Jersey City Ward E Councilman James Solomon is taking aim at mayoral opponents Jim McGreevey and Hudson County Commissioner Bill O’Dea (D-2) in his latest “Not for Sale” TV ad touting the fact that he does not take contributions from developers.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“The contrast in this race is clear: while James Solomon is going to build home with rents at $1,000 or under, Jim McGreevy and Bill O’Dea have raked in hundreds of thousands from the same developers and corporate landlords that have made Jersey City unaffordable for families,” Solomon for mayor campaign manager Stuart Thomas said in a statement.
“James is the only candidate in this race with a real plan to make Jersey City affordable, the rest of the candidates are just offering more of the same – sweetheart tax breaks and endless giveaways as rents and prices skyrocket. James is not for sale.”
The ad highlights that McGreevey has taken $874,833 from real estate developers and corporate landlords this election cycle, while O’Dea has received $391,089, citing New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (NJ ELEC) reports from their respective campaigns.
The video, shot at Liberty State Park, also notes that the downtown councilman stood up to Liberty National Golf Course owner Paul Fireman when he tried to expand into Liberty State Park (O’Dea was also part of that fight).
“This place has always been special to me. So when a billionaire tried to buy Liberty State Park, we stopped him. Now greedy developers and corporate landlords are trying to buy our city and are making housing unaffordable,” Solomon says in the ad.
“Jim McGreevey and Bill O’Dea have taken hundreds of thousands from them. I haven’t taken a dime. I’m James Solomon and I believe we can make Jersey City affordable, by having a mayor who’s not for sale. And that’s why I’m asking for your vote.”
ELEC reports show that Solomon is the second best fundraiser in the race thus far behind McGreevey, while O’Dea comes in at third.
The fourth place fundraiser at the moment, Mussab Ali, is the only candidate who is not taking money from city vendors.
Solomon is “Not for sale” because his trust fund is buying him the mayor’s race. Hundreds of thousands of donations from his mom, brother, and rich friends.
And yet he’s still taking money from vendors with city contracts. Talk about Greed.