local
Washington Township residents demand transparency after data center emails exposed
By Karen Drew, Kayla Clarke at WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News
· June 25, 2026
· 6 min read
Residents have been voicing outrage in Washington Township over what they call a lack of transparency.The reaction comes after emails show the township was in talks with a data center developer about what would need to happen for the project to become reality -- and how “excited” the township sup...
Key takeaway Washington Township supervisor Sebastian “Sam” Previti has held that position since 2020.
Why this matters in The Detroit
The controversy surrounding the proposed data center in Washington Township raises concerns about the balance between economic development and preservation of the community's rural character. As residents voice their outrage over the lack of transparency, it becomes clear that the township's approach to development will be under scrutiny. The fact that discussions with the data center developer were happening behind the scenes, despite the supervisor's promise of increased transparency, has eroded trust among residents. The township's rural landscape, with hundreds of acres of open land, is a valuable asset that residents are determined to protect. As the community moves forward, it will be important to watch how the township responds to these concerns and whether they can restore trust through more open and inclusive decision-making processes. The outcome of this controversy will have implications for how Washington Township approaches development in the future, and whether they can find a balance between growth and preservation of their rural character.
About this story
Original reporting by WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News . The Detroit surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
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Category: local ·
Published: June 25, 2026 ·
Source: WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News ·
Reading time: 6 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Residents have been voicing outrage in Washington Township over what they call a lack of transparency.The reaction comes after emails show the township was in talks with a data center developer about what would need to happen for the project to become reality -- and how “excited” the township sup...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 25, 2026 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News and curated for The Detroit readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Karen Drew, Kayla Clarke at WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News. To learn more about how The Detroit selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Detroit, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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