• West Lafayette would receive only 12% of the tax revenue generated by SK hynix. (Dave Bangert Report)
• The other 88% would go to a state organization, but 100% of the health, environmental, and financial risks would stay here.
• Fort Collins turned down SK hynix and built a stronger future. Fort Collins now has 26% higher average family income and lower poverty rates than Eugene.
• Eugene accepted SK hynix, and faced massive layoffs, pollution, public debt, and regret.

What Eugene got from rushing into a SK hynix deal:

• $130 million in public subsidies, with no full public accounting
• Tax breaks for pollution control equipment that Hynix was already legally required to install
• Discounted utility rates, sewer fees, job training funds, and road construction, quietly passed on to taxpayers
• An estimated $118,000 per job created, far above industry norms, with no independent audit of job creation
• Broken promises: Hynix pledged 3,000 jobs, peaked at just 1,000, and laid off nearly all workers before shutting down
• $11 million more in public funds spent on unemployment benefits and retraining after the closure
• No Superfund cleanup, and no clear plan for long-term pollution management

In the end, the public paid expensively and trust was shattered.
Local voters resisted new taxes, citing corporate favoritism and a breakdown in trust.
Fort Collins walked away and thrived.

(Source: Bad Bet: City Lost Big on Hynix Chips, 2012) 

One week before the city council meeting, let's ask the real question: 

Is this really a "good opportunity", or an expensive, risky deal that sacrifices the long-term health and well-being of West Lafayette for the benefit of A FEW?

Call to Action:

Email or call the City Council members today (email template and email addresses available at the end)
➔ Tell them you expect full transparency and real protections for our community.
Talk to your neighbors this week.
➔ Help them understand what’s at stake, and why questioning this deal is not anti-growth, but pro-community.
Attend the City Council meeting. Speak up.
➔ This decision will shape our town for decades.

The wrong deal could cost us more than we can afford.
The right leadership stands up to powerful influences and asks the hard questions before it’s too late.

Resources to share and act on:

petition |Name and Address Form | website | facebook  

Sample email to city councilors in case you need one: 

Subject: Reject the SK hynix Rezoning and Protect West Lafayette’s Long-Term Well-Being

Dear Councilor [Name],

I am writing as a concerned resident of West Lafayette regarding the proposed SK hynix project and rezoning request.
While the project is being promoted as a major opportunity, I urge you to critically consider the long-term risks, especially in light of what happened in Eugene, Oregon that rushed into similar deals with the same company.

Semiconductor manufacturing is among the most hazardous industries, with well-documented impacts on air, water, and soil. Corporate promises cannot substitute for real, independent data.
Other cities, like Fort Collins, Colorado, chose to walk away after evaluating the hidden costs, and ultimately thrived without sacrificing public health, trust, or neighborhood stability.

We must ask: Is this truly an opportunity for our whole community—or a deal that benefits only a few?

I respectfully request that you:

• Reject the rezoning until full public disclosure is provided for all subsidies, tax breaks, and incentive agreements.
• Require independent assessments of economic, environmental, and infrastructure impacts before any any decision is made.
• Protect residential neighborhoods from industrial encroachment and the risks it brings.
• Ensure any future agreements include strong, enforceable accountability measures for health, safety, and environmental protection.

The decision you make now will shape the future of West Lafayette for decades to come and will be in the history of West Lafayette. 
Please stand with the residents you were elected to serve, not with corporate or powerful interests seeking quick gains at our community’s long-term expense.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]

Council member emails: 

West Lafayette City Council Members:

District 1 - Laila Veidemanis: lveidemanis@westlafayette.in.gov

District 2 - Michelle Dennis: mdennis@westlafayette.in.gov

District 3 -Colin Lee: clee@westlafayette.in.gov

District 4 - Larry Leverenz: lleverenz@westlafayette.in.gov

District 5 - Kathy Parker: kparker@westlafayette.in.gov

District 6 - Stacey Baitinger Burr: sburr@westlafayette.in.gov

At Large - Iris O'Donnell Bellisario: ibellisario@westlafayette.in.gov

At Large - James Blanco: jblanco@westlafayette.in.gov

At Large - David Sanders: dsanders@westlafayette.in.gov