Rage against the machine: a California community rallied against a datacenter – and won

Here's something that’ll make you smile — when a small California community, Monterey Park, took on a giant tech project and actually won. So, last December, the city council proposed building a massive datacenter — think four football fields — right there in their neighborhood. But here’s where it gets interesting. According to Claire Wang in The Guardian, a handful of residents didn’t just shrug — they launched a fierce, word-of-mouth campaign to stop it. And get this — by spreading the word and rallying their neighbors, they raised enough awareness to turn the tide. Now, here's where it gets even more compelling — this isn’t just about one city’s fight. Claire notes that Monterey Park drew inspiration from other US communities successfully pushing back against tech giants. It shows that even small groups can stand up to big corporations if they’re organized and passionate enough. So what does this mean for you? It’s a reminder that collective action can sometimes beat the odds — and sparks hope for other communities facing similar battles.