Monterey Park's data center ban receives overwhelming support in special election
Monterey Park voters overwhelmingly approved Measure NDC, a ban on data centers within city limits, during a special election. This decision followed residents' environmental concerns regarding a proposed 250,000-square-foot data center project that was subsequently withdrawn. City leaders had previously placed a moratorium on future data center proposals.
Monterey Park, California, residents voted overwhelmingly in favor of Measure NDC, a ballot initiative that prohibits data centers within city limits. During a special election on Tuesday, over 80% of the more than 7,000 ballots cast supported the ban, with Los Angeles County Registrar data showing nearly 86% in favor as of Wednesday.
The vote follows significant community backlash against a proposal to convert a vacant office building into a 250,000-square-foot data center. Residents, citing environmental concerns, pressured city leaders who subsequently tabled the initial project, enacted a moratorium on future data center proposals, and moved to a special election to let voters decide. Mayor Elizabeth Yang confirmed the company behind the original proposal withdrew its application and would not contest the ballot measure.
The "Yes on Measure NDC" campaign celebrated the outcome as "people power," emphasizing the community's decisive role. The issue of data center development, often linked to the rise of artificial intelligence, has garnered national attention due to environmental impacts, with critics raising concerns similar to those in Monterey Park.