Hudson County Commissioner Bill O’Dea (D-2) is targeting the housing record of Jersey City Ward E Councilman James Solomon, a mayoral opponent, in a new TV ad, prompting some counterpunching from the councilman.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“Meet gentrifying James Solomon: As a councilman, Solomon blocked any affordable housing from being built downtown. He’s opposing two major project right now, housing advocated call Gentrifying James’ plan deeply misguided,” the commercial says.
“Solomon failed to stop illegal rent increases and stood by while more longtime residents were pushed out of their homes. Bill O’Dea cares about all of Jersey City: He’ll protect tenants rights, stabilize property taxes, and building thousands of affordable homes.”
While they have generally been political allies, O’Dea and Solomon are both contenders to make the December 2nd runoff, along with former Gov. Jim McGreevey.
Since only two of the seven candidates on the non-partisan November 4th ballot can advance, Solomon and O’Dea have been trading leather in recent weeks, with the latter really amping up the aggression in the campaign’s waning days.
“I’m the only candidate for Mayor with real, first hand experience building affordable housing which is why an independent housing advocacy organization endorsed our campaign,” O’Dea said in a statement.
“Councilman Solomon’s record and his plans on housing are both highly concerning because he’s been on the City Council for the last eight years at a time when housing costs have exploded, many longtime residents have been pushed out of their homes and the city has completely failed to stop landlords from illegally increasing rents.”
In his own statement, Solomon returned fire, asserting that O’Dea and his city council slate have taken $391,039.50 from developers and related industries during this election cycle, about 27 percent of their total donations.
“I am focused on building an affordable Jersey City with rents $1,000 and under because the cost of living is just too high here,” he exclaimed.
” In contrast, Bill O’Dea has been in office for almost 50 years, and in that time frame, everything has just gotten more and more expensive – he’s promising more luxury-only housing and tax breaks for his donors.. While Bill is awash in cash from the same developers that have made things more expensive, I am not taking a dime from Jersey City developers. My focus is clear, I am going to build a more affordable Jersey City for everyone.”
Solomon took a similar tone that his campaign did in response to an O’Dea supporting super PAC, Social Progress in Union for Economic Growth, attacking him recently, with McGreevey taking the most serious damage, as HCV first reported.
