In First Week, Jersey City's New Mayor Calls For More Cops, Affordable Housing

JERSEY CITY, NJ — Jersey City Mayor James Solomon got right to work after his swearing in on Thursday night, announcing late Friday that he planned to hire 30 more police, and saying he'd make a major announcement this Wednesday about "affordability."

Solomon's spokesperson said Tuesday that the police are likely to start training as soon as this spring.

"New officers will be assigned to the Patrol Division, expanding visible foot patrols and returning officers to neighborhood-based assignments," Solomon said late Friday. "This approach will improve police visibility, enable informal problem-solving, and build trust between officers and the communities they serve."

While city officials have said that violent crime declined over the years, the city still had seven homicides in 2024 and faced ongoing criticism for problems with its 911 system and transparency about statistics. READ MORE: Amid Some Positive Crime Trends, Jersey City Grapples With 911 Issues, Murky Statistics

In his inaugural speech on Thursday night, Solomon also discussed plans for affordable housing, the city budget, and transparent government.

He repeated themes that were prominent during his campaign, saying he hadn't taken any developer donations, and that he hopes to add thousands of units of affordable housing citywide.

'You're Still A Billionaire'

"For real estate developers, Jersey City has been working great," Solomon said Thursday night. "But if you’re a working person who actually lives here — a nurse or a small business owner or a teacher or in the building trades – it’s been a different story ... your property taxes and rents continue to rise."

He added, "That era of putting developers first ends today. For any billionaires watching, don’t worry, you’re still a billionaire. It’s all good ... The people of Jersey City come first."

Solomon's spokesperson said Tuesday that aside from public safety, affordable housing, and quality-of-life issues, "I think the biggest body of work we are tackling is the city’s finances ... they are worse than what we thought they would be, and we’ll have much more to report out soon."

Other Goals

Like new Hoboken Mayor Emily Jabbour, who was inaugurated earlier in the day on Thursday, Solomon made reference to the ongoing controversies involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

"We’re going to continue to be America’s Golden Door by protecting our immigrant families," he noted in his speech, without elaborating.

He also said that the city may have to make "tough choices" regarding its finances.

But, he said, "We’re going to build thousands of affordable homes that are actually, well, affordable … and make sure your trash gets picked up on trash day."

Elected Last Month

Solomon, a Democrat, beat six challengers in November to enter a Dec. 2 runoff against former Gov. Jim McGreevey.

Before becoming mayor, he was councilman for Ward E, the downtown neighborhood along the waterfront.

Solomon is married with three daughters. He earned a master's in public policy from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard, and his BA from Pomona College.

Read more about the election and Jersey City government with this link.