Monterey Park residents today become the first voters in the nation to decide whether to permanently ban data centers within their city. Measure NDC would prohibit all future data center development in Monterey Park if approved by voters. Any effort to reverse the ban would require another citywide vote. The measure comes in response to a proposal announced in 2024 for a 247,000-square-foot data center near a residential neighborhood. Since then, many residents have voiced concerns about the potential impacts of such facilities, including heavy water and electricity consumption, increased noise levels, air pollution, and their close proximity to homes. Supporters of the measure say the ban would protect neighborhood quality of life and prevent future projects from moving forward. The debate reflects growing concerns about the expansion of data centers across Southern California. Residents in other parts of Los Angeles County, including Vernon and the City of Industry, are also organizing opposition to similar proposals.
