LETTER: Elected leaders must stand up for beleagured residents

To Ozaukee Press:

When it warmed up last week, I was excited. Mind you, I knew it would get colder again, but it allowed me to look forward to warmer days when I could open the windows and let the house air out. Fresh air! But that thought was short-lived.

I soon realized that it was unlikely that my windows would be open at all this spring, or summer, or for the next year, at least, with the constant pollution and the constant traffic from the Vantage Data Centers construction. Our neighbors are not exaggerating; the dust, traffic, noise and light pollution 24 hours a day are exhausting.

In last week’s Ozaukee Press, Kim Tydrick and Dean Wiegert shared testimony that Vantage was already becoming a nuisance, most recently by working past contracted hours. We have ourselves called the local authorities regarding drones flying over our home. Both Mike Didier, Town of Port Washington chairman, and Ted Neitzke, City of Port Washington mayor, had stated previously that they would monitor the situation. I am sure these are not the only complaints they have heard. It is time for our elected leadership to step up and hold Vantage accountable.

To Mark Freeman, vice president of global marketing for Vantage Data Centers:

How kind of you to offer six hours of free car washing from one of our local businesses. But that doesn’t address the issues; it’s just a wet band-aid. How about instead you adhere to your commitment to the community?

For weeks, I have seen ads for Vantage Data Centers in our local Press. The Feb. 15 ad read exactly like your statement: “Our focus remains on being a good neighbor.”

As I tell my students, actions speak louder than words. A good neighbor would make sure that dump trucks are covered, busses can run their routes safely and contractors work the agreed-upon hours. A better neighbor would check in with those around them.

A great neighbor? A great neighbor would do all of this, and reduce the work hours back to the original proposal of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Period.

Meg Jacoby

Knellsville, Town of Port Washington