Jersey City Council Rent Control Committee Kicks Off With Tenant-Centered Hearing

JERSEY CITY, NJ – Responding to Jersey City’s housing crisis, six members of the Jersey City Council will begin the hearings portion of a three-month Special Committee on Rent Control by spotlighting tenant and tenant-advocate stories this Thursday, September 19.

The committee, chaired by Councilwoman-at-Large Joyce Watterman and Councilperson James Solomon, will rewrite Jersey City’s rent control ordinance to better protect current and longtime Jersey City residents from displacement. Holding public hearings throughout the fall toward final legislation for consideration of all nine Council members by December, they will analyze expert research and testimony on local, state, and federal policy while listening to community stakeholders (landlords, tenants, community leaders, enforcement agents, and more) in order to arrive at a set of best practices keeping reasonably-priced housing within every Jersey City resident’s means.

“Over 70% of Jersey City residents are renters,” said Solomon, “and nearly half of them are already paying 30% or more of their income on rent alone. Almost a quarter pay more than 50% of their income to stay in their homes. We’re seeing a rapid increase in homelessness. The people of Jersey City can’t afford to wait – they’re being pushed out now, and they need protection now.”

He added, “Jersey City is made of its people, not the total number of pennies real estate interests can make off the highest bidders. Our community’s housing crisis is not just economic; it’s moral.”

The Rent Control Committee, chaired by Councilmembers Joyce Watterman and Solomon and comprised of Council President Rolando Lavarro, Councilmember Richard Boggiano, Councilmember Mira Prinz-Arey, and Councilmember Michael Yun, will hear testimony from tenants and tenant advocates at its next public meeting on Thursday, September 19 from 11:30 – 1:30 in the Jersey City Hall Caucus Room. Further committee hearings, all open to the public, will be held on October 2 and October 10. The committee welcomes public comment at 2019rentcontrolcommittee@jcnj.org.

James Solomon represents downtown Jersey City as the Ward E Councilperson. He’s focused on building a just city, with affordable housing and improved mass transit, bicycling, and pedestrian infrastructure. He is also an adjunct professor of political science at Saint Peter’s University, New Jersey City University, and Hudson County Community College.