Ron Greco, President, of the Jersey City Education Association, said the City’s municipal short
term rental ordinance “just makes sense”. “Providing a safe and effective learning environment
for our students and staff is our main goal as an association, including safe passage portal to
portal,” said Greco. Many of our students walk to school on a daily basis and the sense of
community that makes Jersey City exceptional is evident in no greater way than in the neighbors
who provide an extra layer of safety to our children on that commute. Adding thousands of
strangers across the city through short term rentals greatly increases risks to the well-being of our students.

The impact short term rentals has had on inflating the cost of living for our average member has
also created a hardship. Many of our young teachers and paraprofessionals are on fixed incomes
and are struggling to afford the escalating rents caused by the explosion of short term rentals in
Jersey City. Having our members live within the school neighborhoods fosters a greater sense of
community, thereby enriching the Jersey City Public Schools as a whole. The proposed
ordinance, as we view it, is not a ban on short term rentals, but merely a mechanism for greater
accountability. On behalf of the educators of the Jersey City Education Association, I hope you
will consider voting “YES” to Question 1 on November 5th.

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