Jersey City Mayoral Candidates James McGreevey and James Solomon Discuss Affordability, Education, and Transit

Addressing Jersey City's Affordability Crisis

• 💡 James McGreevey proposes designating a percentage of market-rate housing for affordable and workforce housing, upzoning for senior and workforce housing with houses of worship, and reclaiming distressed properties.
• 🔑 He commits to creating a thousand units of senior citizen housing and a thousand units of affordable housing within his first four years.
• 🎯 James Solomon emphasizes demanding developers build 20% affordable housing in large new projects, stating he is the only candidate not taking developer donations.
• 💰 Solomon plans to cap rents and stabilize property taxes, citing a 50% increase in property taxes over five years as a major concern for residents.
• 🏠 Both candidates agree on the need for affordable housing, with Solomon highlighting the success of inclusionary zoning ordinances.

Transportation and Infrastructure Improvements

• 🚀 McGreevey advocates for rebuilding the Journal Square PATH station in cooperation with the Port Authority and improving light rail and bus rapid transit.
• 🚗 Solomon proposes implementing bus lanes on Kennedy Boulevard for Bus Rapid Transit, acknowledging potential driver resistance but stressing the need for reliable bus service for the 40% of residents without cars.
• 🅿️ Both candidates discuss parking permits, with Solomon suggesting exploring resident-only parking similar to Hoboken's system.
• 🚆 Solomon prioritizes transit investment, including improving PATH weekend service and New Jersey Transit bus routes, as his number one ask of a future governor.

Education Reform in Jersey City

• 📚 McGreevey identifies critical issues in Jersey City's public schools, with only 10% of 8th graders passing state math assessments and 37% of third graders reading at grade level.
• 🍎 He plans to collaborate with the Board of Education to set and achieve objectives, emphasizing the need for early childhood literacy and phonics-based instruction.
• 🧑‍🏫 McGreevey stresses shifting funds from administration to classrooms and making teacher training in phonics mandatory.
• 📈 Solomon, a parent with children in Jersey City public schools, aims to gain a majority on the Board of Education to implement changes in literacy and absenteeism.
• 🧑‍🎓 Solomon supports charter schools provided they are held accountable for matching public school demographics and advocates for vocational and job training programs, including a thousand new summer jobs.

Candidate Backgrounds and Vision

• 🏛️ McGreevey highlights his experience as a former governor and mayor, emphasizing his ability to manage budgets and secure grants, and his desire to give back to his birthplace.
• 🌱 Solomon emphasizes his decade of experience in re-entry work, seeing government from the perspective of those most in need, and his commitment to systemic change.
• 🤝 McGreevey acknowledges his past resignation as governor due to being in the closet, stating it profoundly changed his worldview and made him a more compassionate human being.
• 🌟 Solomon's vision includes building thousands of affordable homes, stabilizing budgets, and delivering effective city services, aiming to foster a stronger sense of community.

Other Key Issues

• 💡 McGreevey proposes community solar projects on public buildings to supplement the grid and lower electricity costs for working families.
• 🏳️ Solomon affirms Jersey City will remain a sanctuary city and pledges to fight against federal efforts to undermine this policy.
• 🛴 Both candidates address the issue of e-bikes, with McGreevey suggesting licensing and registration, and Solomon proposing a similar approach with potential taxation.
• 🤝 McGreevey praises outgoing Mayor Steve Fulop's downtown development but aims to focus on development across all of Jersey City, prioritizing affordability.
• 🏗️ Solomon highlights the success of the Bayfront project as a model for mixed-income development and aims to continue such initiatives.