A housing watchdog group has sued 26 landlords and brokers in Jersey City and Newark, alleging they illegally refuse to lease apartments to people who use government-subsidized vouchers to pay rent. The Housing Rights Initiative, a New York City-based nonprofit, filed a complaint in state Superior Court Wednesday asking a judge to declare the landlords, brokers, and […]
Jersey City Real Estate and Development
Laborers’ Union Gathers to Protest Conditions and Pay at Local Building Sites
In a raucous, brightly colored show of strength, members of The Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) rallied at Journal Square on Monday to call for higher wages and better working conditions on construction sites in Jersey City. Union spokesman Rob Lewandowski singled out Eatontown-based contractor Concrete Rising for particular opprobrium. According to Lewandowski, […]
Housing Authority to Push Discounts on Internet to Low-Income Residents
The Jersey City Housing Authority has announced a plan to increase awareness of federal funding for discounts to low-income families on home internet service and on certain digital devices, an initiative it says could help 20,000 eligible local households. The roughly $500,000 project will be funded by the federal government’s Affordable Connectivity Program designed to close […]
Letter: Hey, Jersey City! Pass Right to Counsel Law
On Wednesday, April 12th at the Jersey City Council meeting, dozens of residents and supporters were animated enough by housing issues to spend five hours in the chamber and speak on behalf of two related ordinances. Members of the Jersey City government have often chosen the interests of development companies and landlords over those of renters, who […]
Council Nixes St. Pauls Plan, Green Lights 911 Contract and Right-to-Counsel
At Wednesday’s meeting, the City Council gave a thumbs-down to a proposal to make St. Pauls Avenue one-way, while approving a controversial contract to study the city’s 911 call center and moving ahead on a “right-to-counsel” law. After hearing arguments pro and con from a clearly divided neighborhood, the council voted to reject city transportation […]
Faith Leaders and Advocates Endorse Right-to-Counsel Legislation
Jersey City Together, a coalition of over 100 pastors, faith leaders, and community advocates across Jersey City, endorsed the upcoming Right to Counsel and affordable housing legislation set to be introduced in City Hall this week. The legislation, put forward last week by Mayor Steven Fulop, and Councilmembers James Solomon, Frank Gilmore, and Yousef J. Saleh is designed to […]
Letter: Mayor and Allies Created Need for ‘Right to Counsel’
Voters of Jersey City, read this and let it sink in. “Right now, people can’t afford to pay skyrocketing rents, leaving more families at risk of eviction—while developers continue to get away with making record profits at our expense,” said Councilmember Yousef J. Saleh. Your mayor and his crew created homelessness and evictions and it’s […]
Affordability Elusive as Jersey City Rents Continue Their Steep Upward March
Jersey City appears to be losing its battle to become more affordable. According to a new study, Jersey City rents went up 1.6 percent in the past month, compared to the national rate of 0.5 percent. It was the seventh fastest rate of the nation’s 100 largest cities. The median rent is now 9.1 percent […]
Jersey City has High Home Fire Risk says Insurance Company The Hartford
In a study of the 150 largest metropolitan areas in the United States, Jersey City has one of the nation’s highest risks of home fires. The study, by The Hartford insurance company, looked at a municipality’s rate of residential fires and the results of a 2022 survey that assessed a city’s adoption of fire safety best practices. […]
Jersey City’s Liberal Cannabis Policy Meets Resistance in the Heights
Jersey City’s the sky’s the limit policy on marijuana dispensaries is suddenly meeting with resistance in the Heights, where residents are concerned about issues ranging from teen smoking to aesthetics. As of March 13, the city’s Cannabis Control Board has approved 44 marijuana dispensaries including a disproportionate number — 14 — in Ward D. In […]