In a letter to the editor, Jersey City resident Monish Das says that the gentrification that occurred during Ward E Councilman James Solomon’s tenure shows he is the wrong choice for mayor.
Unlike politics, where attractive platform promises and showmanship can potentially guarantee success, the real world workplace evaluates people on the basis of performance results.
Employers and clients are not impressed by promises or even best efforts, but by deliverables.
In his campaign for Mayor James Solomon has several proposals for improving the affordability of housing and “keeping communities together,” yet he has done nothing to stop the gentrification in his own Ward during his tenure as Councilman, specifically the progressive displacement of certain minority groups.
Based on public data provided by the NJ Department of Education Enrollment Reports, in the 2017 – 2018 school year the major demographic groups of students enrolled in downtown Jersey City public schools (combined enrollments of P.S.#3, M.S.#4, P.S.#5, P.S.#16 and P.S.#37) were represented by 16% White, 21% Black, 37% Hispanic and 23% Asian.
However, the most recent Enrollment Report for 2024-2025 shows the same cluster of schools as 24% White, 14% Black, 26% Hispanic and 30% Asian.
It is self-evident, seeing the decrease in the percentages of Black and Hispanic student population and respective increases in other groups, that these minority groups have experienced greatest displacement since Councilman Solomon took office.
The public schools used in this data sample are not schools that students need to test into to be admitted, or that require special consideration or approval.
All that is required for admission is living in the zoned neighborhood, if one can afford it.
What kind of policies and practices caused a 7% decrease in the enrollment of Black students and 11% decrease in the enrollment of Hispanic students in Downtown public schools in just a few years?
Is this the kind of change that is indicative of “keeping communities together,” and is this the type of “progress” we can expect citywide, if James Solomon becomes mayor? The results of the last seven years speak for themselves.
Regards,
Monish Das
Jersey City resident