Residents in Monterey Park, California, made history on Tuesday by voting on a permanent ban on datacenters, with early results showing a resounding victory for the prohibition. This marks the first time a US city has decided such a ban through a ballot initiative, rather than through a city council vote.
Landslide Victory for Residents
As of 2am Pacific Time, 86.3% of the more than 7,000 votes counted were in favor of banning datacenters. City councilmember Jose Sanchez declared a "landslide victory" for residents opposed to living near these facilities. "This shows unequivocally that residents in Monterey Park do not want datacenters in their community," Sanchez said. He hopes other communities will follow Monterey Park's example.
Background of the Ban
The city council had already passed an indefinite moratorium on datacenters in April, following backlash against HMC StratCap, an investment company proposing a nearly 250,000 sq ft datacenter in the Los Angeles region. The developer has since withdrawn the application. Residents were concerned about negative environmental effects, rising utility prices, and proximity to homes.
Ballot Measure Details
The ballot measure asked voters to ban "data centers citywide to protect air quality, drinking water resources and public health; prevent impacts to electricity and water rates." The rule will remain in place until ended by voters. Sanchez noted that a voter-approved ban holds more legal weight than a council ordinance, especially after HMC StratCap threatened to sue over a potential moratorium extension. The developers have since indicated they will not pursue legal action.
Comparison with Other Municipalities
While other cities have used ballot measures to fight datacenters, Monterey Park's is the most forceful. In Port Washington, Wisconsin, voters approved requiring voter approval before offering tax incentives to datacenter developers. In Augusta Township, Michigan, a referendum on rezoning for a datacenter is set for August. Janesville, Wisconsin, will vote in November on requiring voter approval for datacenter projects over $450m. Nationally, seven in 10 Americans oppose AI datacenter construction in their local areas, according to a Gallup poll.
Opposition and Support
The Data Center Coalition (DCC) opposes the ban, arguing it sends a "signal that the area is closed for business" and deprives residents of jobs and tax revenue. Local organizers, however, praise the city council for listening to concerns. Amy J Wong, co-founder of San Gabriel Valley Progressive Action, said the council recognized resident anger and feared being voted out. Organizers had only two months to campaign, printing 10,000 flyers and mailers in English, Chinese, and Spanish. Some voters were confused about how to vote for the ban, requiring education efforts.
Nationwide Backlash
Anger over datacenters powering the AI boom is spreading, with communities demanding protective ordinances and statewide moratoriums. At least a dozen states are considering such moratoriums, though none have been signed into law. The issue has also become a flashpoint in some governors' races, with challengers in Pennsylvania and Georgia pushing for temporary bans. California is not currently considering a statewide moratorium, and gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer has walked back his support for one. Cities like El Monte, Baldwin Park, and Montebello have approved temporary bans.
Councilmember Sanchez, a high school civics teacher, noted that his students and his nine-year-old daughter closely follow the issue. "They give me an earful," he said, feeling he represents them even if they cannot yet vote.
