By Robert Haugh
Santa Clara Councilmember and mayoral candidate Karen Hardy has made opposition to data centers a major campaign issue.
But her proposals raise an obvious question: Did she do her homework?
Start with Hardy’s proposed moratorium on new data centers.
In a September 18 campaign press release, Hardy warned of an “AI infrastructure crisis” and announced an “emergency data center moratorium.”
There’s a problem.
Santa Clara has effectively stopped accepting new data-center power applications already.
At the October 6 City Council study session, City Manager Jovan Grogan said Silicon Valley Power hasn’t accepted new data-center applications since 2023 because it lacks sufficient electrical capacity.
Grogan also said Santa Clara hasn’t approved a new data center since 2023.
The City’s own staff report confirms the power constraints.
Whoops.
Then there’s Hardy’s proposed ban on nondisclosure agreements (NDAs).
In the same press release, Hardy called her proposal a pioneering effort to stop secret agreements between City officials and data-center developers.
Apparently, Hardy and her campaign team forgot to check state law.
By the time Hardy announced her proposal, Senate Bill 994 had passed both houses of the California Legislature unanimously.
Governor Gavin Newsom signed it September 27. The law, effective January 1, 2027, prohibits local officials and employees from signing certain NDAs that prevent them from sharing public-business information with their governing bodies.
Double whoops.
And there’s more.
Hardy’s press release claimed her two ordinances were scheduled for their “first formal reading” on October 6.
Wrong.
The City Council agenda identified them as requests for future discussions. They weren’t ordinances receiving a first reading.
Triple whoops.
This isn’t the first time Hardy’s campaign claims have raised questions about fact-checking.
In 2024, SCNO reported that Hardy used former Police Chief Donald “Manny” Ferguson in a campaign advertisement supporting Measure B.
Ferguson had been dead for 11 years.
The same advertisement identified former Police Chief Frank Vasquez as a supporter, although he opposed Measure B.
Another former chief, Charles Arolla, said Hardy used his photo and words without authorization, despite his opposition to the measure.
Now Hardy is running for mayor with proposals that raise new questions about her research.
Hardy is a high school teacher. Teachers expect students to research their assignments, check their facts, and understand the material.
But in her mayoral campaign, Hardy is setting a bad example for her students.
On Sept 18 there was a report on NBC Bay Area that the Niners opened the “Elevate Club” an exclusive speakeasy type bar in the space where they used to have stadium operations employees who they moved out to rented space. So they want the Stadium Authority to pay their rent for the employees that they moved. The Stadium Lease already allocated space for their employees at the Stadium. Now they want Santa Clara to effectively subsidize the new club by paying for offsite rented space. We have to elect a council that will stand up to this nonsense.
She seems to be running a stealth campaign as I have not seen any advertisements for her around the city.
Santa Clara should start charging an energy and water access fee to all data centers, starting at $1 million annually. This would be prorated higher based on usage. If they don’t like it they can get the hell out.
Also residential electric rates should have a 10 year moratorium on rate increases. Let the data centers and big tech pay for any future needs to increase rates or build out the grid.