Tuesday is still in recess and do some things that were brought up regarding the legislation. Here we are. So the focus item, this is all available to the public. We can provide you copies. But the intent of the meeting today, and we're planning to go until four o'clock,…”
City Council Committee · Oct 8, 2026
- Play at 0:39
“The focus, discuss the proposed data center legislation listed in our meeting materials. That's gonna be all the ordinances that were held. And review the existing zoning framework with the Division of Planning Development. Of course, Attorney Wade is here as well. We're all looking for clarity. And that is why we held the items. That is why we're here today. So I'm actually gonna ask Councilwoman White to get us started. I know she had some questions from the meeting, and I believe we're gonna start off just kinda looking into Rhonda's ordinance. Though, and one more thing, as we work…”
City Council Committee · Oct 8, 2026
- Play at 6:40
“Because nobody else can get into the business. Let me interject on that. This is why I'm so glad we're all here. So we were about to vote on something yesterday. And we're sitting here having this discussion, right? We need to be understanding these things before we pass legislation about something that's so important for all of us, including foremost the people that live right next door to the one that's already here before we examined or had an opportunity to examine anything. So I'm so happy we're having this discussion. And Attorney Wade, I'm going to offer this. So from what I can see, I…”
City Council Committee · Oct 8, 2026
- Play at 12:06
“And for the record, on the agenda at the next hearing, President McGowan is ready to come down here whenever to answer any and all questions that come out of this, because I know we've already referenced MLGW.”
City Council Committee · Oct 8, 2026
- Play at 15:43
“All right, we've got council members in the queue. This is great. Councilwoman Logan. Then Carlisle, Walker, Warren, and the chairwoman. Go ahead.”
City Council Committee · Oct 8, 2026
- Play at 20:38
“All right, thank you, Councilwoman. We've got Councilman Carlisle.”
City Council Committee · Oct 8, 2026
- Play at 23:06
“Well, I think people are scared. Well, excuse me. Yeah, no, go ahead, Chair. Let's have a conversation. Absolutely. Look, I agree with everything you said, but I think other council members are hearing from constituents, and I think That we're still learning the differences between the four pieces of legislation that people worked really hard on to try to do. And so I think we're all kind of going.”
City Council Committee · Oct 8, 2026
- Play at 24:45
“The problem— Okay, wait, pause there. So do we say that now?”
City Council Committee · Oct 8, 2026
- Play at 24:55
“They have to demonstrate that. But I want to ask Councilman Carlisle, do you know whose ordinance has that in the text? None of them. No. Yeah, I mean, with all due respect, he doesn't.”
City Council Committee · Oct 8, 2026
- Play at 25:12
“That's why I've got counsel. Off the top of my head. But you're about to pass a law. I'm not about to do anything.”
City Council Committee · Oct 8, 2026
- Play at 25:20
“That's exactly right. But do you want us to run?”
City Council Committee · Oct 8, 2026
- Play at 27:08
“With new specifics that you've added. Yeah. Okay. Councilwoman Walker. Or wait, Councilman Carlisle.”
City Council Committee · Oct 8, 2026
- Play at 28:19
“I think maybe you missed the opening statement.”
City Council Committee · Oct 8, 2026
- Play at 35:06
“And I think, look, I want to interject. I mean, we all watched on TV and heard of the announcement just like everybody else. And I think people tend to forget that. So that's, I'm excited that we're having these hearings. I understand where Councilman Carlisle is from because I wish we had all this done yesterday, you know?”
City Council Committee · Oct 8, 2026
- Play at 35:21
“But that's the intent of these hearings, is exactly that, right? So for an example, on Tuesday, October 29th, we've got community environmental protections, noise, water, air quality, neighborhood infrastructure, presentations and discussions with MLGW, TVA, health department, TDEC. Anything else we want to put in here? Let me say one more thing. One thing I'll omit it. We'll also be able to say what we control and what we don't control.”
City Council Committee · Oct 8, 2026
- Play at 36:40
“Well, I have an electric car, so, you know, I don't make too much sound.”
City Council Committee · Oct 8, 2026
- Play at 37:23
“So that's on the agenda to dive into next time. You see what I'm saying? We're going to tighten that up. Yes, and I'm sorry, I keep interjecting. Councilwoman Walker's in the queue next. I keep interrupting too. No, this is good.”
City Council Committee · Oct 8, 2026
- Play at 37:39
“All right, so Councilwoman Logan's good. We're gonna go to Councilwoman Walker. And we're gonna keep doing this for another two hours and 15 minutes. So if we move fast, there's a lot of people in the queue. Go ahead, Councilwoman Walker.”
City Council Committee · Oct 8, 2026
- Play at 43:13
“All right. Councilman Warren. Hey, actually, for the record, we've got Councilwoman Cooper Sutton, Councilman Warren, Councilwoman White, Councilwoman Logan, Councilman Canale is here. Madam Chair Swearingen-Washington, Councilwoman Walker, Councilman Ford. We've got the full body here. Councilman Smiley, Councilwoman Easter-Thomas, Councilman Carlisle.”
City Council Committee · Oct 8, 2026
- Play at 43:40
“Oh, I'm so sorry. We're missing Councilwoman Green. So everybody, but Councilwoman Green. All right, Councilwoman Warren, go for it.”
City Council Committee · Oct 8, 2026
- Play at 47:10
“He did, but he also asked, and I want to say something too, I promise. Attorney Wade, I felt like he directed a question towards you.”
City Council Committee · Oct 8, 2026
- Play at 48:32
“Let me offer this, Councilman Warren, and I say this humbly. On this calendar, the fourth meeting is community benefits. So if you want to champion this, I know. What date is that? Let me finish real quick. JB's moratorium ordinance says capital fund and benefit concepts, operative fiscal terms. He had some stuff, he had language in there. Confirm fund contributions, do not assume a binding, half percent obligation. None of that is in Logan's, none of that was in yours, Councilman Warren's, and that's cool, I'm just saying factually. Spinoza's had a contractual 5% growth dividend with…”
City Council Committee · Oct 8, 2026
- Play at 50:25
“That's right, there's work to be done. There's nothing.”
City Council Committee · Oct 8, 2026
- Play at 51:05
“Thank you, counsel. We have to be the grown-ups in the room. Thank you. I'm literally about to push mute. Thank you. All right, Councilwoman Walker.”
City Council Committee · Oct 8, 2026
- Play at 55:13
“All right, is that something that we can change, should change? add to the UDC, to the ordinance that's before us?”
City Council Committee · Oct 8, 2026