This will be the last thing I say online about the letter I signed in September 2025. I understand why people have questions, and I've done my best to answer them openly and honestly.
Yes, I read the letter before I signed it. I signed it based on the information I had at the time and what I believed I was supporting. Over the months that followed, I continued to learn more about data centers, listened to residents, asked more questions, visited another community, and spent a great deal of time researching the issues that matter most to Harlingen. As my understanding evolved, so did my position.
This wasn't an overnight change.
For months, I've consistently shared updates on this page about data centers, the concerns I've developed, and the work we were doing. Before the moratorium was ever adopted, I told you publicly that I intended to pursue one. Then we did. None of that was done quietly. It was all shared with you along the way because I believe transparency matters.
When I realized that the September 2025 letter no longer reflected my position, I withdrew it. Not because I had to, but because it was the right thing to do. I've also seen claims that my signature somehow approved a data center or committed Harlingen to one. It did not. It was a letter of support, not a permit, not a contract, not a vote, and not a Commission action. The proposed site is outside our city limits and outside the City's jurisdiction.
What I have learned through this process is that one of the biggest decisions local governments make on projects like these is whether to provide public incentives. That's where communities have meaningful leverage. I've been clear that I would not support a City tax abatement for a data center, and I would not support Cameron County providing one either. Those are the decisions that truly shape the future of a community.
At the end of the day, I hope people judge me by my record, not one letter from nearly a year ago. Judge me by the conversations I've had with this community. Judge me by the fact that I told you I wanted a moratorium before it happened. Judge me by the work I've done, the questions I've asked, and the position I've taken after months of research and listening.
Whether you agree with me or not, I respect your right to ask questions and hold me accountable. That's part of public service, and I welcome it.
This will be my last post on this topic. If you'd like to continue the conversation, I genuinely invite you to come talk with me in person. I'll be announcing my next Coffee with the Mayor soon, and I hope you'll join me. I'm always willing to listen, answer questions, and have respectful conversations face to face.
Thank you, Harlingen.
Editor’s Note: The above op-ed was penned by Harlingen Mayor Norma Sepulveda, It first appeared on the author’s social media platforms on July 18, 2026.
