The City of Linden extends warm wishes to all residents and families celebrating Rosh Hashanah. We wish you and your loved ones a happy, healthy, and sweet new year filled with peace, happiness, and new opportunities.
LINDEN, N.J., September 14, 2026 – Mayor Derek Armstead and the Linden City Council today announced plans to introduce an ordinance prohibiting AI data centers in all zoning districts throughout the City of Linden.
As data centers expand across the United States, Linden officials are taking action to protect the community from large-scale developments that can place substantial demands on local electricity and water systems while contributing to pollution, noise, and greenhouse gas emissions.
“In the City of Linden, we take the time to do our homework,” Mayor Derek Armstead said. “After a comprehensive review of the potential environmental, infrastructure, and quality-of-life impacts, we concluded that this type of development is not right for our city.”
“Our City Council has investigated this issue carefully, and for many of us, it was important to take a definitive stand,” Council President Michele Yamakaitis said. “The clearest way to communicate that AI data centers are not appropriate for Linden is to adopt an ordinance that expressly prohibits them.”
Growing Demand for Energy and Water
Rapid AI growth is accelerating energy and water demands. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, data centers consumed 4.4% of U.S. electricity in 2023, a figure projected to reach 6.7% to 12% by 2028.
Globally, a 2026 United Nations University report estimated data center consumption in 2025 at 448 terawatt-hours of electricity, generating 189 million metric tons of CO2 emissions and consuming 4.5 trillion liters of water. These national and global figures do not predict the impact of any particular facility in Linden. However, city officials said they illustrate the scale of the infrastructure and environmental demands associated with the industry’s continued growth.
Climate Risks Require Local Action
Global temperature is normally measured against the 1850-1900 preindustrial baseline, rather than by calculating a percentage increase since 2000. Scientific assessments indicate that the planet has already warmed by approximately 1.3°C, or 2.3°F, above preindustrial levels. Under current government policies, the United Nations has warned that warming could reach approximately 3.1°C, or 5.6°F, by 2100 – not that the world is on track to prevent 3.6 degrees of warming. “Climate change is an existential threat that affects every community,” Sixth Ward Councilman Eloy Javier Delgado said. “Preventing AI data centers from being developed in Linden is one way to avoid adding to the problem. It also sends a strong signal to state and national leaders that we need to pause, evaluate the consequences, and protect both our environment and public safety.”
City officials emphasized that rising global temperatures increase the risks associated with extreme heat, heavy precipitation, coastal flooding, drought, and other severe weather events. The proposed ordinance is intended to complement Linden’s broader efforts to protect residents, preserve local resources, and plan responsibly for future development.
Youth Climate Advocates Join the Discussion
During the city’s review, Commissioner Brianna Armstead connected local officials with the Climate Action Revolution Network, a New Jersey youth climate advocacy organization, so that its members could share their research and perspective. “I believed it was important for our local officials to connect with the Climate Action Revolution Network and hear directly from young people who will live with the long-term consequences of today’s decisions,” Commissioner Armstead said. “It was powerful to see city officials engage with a youth organization committed to protecting the only home we have – planet Earth.”
The proposed ordinance prohibiting AI data centers throughout Linden will be introduced at the September 15, 2026, City Council meeting. For more information, please contact the Mayor’s Office at (908) 474-8493.
If you are a graduate of the Linden High School Class of 2020 who participated in the City of Linden Airport Graduation ceremony during COVID, Mayor Derek Armstead would love the opportunity to reunite with you and see how you are doing today.
The City of Linden has always been committed to celebrating our young people. We are exploring the possibility of hosting a special reunion event in the Spring or Summer of 2027 to commemorate this historic moment.
To move forward with planning, we are seeking at least 100 graduates or more from the Class of 2020 who are interested in attending. This was a once-in-a-lifetime event for you, your families, and our entire city, and we hope you’ll join us in celebrating the journey you’ve taken since graduation.
If you have any questions, please email here to contact Mayor Derek Armstead.
Linden TV’s major system upgrades are now fully live, making Linden TV more accessible than ever before.
Both Linden TV channels, Verizon 42 and Comcast 36, are fully operational with updated programming and enhanced viewing capabilities.
Residents no longer require a traditional cable subscription to stay connected with City programming and community information. Instead, residents may now access Linden TV programming in multiple ways!
Residents can watch in real time from their phones, tablets, or computers.
These upgrades represent a major step forward in expanding public accessibility, transparency, and community engagement through modern digital platforms. Further expansion plans are already underway, including future availability of Linden TV on platforms such as Roku and Amazon, which will further increase the reach and convenience of City programming.
The City of Linden is pleased to offer a special garbage pickup service for our Jewish residents in preparation for Passover. We understand the importance of removing all leavened products (chametz) from the home before the holiday begins. To help make this tradition a little easier, a designated collection form is now available.
Former Linden Council President Myles J. Hergert, 92, of Forked River, New Jersey, passed away peacefully on March 3, 2026, surrounded by his family. He was born on July 1, 1933, in Elizabeth, New Jersey to Louis and Emilie (Rapasky) Hergert. Myles – affectionately known as “Mickey” in his youth – was a man whose life was defined by an unwavering commitment to faith, family, and hard work. Click here to read the full obituary.
As per Ordinance Number 60-4, Linden residents are normally required to remove snow from sidewalks within six (6) hours after any snowfall.
Due to the magnitude of the February 23rd blizzard, Mayor Derek Armstead has announced that this ordinance will not be enforced until Wednesday morning, February 25, 2026. This will give residents an additional twenty four (24) hours to ensure that all snow is properly removed from sidewalks.
Due to the inclement weather, City Hall will have a two-hour delayed opening, and will open at 11am EST.
Mayor Derek Armstead, in cooperation with Linden Public Schools, will open municipal and school parking lots to help residents with parking challenges during the Monday, February 23, 2026 Winter Storm.
Beginning at 12pm on Sunday, February 22, 2026, Linden residents may park their vehicles in the following locations free of charge.
Parking is available in MARKED PARKING SPACES ONLY on a first come – first served basis. VEHICLES MUST BE REMOVED FROM THESE AREAS WITHIN 4 HOURS AFTER SNOW STOPS. Vehicles that are not removed in accordance with guidance will be towed at the owners expense.
This is a potentially historic storm, and your cooperation is essential to our efforts during and following the storm.
Our Public Works crews continue their critical recovery efforts from the recent storm. The safety of our children is our top priority. Crews are currently focused on clearing all school zones, including:
Our teams are concurrently widening intersections, beginning with Wood Avenue, to improve traffic flow and visibility.
Once all school zones are secure, we will shift our full efforts to clearing snow from residential street corners and intersections across the City to ease congestion for all drivers.
We have already addressed snow removal operations at the John T Gregorio Center (JTG) on 330 Helen Street, and the Linden Multipurpose Center (LMPC) building located at 1026 John Street. Snow removal operations at the Police Athletic League (PAL) building located at 400 Maple Avenue are currently underway.
To assist our crews and ensure a full recovery, please park in driveways whenever possible. We also remind residents not to shovel or discard snow into the street, as this creates hazards and impedes plowing and snow removal operations.
We thank you for your patience as our teams work diligently to restore safe conditions citywide. Please continue to exercise caution when traveling. For urgent non-emergency issues, please contact the Department of Public Works at (908) 474-8666.