DOWNTOWN PUBLIC SCHOOL PARENTS ENDORSE SOLOMON FOR REELECTION

Solomon Released An Education Plan That Would Improve And Build New Schools – All While Keeping Them Open While Calling For  All Teachers And School Staff To Be Vaccinated Against Covid-19

JERSEY CITY, NJ –  Building on the growing momentum and energy behind James Solomon, a group of public school parents endorsed his reelection today citing his record and vision for downtown schools. The parents included Cory and Chris Seminowicz from PS 5, Jennie Pu, Daisy Cameron and William Cameron from PS 32, Matt Hebert from PS 16, Judith Schteingart and Dan Ackman from McNair Academic High School and James Grimmelmann and Aislinn Black from PS 3. Solomon has recently put out a plan for downtown schools that aims to safely keep Jersey City’s schools open while building two new downtown elementary schools and ensuring they are fully funded. In addition, Solomon called for all teachers and school staff to be vaccinated against Covid-19, without the option of weekly testing.

James Solomon said: “If we want downtown to grow and be a place where families want to live, then we need to build new schools, ensure they are fully funded, and make sure they are high quality. It is an honor to be endorsed by fellow public school parents and I look forward to working with them and others to make sure our schools help our children grow and learn.”

Cory and Chris Seminowicz, PS 5 parents said:  “15 years ago, my husband and I made the decision to plant roots here in Jersey City and start a family. As the city continues to grow and change all around us, it becomes increasingly important to maintain a sense of community and balance – especially for my children. James has been a genuine ally in this department. He listens intently, always takes a very ‘solution-driven’ approach, and is unwavering when it comes to standing up for our best interests.”

Jennie Pu, PS 32 parent, said: “James has our backs because he understands first hand what it’s like raising a family in Jersey City. As a parent and policymaker, James understands the importance of quality public schooling for our city and has made improving public education a priority in his work as Ward E Councilperson.”

James Grimmelmann, PS 3 parent said: “James Solomon is working to preserve all the things that make downtown Jersey City such a great place to raise our kids: the diversity of people who live here, the walkable streets, the local businesses, and the vibrant neighborly community.”

Matt Hebert, PS 16 parent said: “I have definitely seen the level of public education, and the public school ratings increase in downtown Jersey City with James Solomon as councilman. My son will now be prepared for middle school following five years at PS 16.”

Judith Schteingart, McNair Academic High School parent said: “As a public school parent,  I have heard James advocate programs that put Jersey City’s students first. I know James will thoughtfully balance the needs of our city with the needs of students and families. We need James’s independent voice on our city council.

Solomon’s four-part plan includes:

1. Open Schools Safety in September: First and foremost, our public schools must reopen for in-person learning this September and must remain open for the full school year. To do that, Jersey City must require vaccinations for all teachers and all school staff. Full stop, with exceptions *only* for narrowly defined religious and health reasons. In addition, we must increase vaccination rates among eligible students using an array of incentives coupled with an aggressive education campaign.

2. Construct Two New Elementary Schools in Downtown: Building off the first new school construction in Ward E in decades, the PS 16 Annex, we need to complete construction of two new elementary schools in the next four years. In 2020, I put together the plan to build one at 1st and Manila Ave, which will seat up to 400 students. I will also work to get a second elementary school built in the Lackawanna neighborhood north of the Holland Tunnel. A new school in that area will reduce overcrowding at Cordero, and ensure students do not have to cross the Holland Tunnel access lanes on their way to school. In total, we will add more than 1,000 elementary school seats in downtown in the next four years.

3. High Quality Public Schools Through Sustainable Funding: The state of New Jersey cut Jersey City Public Schools’ budget by over $200M in the last three years, with more than $150M in cuts still on the way. We must address these devastating cuts without harming our children or property tax payers. To that, we must find new sources of revenue such as

   1. Share abatement revenue with Jersey City Public Schools, to ensure the taxes paid by big developers go to our public schools

   2. A tax on real estate speculators that either flip land. This “deed recordation tax,” modeled after Washington DC’s, would provide millions in new revenue.

   3. A tax on property owners that let land sit vacant. The tax would assess all vacant lots at their full value as if they had construction on them. This tax would encourage property owners to maintain and improve their lots instead of letting them sit in disrepair.

Work Proactively with the Board of Education (BoE): We need more accountability from the BoE to ensure our tax dollars are spent responsibly and transparently. To do this, we must ensure that there is clear, ongoing communication between the School Board, the City Council, and the public. The School Board and City Council must meet together quarterly, and empower the newly created joint committees to address the short-term and long-term challenges facing our schools. To guarantee transparency the School Board should provide a yearly report on how city tax dollars were spent, and the City Council should provide one on how real estate tax abatements impact school funding.