For the first time, Hudson County Commissioner Bill O’Dea (D-2) is placing Jersey City Ward E Councilman James Solomon, a mayoral opponent, in his crosshairs over his remarks about the city’s credit rating being downgraded.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“I read Councilman Solomon’s statement on the city’s downgraded credit rating, and I agree with his concerns. But the truth is, this issue requires more than just statements — it requires action,” O’Dea said in a statement.
He also stressed that the council has a critical responsibility to control spending, identify sustainable revenue streams, and set long-term priorities to avoid forcing taxpayers to shoulder significantly higher costs for city services and infrastructure.
“A negative credit rating reflects poorly on both branches of government. Council members need to do more than just say no. They must offer detailed alternatives, propose amendments to cut wasteful spending, and reject the irresponsible practice of bonding for operating costs,” O’Dea added.
He then pointed to financial decisions that have contributed to the downgrade, such as using one-time revenues from land sales in a single year rather than responsibly spreading those funds over multiple years — a practice that raises red flags for credit agencies.
Last week, Solomon said “we need to clean house” in light of Moody’s downgrading Jersey City’s credit rating to “negative,” following up on his citywide financial management plan that he released a week prior, both as HCV first reported.
Furthermore, O’Dea emphasized the urgent need for long-term financial planning as federal pandemic relief funds expire, noting that programs like food security and mental health services for youth — many of which were initially supported with federal dollars — will soon lose their funding.
“On the county level, I directed Health and Human Services to evaluate and prioritize ARP-funded programs to determine which ones are essential, so we can make the tough but necessary funding decisions. Jersey City needs to do the same.”
Finally, O’Dea renewed his call for a Citizens Budget Committee, a proposal he has long advocated for, to bring residents with fiscal and operational expertise into the budget process.
“If the Council had created a Citizens Budget Committee three years ago to help develop a long-term fiscal plan and stabilize taxes, maybe our credit rating wouldn’t be where it is today — and we’d already be implementing some of their recommendations,” he concluded.
“But at the end of the day, we all need to work together to come up with long-term solutions — because there are no simple solutions.”
A spokesman for Solomon’s campaign did not return an email seeking comment.
O’Dea and Solomon are in a six-person race to succeed Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, who unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for governor instead of seeking a fourth term.
Also committed to the non-partisan November 4th contest are former Gov. Jim McGreevey, Council President Joyce Watterman, ex-Board of Education President Mussab Ali, and Police Officer Christina Freeman.
And what exactly has O’Dea accomplished in 30 years of being on the county commission?