Whittier approves temporary moratorium on data centers

Fox - LA
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Oct 31, 2026
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The battle against data centers
is going full speed ahead here in California with Prop 45,
but also in smaller communities like Whittier,
where city leaders just approved a temporary
moratorium against not only data centers,
but other types of businesses. Fox 11's Christina
Gonzalez live now in Whittier to explain what it all means. Christina.
Yeah, it's a temporary ban because
they want time to be able to come
up with something more permanent.
And aside from data centers,
it does also target things like car
washes and massage parlors.
But data centers is the big talk
right now, listen.
Are you concerned about data
centers?
Absolutely.
I'm very, very, very concerned.
She is in Whittier where council members have just approved
a 45 day moratorium on data
center permits.
The federal government right now is very much pushing data centers
and the state didn't
take an action.
They could have taken an action
in this legislative session and they did not.
So to limit or to regulate data centers being developed.
It was just thrust upon us.
Data centers are on the minds of people beyond
those braving the rain at the Whittier's farmer market.
Californians are about to vote on Proposition 45,
which could streamline approval for building data centers,
along with housing and hospitals.
Cities like Whittier are not waiting to see the vote outcome.
We don't need.
Data centers, car washes, massage parlors.
Now in Whittier, the 45-day moratorium
also extends to detention centers,
massage parlors, and car washes, which seem to be a problem.
In District 1, we have three car washes.
Why do we need so many car washes?
I mean, how many car washes do you need in the city? It's ridiculous.
There's quite a few car washes, yes.
Are people not happy with so many car washes?
Uh, I'm not.
How many car wash, well, just how many car washes do you need?
I think it's a good thing to have
car washes for someone busy like me who can just take
my car.
What about the car wash jobs,
he asks.
But back to the data centers and Proposition 45.
I'm seeing the signs against them all over,
but no personal feelings one way or
the other.
Now, this is definitely a regional thing.
Other cities like, I was looking at Baldwin Park, Commerce,
Montebello, they have done the same thing with data centers.
And actually, Monterey Park is one of the first cities
in the whole country to ban data centers permanently.
But they actually did it through a voter-approved ballot measure.
We'll see what ends up happening here.
Live in Whittier, I'm Christina Gonzalez.
Back to you in the studio.
