SGV Progressive Action

Monterey Park is the first city in California to permanently ban data centers! 💪 NEXT UP: @yesonmeasurendc to pass a ban that city council can't overturn! Illustrations by @lilichin_art

Vote YES on measure NDC (No Data Center) to keep AI Data Centers OUT of our cities FOR GOOD ‼️ Would be greatly appreciated if u could share this to ur story, repost, and comment for more visibility ❤️ #sangabrielvalley #626 #sgv #montereypark #datacenter

Standing in solidarity with all of our SGV neighbors. ✊🏽 city of industry must be stopped 🛑 no DATA Centers in the SGV. #nadatacenter @yesonmeasurendc @nodatacenterssgvcoalition @sgvprogressiveaction @lavaacommunity #community #sgv #communitylove #cityofindustry

Amazing Data center rally 🙌

When we caught wind that @cityofindustryca was joining an inaugural summit with Vernon, Santa Fe Springs, and Commerce—we knew we had to show up. This “Big 4” represents some of the most heavily industrialized and least accountable cities in our region—places built to serve industry first, not residents. Their origins are deeply tied to redlining and exclusionary land use policies that pushed polluting infrastructure into working-class communities and communities of color. Warehouses, refineries, landfills, hazardous waste facilities—this is the economic model, and our communities are left carrying the public health burden. What’s being proposed now is just the next phase. In our fight against data centers in the City of Industry, we’ve learned that Vernon is already moving forward with similar projects, with more in the pipeline across these cities. These aren’t abstract developments—they bring massive energy demand, water consumption, and increased reliance on infrastructure like battery energy storage systems and natural gas peaker plants. And we can’t forget the history. Vernon was home to the former Exide lead-acid battery smelter, which contaminated surrounding communities for decades. After facing criminal investigation, Exide declared bankruptcy—leaving taxpayers to cover an estimated $750 million in cleanup costs. That legacy still impacts families today. Now Vernon hosts major AI hyperscale data infrastructure, and the City of Industry is positioned to follow unless we organize and push back against land use decisions that once again prioritize industry over community health, environmental safety, and long-term sustainability. This was also about building power across regions—connecting San Gabriel Valley organizing with Southeast Los Angeles. We stood alongside Jaime Sanchez of Neighbors Against PhibroTech, who are actively fighting another toxic polluter in Santa Fe Springs, showing that these struggles are deeply connected. From Monterey Park to Bassett all the way to SELA—the working class is getting organized and positioning ourselves to fight back. Join the efforts @nodatacenterssgvcoalition Protest / Cabalgata this Saturday May 2nd!

Our Coalition's Statement on the so-called, "Big Four Inaugural Summit": The No Data Centers SGV Coalition calls out the so-called “BIG 4” initiative for what it is: a coordinated effort by the City of Industry, Commerce, Santa Fe Springs, and Vernon to fast-track industrial expansion while shifting impacts onto surrounding communities. We are calling them what they are: the Big Four parasites. These cities promote so-called “benefits” that really mean fewer safeguards and faster approvals. No local taxes. Reduced oversight. By-right zoning. Discounted power. Minimal environmental review. This is not innovation. This is a race to the bottom. Commerce pushes zero taxes and streamlined permitting. Industry markets its land for large-scale industrial uses like data centers. Santa Fe Springs offers subsidies and fast-tracked approvals. Vernon goes further with deeply discounted utilities and minimal review. Together, they are incentivizing energy intensive projects with maximum profit and minimal accountability. These policies are already in motion. The City of Industry has moved to allow data centers citywide. A hyperscale data center is being built in Vernon. The impacts will not stay within their borders. Communities across the San Gabriel Valley, Southeast LA, South LA, and East LA will face higher utility costs, environmental harm, increased fire risk, and declining quality of life. These projects strain water and energy systems and add long-term public safety risks. This is regional harm driven by a handful of cities prioritizing industry over people. We urge City Councils of surrounding communities to reject this model. Do not align with the Big Four parasites or normalize decisions that bypass community input. We also call on state leaders, regional agencies, the County of Los Angeles, and local city councils to apply political pressure on the big four parasites and critically review their actions and any proposed projects. This level of coordinated industrial expansion requires oversight and transparency. We deserve development that serves residents, not corporate interests. @cityofindustryca @cityofcommerce @cityofsfs @city_of_vernon

RALLY AGAINST THE CITY OF INDUSTRY Join us this Saturday, May 2 from 10 AM to 1 PM at Schabarum Regional Park in Rowland Heights. Community members from across the San Gabriel Valley are coming together to push back against the City of Industry’s expansion of data centers and battery storage projects. 10–11 AM: Rally in the park 11 AM–1 PM: Protest along Colima Road sidewalk Meet near the park entrance 17250 Colima Rd, Rowland Heights Parking is $10 at the park. Limited free street parking is available. Do not park at Puente Hills Mall or nearby private lots. You risk being towed. Carpool if you can. Public transit options available via Foothill Transit and Heights Hopper. Bring signs. Bring your community. This is a family-friendly action to stand for responsible development, environmental justice, and our neighborhoods. nodatacenterssgvcoalition.org

We hit our minimum and the order has officially been placed! Yard signs are still available for $10, but the price will increase to $15 after May 2 Signs are expected to arrive mid May and we will follow up with pickup details as soon as they are ready Each sign is double sided with designs in English, Spanish, and Chinese and comes with a metal frame 40% of the proceeds will support the CEQA lawsuit against the City of Industry, with the remaining funds helping cover printing and organizing costs Reserve yours now while they are still $10 tinyurl.com/ndcsgvyardsign Thank you to everyone who made this happen including @lilichin_art with the design and for fundraising to support our printing costs!

All photos by @ghawam.kouchaki The City of Industry—home to roughly 60 households and elections decided by dozens of votes—plays an outsized role in shaping industrial development across the San Gabriel Valley. With dozens of hazardous waste facilities already concentrated in one jurisdiction, the addition of data centers and battery storage raises serious concerns about cumulative impacts, infrastructure strain, and regional equity. This is not isolated development—it is part of a coordinated industrial corridor. Community residents lament living in a “sacrifice zone”—an area with concentrated health risks and increased exposure to environmental hazards, while reaping no benefit from a political geography that often means less political and social capital when compared with surrounding communities. How is this legal? Please submit complaints to Attorney General Rob Bonta (@agrobbonta ) and the environmental justice unit within his office. Our community says no to modern redlining and especially no to data centers and BESS projects in our community. We demand the dissolution of City of Industry and similar industrial cities. Our neighboring city of less than 300 residents cannot and must not continue to flout the law. Take action -> follow @nodatacenterssgvcoalition #CEQA #EnvironmentalJustice #SGV #LandUse #NoDataCentersSGV

We are being deprioritized. Maybe because of the lack of political concentration and power compared to LA… bc while other parts of LA get the resources to thrive. People here are being left underfed and underserved on purpose, and if we keep accepting that as normal, nothing changes. You don’t need to have everything figured out before you start. Clarity and connection is in the other side of that procrastination. The people of SGV cannot wait any longer

File under NEW ART, Earth Month 🌎 🌼🌿 In 2021, Nathan and I moved to South San Gabriel and we love our new home. This illustrated map shows the cities and larger unincorporated communities of the San Gabriel Valley, with local wildlife and many native plants. 75% of every sale will be donated to @sgvprogressiveaction to support them in their advocacy for our SGV communities and collective fight against AI data centers and battery energy storage systems (BESS). Buy: doggiedrawings.net/products/sgv-print (link in bio) Now also available at @matilijacollective in El Monte! Please share! #earthday #sgv #sangabrielvalley #fundraiser #illustratedmap

THURSDAY, APRIL 16th 6PM Coyotl + Macehualli Lending Library 3347 N. Eastern Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90032 Join in on our 2nd LAND DEFENSE CIRCLE in the @coyotl.macehualli Lending Library. The first 20 mins will be open for everyone to briefly share any land struggles on their radar. The rest of the circle will be focused on the case study presented by our guest speaker. This month we are highlighting SAN GABRIEL VALLEY PROGRESSIVE ACTION @sgvprogressiveaction and the fight against DATA CENTERS with guest speaker Andrew Yip. Andrew will speak about his work building community power in the San Gabriel Valley through SGV Progressive Action and Matilija Collective @matilijacollective , two grassroots efforts focused on civic engagement, cultural space, and community driven solutions. He will share insights from the ongoing fight against large scale data center development in the region, including the Monterey Park data center project and emerging proposals in the City of Industry. His talk will highlight how residents organized across cities, built coalitions, and successfully pushed for policy actions such as moratoriums, ordinance bans, and a voter ballot measure.The discussion will also explore the broader environmental, public health, and land use implications of data centers, and what this movement signals for the future of community led advocacy in the SGV. 🌿 ABOUT ANDREW YIP: Andrew Yip is a community organizer based in the San Gabriel Valley. He is a founder of SGV Progressive Action and serves as a coordinator for the No Data Centers SGV Coalition, where he works with residents and partner organizations to address large-scale industrial development and its impacts on local communities. He is also a leader with the National Parks Conservation Association’s Veterans Council, advancing engagement in conservation and public lands advocacy, and a co-founder of Matilija Collective, a volunteer-run community space in El Monte that brings people together through books, culture, and mutual aid. Snacks and drinks will be provided. La presentación será en inglés. Por favor avísenos lo más pronto posible si necesita interpretación.