Monterey Park overwhelmingly banned data centers. What comes next?

Monterey Park, California, has made national headlines by becoming the first city in the country to effectively ban data centers through a popular vote, with preliminary election results showing nearly 90% of voters rejecting the controversial infrastructure. This decision came after a six-month grassroots movement, where local organizer Jesse Damon and residents like Bosco Woo and Joy Saavedra successfully lobbied for and secured two moratoriums on data center development. The opposition cited concerns over the power- and water-hungry nature of data centers, their potential to drive up utility costs, drain water resources, and pollute communities.

Following the vote, city officials hosted the first of three community meetings, facilitated by Tripepi Smith, to solicit residents' visions for the vacant Saturn Avenue property where the data center was proposed. While some attendees, like Damon, appreciated the insights on land use in Monterey Park and California, others, including Woo and Saavedra, expressed disappointment that the city did not offer concrete ideas or take a leadership role in suggesting feasible alternatives. The lot is currently zoned for innovation and technology, and city staff noted that mixed-use housing development could be a possibility, although a popular resident request for a Trader Joe's was deemed unlikely due to the company's private discretion.

The city faces the challenge of balancing resident desires with economic realities, particularly given increased vacancies since the early pandemic. Residents are hoping for more detailed discussions and concrete proposals at the upcoming in-person community sessions scheduled for June 23 and 24, as they seek inspiration for what could replace the now-banned data center project.