A newly filed lawsuit accuses Howell Township officials of abusing their power to push discriminatory housing policies and even directing surveillance of a Jewish family’s home in an effort to force them out, according to court documents filed Friday in Monmouth County Superior Court.
The 62-page complaint, brought by Deputy Township Manager Matthew Howard, paints a picture of a local government consumed by bias and political retaliation. Howard alleges that Mayor John Leggio, Councilman Ian Nadel, Township Clerk Diane Festino, and Councilwoman Susan Fischer advanced unconstitutional measures targeting immigrants, minorities, and Jewish residents — and retaliated against him when he refused to enforce their demands.
One of the most striking claims involves a home on Michelle Boulevard, identified by Nadel as being “owned by Jews.” According to the complaint, Nadel pressed Howard to send a code enforcement officer to stake out the property on Friday nights, when he knew residents were hosting a Shabbos minyan.
If attendees stayed overnight, Nadel allegedly planned to classify it as “illegal occupancy” and issue summonses to force evictions. Howard refused, citing constitutional protections of religious practice and noting that similar tactics had already been deemed unlawful in neighboring Jackson.
The lawsuit details a broader scheme of discriminatory ordinances and directives, including proposals to:
- Require tenants to show proof of U.S. citizenship or residency before obtaining Certificates of Occupancy.
- Revoke rental licenses based on arrests or even repeated police calls to an address.
- Monitor recycling bins for Modelo beer bottles as a proxy for identifying undocumented residents.
Howard claims these measures were explicitly designed to drive out immigrants, Hispanics, and other minority residents.
Howard, a longtime township employee who also serves as Director of Land Use and Community Development, says that when he and then-Township Manager Joseph Clark objected to the policies, he became the target of a campaign of retaliation.
According to the suit, officials falsely implied he was responsible for a June 2025 homicide, excluded him from executive sessions, and bypassed him for acting manager in favor of Festino — allegedly in violation of township ordinances and legal advice from Howell’s labor counsel.
Howard describes a hostile work environment where he was frozen out of projects, berated at council meetings, and smeared online, leaving him with stress, health problems, and fear for his family’s safety.
Filed under New Jersey’s Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA), the lawsuit seeks reinstatement of Howard’s full duties, back pay, compensatory and punitive damages, and sweeping reforms, including mandatory anti-retaliation and anti-discrimination training for township officials.
“Rather than uphold their oaths of office and comply with the law, Defendants sought to impose ordinances that would weaponize housing regulations to punish individuals based on their ethnicity, immigration status, and/or perceived national origin,” the complaint states.
The full lawsuit can be read by clicking here.
Why doesn’t the state look into all the illegal things that are happening in Howell and Jackson Township. LLCS buying up all the houses, zoning laws being changed to accommodate the building of Jewish Temples, so called houses of worship being built in the middle of resident areas, illegals in many of the houses in Jackson. Let’s stop all the nonsense of so called discrimination. Both townships are being ruined by laws for one party and not the other. Everyone knows this and this is why everyone is moving to other states and areas! Someone is making alot of money and its not the residents. Not to mention the increases in property taxes to pay for all this.This other nonsense with all the affordable housing complexes being built is ridiculous. How many murders, robberies, car thefts. car accidents have been increasing over the last 5 years. Look what just happened at the paragon apts in Jackson. Sound familiar?
Nadine you are 100% correct!! I live in Lakewood in a neighborhood owned by the orthodox and occupied by migrants. Rents are crazy so there are 10 or 20 living in a three-bedroom house. If the migrant is talented they use services rendered toward rent or the wives become nanny’s or house keepers. Can’t say a word without the antisemitism flag popping up. There are three schools on my block and traffic is like the parkway south Fridays. We are minorities without a voice.
Our local officials don’t want to hear from tax paying citizens regarding the problems we are encountering with this religious group. They think they are above the law and will throw out the antisemitism card every chance they get. But get this it is not your religion rather your behavior. We have lived in these community far longer than you and we deserve respect.
I agree Deborah that just it and at the end of the day it’s not being given. Our community is being compromised for the sake of a buck and religious beliefs that shouldn’t even be coming into play in these communities my church isn’t in a residential area nor should anyone else’s compromise your religion not our community that we have been here forever. Loading up these rental property’s compromising the safety and quality of life of the neighborhood it’s ridiculous and should be stopped at any means and for those who think it is okay move out to West Virginia or somewhere were they have plenty of space and do your nonsense out there we had enough of it here
Nadine, Deborah and Ben…….you are all 100% correct. The suit shows only one narrative. Is Matt Howard on another payroll? 🤔