Full Breakdown
Monterey Park Voters Approve First Citywide Data Center Ban
6/4/2026, 5:17:45 AM
Vote Outcome
Monterey Park voters approved Measure NDC on June 2, 2026, banning data centers citywide. Early tallies showed 86 % of 7,321 votes in favor, exceeding the 51 % threshold. The ban can be overturned only by another citywide vote.
Background
The council imposed a 45-day moratorium in Jan 2025, then an indefinite moratorium in Apr 2025 after HMC StratCap filed a 247,000-sq-ft data-center plan for Saturn Park, less than 500 ft from homes and demanding ~50 MW. Community groups printed 10,000 flyers, mailed bilingual (English, Chinese, Spanish) mailers, and held a watch party. HMC StratCap withdrew the proposal in Mar 2026, and councilmembers Jose Sanchez, Thomas Wong, and Mayor Elizabeth Yang placed a permanent ban on the June ballot.
Numbers
The final count recorded 5,311 “yes” votes and 2,010 “no” votes (86 % yes). The withdrawn site would have covered 15.8 acres and required about 50 MW—roughly three times the city’s total electricity use. California hosts about 300 data centers; AI-driven projects now average 430 MW, up from 45 MW for traditional sites.
Official Statements & Criticism
Councilmember Sanchez said the result “shows unequivocally that residents…do not want datacenters.” Mayor Yang noted the ban “is a lot harder to reverse because you need the entire city to vote on it.” The Data Center Coalition’s Khara Boender called the vote a signal that the area is “closed for business.” The coalition warned the ban would deprive Monterey Park of high-wage jobs, tax revenue, and long-term investment. International Data Center Authority chairman Mehdi Paryavi said “these are multi-billion-dollar assets…will get done” despite local opposition.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Los Angeles County registrar data noted “no formal opposition,” yet the Data Center Coalition publicly opposed the measure. HMC StratCap alleged bias in the ballot wording but later said it would not pursue legal action. No concrete estimates of job loss or tax impact were provided.
Verbatim Quotes
- “[This] shows unequivocally that residents in Monterey Park do not want datacenters in their community,” — Jose Sanchez, City Councilmember
- “This ensures long-lasting protections for current and future generations,” — Amy J. Wong, Co-founder, San Gabriel Valley Progressive Action
- “Primarily, I have concerns about the pollution that would be happening, both physical and noise-wise,” — Tilda DeWolfe, Resident
- “With the ballot measure, unbanning it is a lot harder because you need the entire city to vote on it.” — Elizabeth Yang, Mayor
What’s Next
Monterey Park will monitor enforcement and explore low-income housing on the former Saturn Park parcel. Neighboring cities—Industry, Vernon, and Santa Fe Springs—are reviewing permitting policies, and at least a dozen states are considering data-center moratoria, citing Monterey Park as a model.
