Steven Kung
for Monterey Park City Council
We caught a glimpse of what we can achieve in Monterey Park. Now it’s time to meet the moment.
Why I’m Running
When I moved to Monterey Park in 2022, it felt like a homecoming…
I’d been visiting family in the SGV since I was a kid, and I was excited to become a part of a vibrant multicultural community. But I was also a bit unsure of how my husband and I would be received. During our first walk along the Edison Trail, our elderly Chinese neighbors greeted us warmly. A few days later, one of the original residents of the neighborhood presented us with homemade Irish soda bread. It was such a powerful experience to feel we belonged.
When the construction of a data center jeopardized the very livability of our neighborhood, we answered the call to action with courage, creativity, and a tireless work ethic. Winning the data center battle by a landslide made me dream of all the other things we could accomplish with this momentum: enhance the walkability of the city, build more housing, revitalize our downtown, and develop Saturn Park into the neighborhood hub we want it to be.
And so, I waited for a new candidate to run for city council, but what happened instead were neighbors nudging me to run. I met this with skepticism. I’d never imagined myself a politician. But then I started to realize that people already saw me as a community leader, and it behooved us to amplify our voices as far as we could, even if it meant a seat on the city council. From there, I could continue to advocate for our community and make an impact. I’m running for city council because I… you… we all love Monterey Park enough to take responsibility for it.
Yours,
Steven
We need a leader we can trust.
Vinh Ngo pushed for the data center.
Watch the truth.
Press Releases
Press Releases
LA Taco - SGV Organizers Step Up to Stop Data Centers By Running Against the Politicians Who Failed Them
A 20-year-old Occidental College student and a florist from Rowland Heights are part of a new crop of political challengers arising in the San Gabriel Valley and they are prepared to give data centers hell.
The Guardian - They fought against datacenters. Now they are running for local offices
Across the US, anti-datacenter organizers are harnessing community anger to win local elections
Pasadena Star-News - They championed the fight against a Monterey Park data center. Now they’re running for office. Anti-data center organizers Steven Kung and Amy J. Wong are running for office on the November ballot, fueled by momentum from their fights against data centers in L.A. County.
Capital & Main - San Gabriel Valley Residents Fighting Data Centers Hit a 12-Mile-Long Snag.
Community groups opposed to the projects face a tough adversary in the City of Industry, an economic powerhouse seemingly unaccountable to surrounding residents.
Bloomberg - Data Center Opposition Spawns a Surge of First-Time Candidates
Activists who cut their teeth fighting data center projects in their towns are now riding a wave of AI tech pushback to seek office in local elections.
As a Council Member, my commitments are:
Boost Our Local Economy
Support the local small businesses that make Monterey Park so special.
Revitalize Monterey Park’s commercial centers and downtown.
Accountability & Transparency
City government should work for residents, not around them.
That means true engagement and genuine dialogue with the people who live here.
Keep Our Neighborhoods Healthy
No pollution. No noise. Invest in Monterey Park as a safe, vibrant, and walkable city for all residents.
