Former Mayor Eric Adams just got a “Bronx cheer” all the way in Wisconsin.
On Saturday, Adams was in Wisconsin Rapids emceeing a town hall on behalf of a data center developer, PNK Group.
Adams, who appeared with a PNK Group official, was jeered and heckled throughout.
“If we like it or not, folks, data centers are gonna be here,” Adams said, a remark eliciting shouts from the crowd.
Wisconsin Rapids is a city of more than 18,000 people, two hours north of Wisconsin’s capital, Madison. The online publication, Hell Gate, first reported on Adams’ Saturday appearance.
Adams is a paid consulting advisor to the developer PNK Group, according to a company spokesman.
“If it’s not here, it will be somewhere else,” he told the crowd.
Adams’ reputation — particularly his ultimately dismissed federal corruption indictment — preceded him.
“I don’t know who thought bringing on a pretty high-profile person with financial crimes on the record was a smart idea for PR to the already opposed data center, but not a good choice,” Emily Oetzman, an organizer with a group opposing the data center called South Wood County Neighbors for Responsible Development. “They struggled to answer any questions meaningfully.”
Adams’ spokesman, Todd Shapiro, said the video doesn’t show the many attendees who thanked him and asked questions after the town hall.
Adams’ work with PNK Group, Shapiro said, “is a continuation of the same pro-growth, pro-innovation philosophy he championed while serving as mayor.”
In a statement, PNK Group said Adams is excited about this technology.
“Having led one of the world’s most complex cities as Mayor of New York, he brings extensive experience in community engagement, stakeholder communication, and navigating large-scale projects with diverse constituencies,” the company statement said.
Jonah Joosten attended the meeting and said he found Adams’ approach “cheesy.”
“They said, we know who you are. We know you’re scammy. His response back is, ‘I’m your community neighbor,’” Joosten said.
Joosten explained the opposition to the data center proposed on the site of an old paper mill.
“We’re not happy with the heat displacement that they can’t tell you where the heat is,” Joosten said. “We’re in the middle of the drought. He came during a drought to try to sell something that’s going to be sitting on our water table.”
Meanwhile, a former top aide in Adams’ City Hall, Tiffany Raspberry, was also in Wisconsin. Raspberry is currently a board member at the New York City Economic Development Corporation.
Raspberry did not return a request for comment by email.