Hudson County commissioner candidate Ron Bautista (D-5) is calling for a countywide right-to-counsel, as well as building affordable housing on county-owned land via a Nonprofit Apartment Trust Fund as part of his housing platform.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“We can make Hudson County affordable for all of us, we just need to use the power we have to look out for each other,” Bautista said in a statement.
“My housing plan calls for new affordable housing units built on county-owned land and a comprehensive approach to homelessness that puts housing first. Hudson County is for all of us, and that’s exactly what I’m fighting for.”
Bautista, the consensus pick for commissioner in the 5th District with no opposition on either side of the aisle, says a countywide RTC would be possible with the creation of a County Tenant Legal Defense Fund.
The Jersey City Council approved an RTC initiative spearheaded by then-Ward E Councilman James Solomon, now the mayor, in June 2023, while Hoboken Mayor Emily Jabbour is establishing a similar Office of Public Counsel, both as HCV first reported.
As for the Nonprofit Apartment Trust Fund, a community land trust, would help to build permanently affordable homes, as well as preserve existing affordable apartment buildings.
With the exception of the 9th District, the Hudson County commissioner races will all be decided in the June 2nd Democratic primary, since the other eight candidates are running unopposed.
Oh boy…..I can see it now. Another office with staff and equipment and a travel budget – and PENSIONS!! Please stop and first try to figure out who should be doing this kind of work today — then RE-DEPLOY assets to do this handle it.. Not saying this is a bad idea – but let’s be sure to think it all the way through before we begin digging holes and hiring people.