JERSEY CITY, NJ – Highlighting another glaring example of Jersey City losing affordable housing because of Airbnb, a group of more than 100 elected officials, housing and social justice groups, and Jersey City residents will rally Thursday morning outside a rent-controlled building where units have been regularly listed full-time for short-term rentals on the Airbnb platform by a New York landlord.

Speakers will decry the conversion of Jersey City homes, including affordable housing units, into full-time hotels in traditional residential areas. To date, 2,651 Airbnb listings in Jersey City have taken away needed housing and driven up rents.

The rally is taking place less than two weeks before the Nov. 5 elections during which Jersey City voters will decide on a ballot question to create tougher regulations on short-terms rentals offered by online platforms like Airbnb.

WHAT: Rally against conversion of rent-controlled housing to full-time short-term rentals

WHEN: Thursday, October 24th, at 10:30am

WHERE: 278 Barrow Street, Jersey City, New Jersey.

WHO:

• Jersey City Councilmember James Solomon
• Jersey City Councilmember Mira Prinz-Arey
• Sue Altman, State Director, New Jersey Working Families Alliance
• Staci Berger, President and CEO, Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey
• Representatives from Jersey City Together
• Dozens of Jersey City residents