Government Push to Oust 91-Year-Old Homeowner Ignites Public Anger in Clay

CLAY, N.Y. — A public hearing held at 9 a.m. on Thursday, November 20, 2025, brought more than 150 residents to oppose the Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency (OCIDA) plan to seize the home of 91-year-old Azalia King through eminent domain. Despite the high turnout, no members of OCIDA attended the hearing, nor did Ryan McMahon, the County Executive who helped broker the county’s deal with Micron Technology.

The King family has lived on the property for decades and previously signed an agreement allowing her to remain on the land for life. According to the family, they were never properly notified of the eminent-domain hearing and only learned of it when local media reached out. Residents voiced anger that a 91-year-old woman is being forced from her lifelong home, and frustrated that county leaders refused to show up and answer questions.

The property is part of a large parcel the county has offered to Micron, which has pledged to build multiple semiconductor factories. The megaproject has already been delayed by two to three years, and full build-out is not expected until well into the 2030s. Critics at the hearing maintained that environmental and infrastructure concerns remain unaddressed.

More than 200 acres of wetlands would be destroyed to make way for the facility, with county officials proposing to mitigate the loss by building replacement wetlands in nearby Oswego County. Environmental advocates and residents questioned whether that mitigation would be sufficient, warning of long-term ecological damage and disruption to local waterways.

Infrastructure demands raised serious doubts as well: the planned facility would dramatically increase water consumption in the county and place heavy strain on electrical and wastewater systems. Many noted that even brief power disruptions at a semiconductor fab can cause huge financial losses, yet county officials offered no clear assurances of adequate support or protections.

Financial concerns also dominated the discussion. Micron is expected to receive substantial tax incentives, and with infrastructure upgrades likely funded by taxpayers, many residents argued that the long-term financial burden will fall on ordinary citizens while elderly homeowners like King are displaced.

Dozens of people spoke at the hearing, some condemning what they saw as broken promises and a betrayal of trust, others warning of the precedent this eviction could set for other families. One attendee invoked references to past resistance against government overreach, expressing deep frustration and anger over what was called “government-sponsored displacement.”

The hearing ended on a sharp note when a man who had yelled at the attorneys representing the project was detained by sheriff’s deputies. During the detainment, a deputy “accidentally” discharged pepper spray, causing chaos in the room. The man repeatedly insisted he was not resisting. He was removed from the building, and according to the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, no charges have been filed.

The day after the hearing, reports emerged that OCIDA and the King family had reached an additional settlement intended to facilitate Mrs. King’s relocation, though details remain scarce and nothing has been publicly confirmed.

Act Now Media will continue to monitor developments, including the full background of the Micron agreement, environmental impacts, and the long-term infrastructure and taxpayer costs.