Monterey Park Voters Back Permanent Datacenter Ban With 86.3% Support
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 3
Monterey Park Voters Back Permanent Datacenter Ban With 86.3% Support
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 3
Summary
More than 86.3% of over 7,000 counted votes backed a ballot measure banning datacenters citywide in Monterey Park, putting the Los Angeles-area city on track to become the first in the US to enact such a ban by referendum.
The measure would stay in force until voters end it, giving the city a more durable legal footing after the council imposed an indefinite moratorium in April and HMC StratCap had threatened to sue over extending it.
Residents and organizers argued datacenters could worsen air and water impacts, raise electricity and water rates, and sit too close to homes; the proposed HMC StratCap project would have spanned nearly 250,000 square feet before being withdrawn.
The vote lands amid widening national resistance to AI-linked datacenters: Gallup found 7 in 10 Americans oppose them locally, and other communities in Wisconsin and Michigan are also turning to ballot measures or referendums.
Is one city's 'no' to datacenters the start of a nationwide rebellion against the AI boom?
Can green technology solve the environmental conflicts that are turning communities against datacenters?
As more communities reject datacenters, where will the physical infrastructure for our digital world be built?
Monterey Park’s 86% Vote to Ban Data Centers: How Community Power Set a California Precedent
Overview
Monterey Park’s landmark decision to permanently ban data centers was driven by strong community opposition, sparked by a proposed HMC StratCap facility that would have required massive energy use. Residents and union members voiced their concerns early, organizing petitions and public protests at city hall. Their efforts highlighted worries about environmental impact, resource consumption, and quality of life. This robust grassroots movement paved the way for the city’s decisive action, showing how active civic engagement can shape local policy and set a precedent for other communities facing similar challenges from large-scale data projects.