State Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez (Photo – NDCSGV)
Members of the Yes on Measure NDC coalition held a press conference following the June 2026 election to mark the passage of Measure NDC, a ballot initiative that prohibits data centers within the city of Monterey Park. The measure passed with 88.33% of the vote.
By News Desk
The measure was placed on the ballot after community members raised concerns about public infrastructure capacity, potential utility rate increases, transparency, accountability, and the possible long-term environmental and quality-of-life impacts of proposed data center development.
During the event, Yes on Measure NDC Campaign Manager Je-Show Yang said the election results reflected voters’ desire for greater transparency and accountability in decisions regarding proposed data center projects. Yang said the coalition believed the proposed facility would have increased demand on the local power grid and affected residents through backup diesel generator emissions, noise, traffic, and added pressure on local resources.
State Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez, who represents Monterey Park, described Measure NDC as the first citizen-approved ban on data centers in the United States. She said the campaign demonstrated the impact of community organizing in the San Gabriel Valley and announced plans to continue advocating for discussions about data center development across California while supporting other communities addressing similar proposals.
Amy J. Wong, co-founder of SGV Progressive Action, said communities have the authority to decide whether to allow data center development and argued that land-use decisions should prioritize residents’ interests. She said the Monterey Park vote could serve as an example for other communities in the San Gabriel Valley.
Additional speakers at the press conference included Monterey Park Councilmember Jose Sanchez, No Data Center Monterey Park co-founder Steven Kung, Puente Hills Community Preservation Association President Edson Chao, and Ashley Vega of the Viva la Causa Collective in the eastern Coachella Valley.
Speakers also discussed other proposed data center projects in Southern California, citing community concerns about a proposed development at the Puente Hills Mall site in the City of Industry, including water consumption, fire hazards, and potential increases in utility costs.
The coalition also referenced recent actions in the City of Coachella, where officials approved a 45-day temporary moratorium on data centers, terminated an agreement with Stronghold Power Solutions, and began exploring options for a permanent prohibition on future data center developments following community opposition to the proposed Coachella Valley Technology Campus.
No Data Centers San Gabriel Valley (NDCSGV), one of the organizations involved in the campaign, said its mission is to reduce the potential impacts of data center development on local communities, help residents organize around land-use decisions, and ensure community voices are represented in the planning process.
Yes on Measure NDC Campaign Manager Je-Show Yang (Photo – NDCSGV)
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