LETTER: Jersey City can be affordable and provide housing opportunities for all

In a letter to the editor, Jersey City Ward D council candidate Patrick Ambrossi lays out how he envisions the city being affordable with housing opportunities for everyone.

Dear Editor,

Jersey City is at a critical junction and on November 4, 2025 – people will need to make a choice. Will we work to improve our services, build a strong workforce, and educate our future leaders? Or will we become a city that is exclusively for those with big pockets?

If you want this city to be solely for millionaires, then I suggest implementing more restrictions on housing, decreasing the housing supply, and making it harder to build – We could be the San Fran of the East Coast.

Now, I believe we can be a city that focuses on building quality affordable rentals and increasing homeownership opportunities.

As a Ward D Council candidate, my housing plan isn’t just focused on affordable housing, but on housing and affordability for everyone.

My plan is split into three sections: 1) Creating an open, ethical and efficient government, 2) creating affordable housing, 3) Increasing housing supply.

1. 1. Creating an Open Ethical & Efficient Government
   2. a. Mandate that Planning & Zoning Board meetings be live streamed for all to view in real time. I believe that YOU are your best advocate and therefore have a right to stay informed. Ensuring residents can participate from home, or any place, will ensure that you stay on top of vital information.

b. Prohibit Planning & Zoning Commissioners from being on any municipal elected official’s payroll. Good government starts with fair, unbiased, and ethical decisions being made on your behalf. This is true for the City Council and should be true for important boards like Planning & Zoning.

c. Fully Fund the Right to Counsel office. At the moment this newly created office simply exists on paper. Without proper allocation of funds, it will simply be another lengthy line for our most vulnerable residents to wait on. I want to ensure that we are able to get people the help they need in dealing with gross rent increases, wrongful evictions, and more.

2) Creating Affordable Housing

a. Amend the Affordable Housing Overlay. The current AHO, while a good start, needs to be amended so that it can create more affordable housing in Ward D and throughout Jersey City. The current overlay leaves out much of our neighborhoods. As your next Ward D Councilman, I want to ensure we are creating diverse, mixed-income communities and keeping longtime residents in their community.

b. Ensure Affordable Housing Trust Fund Dollars are Allocated in Ward D. Creating affordable housing costs the same as creating market rate housing. We need to utilize any and all tools possible to greenlight these projects. The Affordable Housing Trust Fund is one of those tools that we have yet to see impact on Ward D. As Councilman, I will work to ensure we see our allotment of funds.

c. Prohibit the use of “junk” fees on rental units. The cost of rent is high – we shouldn’t allow for it to be made higher with unnecessary fees that only serve to create a barrier to quality housing. As Ward D Councilman, I will work day in and day out to ensure barriers to housing are taken down. That starts with fees such as Move-in fees, application fees, etc.

3) Increasing Housing Opportunities:

a. Re-evaluate our R-1 Zoning Regulations. Jersey City, like many cities, is facing a housing shortage and an affordability crisis.

As Ward D Councilman, I will lead the charge to abolish single family zoning. By increasing supply, we will see a decrease in rents and home prices – cities like Austin, TX, Charlotte, NC, and Minneapolis, MN have seen decreases in cost of housing due to much needed reform – it’s time for Jersey City to fully embrace these reforms.

I will also advocate for Single-Staircase reform for up to six stories. This will allow for the creation of housing units with more interior space that is efficient and perfect for families looking to grow in Jersey City.

b. Establish “Pre-Approved Building Sets” in partnership with Planning and the Community. While my firm belief is that we as a city need to build more housing supply, it is also my belief that communities need a seat at the table in how their community develops.

That is why as Ward D Councilman, I will work to legislate the creation of “Pre-Approved Building Sets” that will dictate the building types and styles that the community would like to see.

Working alongside the Div. of Planning and community organizations to hold specific visioning sessions and input from the community.

This will allow us to address our housing crisis, affordability, and density – while also ensuring that our community’s history and desires are respected.

This will ensure expedited variance approval, permitting, quicker build times, and cohesive design within Ward D and throughout Jersey City. Gone will be the days of the “Bayonne Boxes.”

C. Create a “Build JC” Program to encourage small homeowners to build, while also creating affordable housing. By partnering up homeowners with nonprofit developers – alongside federal and state grants – we can encourage the development of more housing units, keep longtime residents in their homes, and establish smaller scale affordable housing units.

Combining our “Pre-Approved Building Sets,” our zoning reform, and “Build JC” we will be able to meet our demand for housing, give opportunities to others that are not developers, and build quality homes for everyone.

Jersey City is America’s Golden Door. We are a community of immigrants, laborers, and artisans.

We can maintain this spirit and march toward progress by staying laser focused on addressing our housing supply issues.

As a lifelong resident, a graduate of our public schools, and an active member of our community, I want solutions for you and your family. I hope to have your support in becoming the next Ward D City Councilperson.

Your Friend,

Patrick Ambrossi
Ward D City Council Candidate