Jersey City Ward E Councilman James Solomon is continuing to target fellow mayoral candidate Jim McGreevey over having some of the same donors as President Donald Trump (R), finally prompting a lengthy response from the former governor last night.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“People across Jersey City, New Jersey, and the nation spent Trump’s 100th day calling him out his maliciousness – but not Jim McGreevey, who was probably too scared to annoy his MAGA donors,” Solomon said in a statement this morning.
“Jersey City has already been impacted by Trump, losing $2 million in already approved grants and federal funds, just because Trump and Elon Musk felt like it. In 100 days, Trump has done all he can to tank the economy, destroy our alliances, dismantle civil rights protections and undermine our democracy, which is why Jersey City deserves better than silence from MAGA Jim McGreevey.”
The downtown councilman has brought the fight to McGreevey every day this week over his fundraising tactics, beginning on Sunday when the New York Post reported that McGreevey has taken donations from over 200 donors who support Trump and other MAGA candidates.
While McGreevey responded to the Post, he ignored the follow-up attacks until last night, when he released a 602-word response to Solomon.
“The notion that I am aligned with MAGA Republicans is not only ridiculous—it is a deliberate misrepresentation. After more than 30 years of service in public, legislative, and executive roles, I have built strong, respectful relationships across party lines,” he said.
“That is not a weakness; it is a strength. As mayor, I will use those relationships to deliver real results for Jersey City, not to sow division. Working across the aisle does not mean compromising my values. I have always stood for equity, inclusion, and opportunity, and I will continue to do so.”
McGreevey has faced scrutiny for embracing Republican support back to the fall when Ocean County GOP Chair George Gilmore, who was pardoned by Trump for tax evasion, co-hosted a fundraiser for him in September, as HCV first reported.
The top fundraiser in the mayoral race thus far, McGreevey remains unapologetic about his approach and returned fire at Solomon for the first time.
“Mr. Solomon comes from a family with considerable wealth and owns a multi-million-dollar home. While financial success is not inherently disqualifying, it can create a significant disconnect from the lived experiences of working families, leading to policies that lack urgency, relevance, or impact,” he asserted.
“My work is grounded in direct engagement with residents who face sometimes devastating financial challenges every day, and that perspective informs every policy I pursue. Mr. Solomon has spent over two years developing a Right to Counsel ordinance to support renters, but it has yet to help a single tenant.”
The Jersey City Council approved the RTC initiative spearheaded by Solomon in June 2023 and just last week voted for development impact fees to fund affordable housing and RTC plans, which was presented as a multi-year effort that would not take full effect until 2026.
The non-partisan November 4th mayoral race will be to determine the successor to Mayor Steven Fulop, who is running for governor instead of seeking a fourth term.
Joining Solomon and McGreevey are Hudson County Commissioner Bill O’Dea (D-2), Council President Joyce Watterman, and former Board of Education President Mussab Ali.
