Jersey City activist Jake Ephros will run for the Ward D council seat with the support of the local Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) chapters in next year’s contest.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“Jersey City should work for working people,” Ephros, who works as a labor union organizer for healthcare workers throughout New Jersey and New York, said in a statement.
“Our city has failed to support tenants fighting illegal rent hikes, stand up to corporate developers, fully fund and resource our schools, and—despite the cost of property taxes—deliver the public services we deserve like affordable transit and mental health crisis response. It’s time we stand up and take on the big business interests that bank on dividing us.”
Ephros is endorsed by the DSA in North New Jersey and Hudson County, which organize locally for economic and social causes, and for political power independent of the Democratic and Republican parties’ corporate backers.
The Jersey City Right-to-Counsel Coalition, founded by DSA organizers and led by Ephros, was successful in expanding tenants rights just over a year ago.
“As a democratic socialist, I believe housing is a human right, not some commodity for profit. Our campaign got legislation passed in City Hall, making sure renters can receive free legal services and defense in housing court to fight unfair evictions,” he continued, adding that he himself is a renter.
“We organized tenants across the city so that developers will be the first to pay up, bringing in millions to our city’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund every year. Now we need to set up Right to Counsel with full funding, enforce and expand rent control, and build dignified social housing.”
Ephros further stated that his campaign seeks to build on, represent, and empower this kind of movement work, from labor organizing, to tenant organizing, to the local movement for a ceasefire in Gaza, “where our tax dollars are spent on senseless weapons of war.”
For the moment, the only other declared candidate in Ward D is the incumbent, Councilman Yousef Saleh. When asked why he felt he deserved to be challenged, he said machine politics aren’t working for Heights residents.
“I am running to challenge a political establishment that hasn’t delivered for working people in Jersey City. It’s time to deal with skyrocketing rent, underfunded schools, and lacking public services,” he told HCV in an email.
“We saw clearly on Tuesday that voters in our community are tired of the same old machine politics, and we deserve more than politicians who weigh the interests of corporate developers over the interests of ordinary working people. I’m excited to run as an organizer, and bring tons of community members into leadership through this campaign, so we can all fight and win more of what we deserve.”
Ephros will formally launch his campaign at Riverview-Fisk Park on Sunday between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.
The non-partisan Jersey City municipal elections, which has all nine council seats and the mayoralty up for grabs, are on November 4th, 2025.
