Alhambra is sending its data-center debate straight to voters, setting up a citywide showdown in November after months of growing resistance across the San Gabriel Valley. The move could make Alhambra the next local city to tell server farms to find somewhere else to plug in.
The Alhambra City Council voted unanimously Monday to place a measure on the Nov. 3 ballot asking voters to ban data centers throughout the city, according to LAist. The proposed prohibition would be considered alongside the statewide general election.
Alhambra had already taken steps to restrict data centers by defining what qualifies as one and adding the facilities to its list of prohibited uses in office and industrial zones. The city’s posted council agenda says the ballot measure would expand that prohibition to cover the entire city, rather than leaving gaps based on zoning classifications, according to the Alhambra city agenda.
The ballot fight follows a decisive vote next door in Monterey Park, where residents overwhelmingly approved a permanent data-center ban in June. More than 86% of voters backed the measure in early returns, making Monterey Park the first city in the country to approve such a ban through a public vote, the Los Angeles Times reported.
San Gabriel Valley Opposition Keeps Expanding
The Alhambra campaign is part of a broader regional push against data centers and the infrastructure built to support them, including large battery-energy storage systems. Andrew Yip, an Alhambra resident and SGV Progressive Action organizer, told LAist that Monterey Park’s “No Data Center” ballot label was confusing and suggested a clearer acronym such as “BAN.” The Alhambra measure will need a simple majority of local voters to pass.
That opposition has already reached public hearings and rallies around the valley. A regional battery fight in May drew hundreds of residents concerned about fire risk, pollution, power demand and whether energy projects could help pave the way for future data-center development.
What Happens Before The November Vote
The city’s election paperwork calls for Los Angeles County to consolidate Alhambra’s municipal vote with the Nov. 3 general election. The council also designated itself to prepare the official argument supporting the data-center ban, according to the city agenda.
For Alhambra voters, the question will be whether the city should permanently close the door on a fast-growing but resource-intensive industry. After Monterey Park’s landslide result, the November ballot will show whether that city’s decision was a one-off — or the start of a San Gabriel Valley trend.
