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Council Member Dan Lopez urges residents to oppose Proposition 50, warns of split districts
Summary
Council Member Dan Lopez urged Montclair residents to vote against Proposition 50, arguing the measure would split cities and dilute minority voting power in the region and urged residents to review the redistricting maps.
Council Member Dan Lopez used his floor time Nov. 8 to urge Montclair residents to oppose Proposition 50, saying the measure’s proposed congressional maps would split cities and dilute the voting power of minority communities.
"It is nothing short of a dastardly attempt to minimize and dilute the voting power of minority groups," Lopez said, arguing that the Inland Empire and San Gabriel Valley communities would be carved into multiple congressional districts. He said Montclair — a city of fewer than 40,000 residents, he noted — should remain united in one district and warned that the proposed changes would place parts of the city in different districts where residents’ interests could be drowned out.
Lopez cited other cities that have been divided and named a coalition of organizations he said oppose Prop 50, including Community Repower Movement, National Diversity Coalition, United Latinos Action and several business and senior groups. He told residents to "look at the maps" before voting and described his remarks as a civic appeal rather than a council action.
There was no council motion or formal action tied to Lopez’s statement during the meeting. No council member moved to place the issue on a future agenda during this session; Lopez framed his remarks as an exhortation to voters and encouraged civic participation ahead of the ballot decision.
