Community town hall gathers momentum, and signatures

On April 13, a significant community town hall meeting took place at the Old Eucalyptus Schoolhouse in El Centro, California, hosted by Victoria Homes of Imperial and the "Imperial Valley’s Not in My Backyard" group. The event served as a forum for residents and local politicians to voice strong opposition against a proposed data center project in the city of Imperial. Organizer Michelle Hollinger emphasized the need for responsible development and community collaboration. Speakers like former Calexico councilmember Gilberto Manzanarez highlighted potential health impacts, citing concerns about air quality and increased asthma rates among children in the region. Imperial resident Francisco Leal questioned the project's transparency and urged sustained community action. Several local officials attended, including Lorena Minor-Montes, a candidate for county supervisor; Calipatria Mayor Michael Luellen; and Indio councilmember Oscar Ortiz, all expressing support for residents' concerns. Karin Eugenio, chairwoman of the Imperial Irrigation District (IID) board, referenced IID Resolution 37-2025, which aims to protect ratepayers and set parameters for large industrial energy use, stressing the importance of "right way" growth. Dennis Morita, Imperial City Manager, confirmed pending lawsuits involving the data center, the City of Imperial, and Imperial County, underscoring the necessity of a thorough environmental review. Activist Idell Burden advocated for leveraging the county's agricultural strengths over industrial development. Jake Tison, a key organizer, urged attendees to register to vote and sign petitions for recalling county supervisors and for the "Imperial Valley Data Center Prohibition Act" to be placed on the November 2nd ballot. Peter Rodriguez vowed the fight against the data center was far from over.