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Residents clash over campaign mailer and renew allegations tied to Councilman Lopez lawsuit
Summary
Public commenters at the Montclair City Council accused and defended Councilman Ben Lopez over a campaign mailer and repeated allegations that led to past investigations; the city attorney said the city settled with two plaintiffs and has filed a cross-complaint seeking reimbursement, with trial set for mid-2025.
Public criticism over a campaign mailer and renewed allegations about conduct by Councilman Ben Lopez dominated a lengthy public-comment period at Monday's Montclair City Council meeting.
A speaker who identified only as Alex said an "independent inspection investigation" had found that Lopez sexually harassed two city employees in 2022 and argued the city had spent "nearly $1 million" to resolve claims. "It is deeply troubling that Mr. Lopez decided to run for reelection," the speaker said, urging voters to hold officials accountable.
Another public speaker, Kayla Alvarez, urged residents to reject the mailer and voiced support for Lopez, calling the ad "shameful" and asking the community to stop personal attacks.
City Attorney (speaking during a later council discussion) provided a procedural update on the litigation: the city has settled with two plaintiffs named in the record and is no longer a defendant in those parts of the lawsuits. The city has filed a cross-complaint against Lopez seeking reimbursement for settlement and defense costs; the two plaintiffs' claims against Lopez remain pending. The attorney said prior public materials and an agenda report had calculated city costs "somewhere in excess of $700,000," and that the court has consolidated related cases for efficiency with trial set for mid-2025.
Councilmembers and city staff did not adjudicate the factual claims made during public comment; the attorney's description details only the city’s legal posture: settlement with two plaintiffs, a still-pending cross-complaint against Lopez, and continuing litigation with an anticipated trial date in 2025.
The public-comment exchange highlighted sharp divisions in the community: speakers at the meeting both accused Lopez of misconduct and defended his service record. City officials said they will follow court schedules for further public updates related to the litigation.
Next procedural step: the court has consolidated related cases and the matter is set for trial in mid-2025, according to the city attorney’s statement at the meeting.
