‘Data center or supportive housing?’: Jake, Spike pose a tough question for WA residents
Jul 12, 2026, 6:42 AM
Similar to Seattle, Federal Way unanimously approved a 12-month moratorium on data centers as the city waits for more details on the environmental impacts they could have in the area.
Jake Skorheim, co-host of “The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio, asked a “would you rather” question about two highly debated topics: Would you rather have a data center or permanent supportive housing in your neighborhood?
“Here’s what I would say: I think maybe Federal Way could be different than Seattle,” Jake said. “When you read about the people who are always cited in the stories about the dangers of data centers, go to their websites and look at the groups picketing data centers; some are anti-capitalist people. I’m just dropping that there; you can pick it up if you want to. They’re saying some of it’s environmental, but I’m just telling you what their website says.
“This leads to our question of the day,” Jake continued. “If I forced you to choose one of the two, you can either have a data center in your neighborhood, or you can have permanent supportive housing. You have to choose one of the two. I’ve been doing a deep dive into data centers. Here’s what I will say: I share a question about location, if it actually has negative effects on water issues. If it is actually bad for fresh drinking water, actually proven, I would agree with everyone. You don’t want data centers if it’s actually going to pollute the water.”
“I’m going to combine the two. I want a data center that houses addicts,” Spike responded. “‘Pick your buzz,’ we’ll call it.”
Watch the full discussion in the video above.
Listen to “The Jake and Spike Show” weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio 97.3
