Dear Monterey Park Residents and Friends of the City -
We have important updates on the fight to keep data centers out of Monterey Park — including a confirmed ballot measure for the June 2 election, an ordinance that needs to be as strong as possible, and ways you can take action and support right now.
Here’s what we’re covering in this newsletter:
Ordinance — Where we stand after the March 4 council vote
Ballot Measure NDC — The June 2 vote, the new campaign, and a critical ask about your lawn sign
SGV Regional Coalition — The fight is spreading, and our neighbors need us
Recap
On March 4, the City Council agreed to our recommended belt and suspenders approach to banning data centers in Monterey Park:
The Ordinance (the “belt”): A permanent law banning data centers. This is durable protection and a straightforward path to a citywide ban.
The Ballot Measure (the “suspenders”): A voter-approved ban that reinforces the ordinance. If it passes, it cannot be undone unless voters themselves choose to undo it.
Our focus now is on:
Making sure the ordinance language is as strong as possible
Ensuring the ballot measure is successful
The Ordinance
The council hearing on the ordinance will be April 20
The city has issued its 20-day public notice for the ordinance to be considered in a Special Council Meeting on April 20. This will be the first reading, with second reading taking place two weeks later, on May 6. The ordinance language won’t be available until April 15. That’s when we’ll be able to evaluate whether the city has taken the steps needed to make this ban as strong as possible.
The ballot language does not need to be identical to the ordinance language — they just need to be consistent. This means the ordinance and ballot measure can each be crafted to be as strong as possible on their own terms, reinforcing each other like a true belt and suspenders.
Our attorney, Doug Carstens — a leading attorney in environmental and municipal law — has already sent a letter to the city urging three specific improvements:
The ban should apply retroactively.
The ban should be incorporated into the General Plan.
Data processing facilities should be struck as an allowed use to remove a potential loophole.
Given some recent developments in the region, specifically in the City of Industry, Doug also recommends adding a second provision in the ban to prohibit principle-use Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). Standalone BESS facilities are often supporting grid infrastructure positioned close to data centers and pose dangers – like major fire risks – in residential areas.
Stay tuned for Doug’s feedback on the ordinance language around April 15, and save the date for the council meeting on April 20. It’s important for the community to show up.
A special thank you to Beverly and Kin Kui for their generous donation toward our legal fees. Anyone further interested in helping cover these costs, please reach out to nodatacentermpk@gmail.com.
The Ballot
Measure NDC (a.k.a. No Data Center) is scheduled for June 2. A “Yes” vote means you support a permanent, voter-protected ban on data centers in Monterey Park. A dedicated campaign committee called Yes on Measure NDC has been formed to carry this effort across the finish line (follow on Instagram). You will receive separate communications from that committee.
Get Involved
Contribute to the campaign - running a ballot campaign is expensive and every dollar helps to print yard signs and mail postcards to raise awareness and get the vote out. Many residents still haven’t heard about this.
Join the canvassing team - help rally your neighbors to Vote Yes on Measure NDC on June 2 by signing up to volunteer
PSA: Please Exchange Your Lawn Sign
If you currently have a lawn sign that says “No Data Center” — whether one from our group or any other — we are asking you to take it down and replace it with a “Yes on Measure NDC” sign. Canvassers will be going door to door with new signs.
Regional Coalition
The fight is going regional after Monterey Park lit the spark
The data center battle we’ve been fighting here in Monterey Park is spreading across the San Gabriel Valley. Residents, city councils, and city staff in surrounding communities are looking to us for guidance on how to protect their own neighborhoods. In response, No Data Center MPK has joined the Data Center SGV Coalition to resist data center development throughout the region.
Right now, a data center fight is brewing in the City of Industry. Our neighbors in the surrounding communities showed up for us during our fight; let’s pay it forward. The stronger our regional coalition, the harder it becomes for developers to pit our cities against each other. What happens next door affects all of us. Sign their petition and stay informed on ongoing actions across the SGV.
A special thank you to Jessica Chou for sharing photos. View her work online, follow her on Instagram, and reach out to her directly for usage.
Also a special thank you to Lili Chin for her iconic dragon illustrations. Follow her work on Instagram.
