Photo courtesy the Boricua Community Building Center.
Thanksgiving, runoff elections and a new extended lightrail… Here’s what you’ve been missing in this Hudson County news roundup.
James Solomon Gets Endorsements From Three Former Jersey City Mayor Candidates
With the Jersey City mayoral election nearing on Dec. 2, three of the former candidates have officially endorsed Ward E Councilman James Solomon over former Gov. Jim McGreevey.
Solomon’s endorsements came from:
- County Commissioner Bill O’Dea
- Former Jersey City Board of Education President Mussab Ali
- Police Officer Christina Freeman
“James understands that affordability must be our top priority, while also restoring ethical government and taking on corruption,” O’Dea said in a statement. “As a life-long Jersey City resident, I know we need change, and James is the one people can trust to deliver that.”
“I’m proud to endorse James Solomon for Jersey City mayor in the run-off election. James has a clear plan for affordable rents, safer streets, better schools, and an accountable city government,” Ali said in a statement.
“James Solomon has shown true dedication to our city and its residents. His vision for a more inclusive, innovative, and accountable Jersey City aligns with the values I ran on,” Freeman said in a statement.
The Solomon campaign stated that the U.S. Sen. Andy Kim and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka have also endorsed the downtown councilman.
On Nov. 4, during the general election, no Jersey City mayoral candidate drew more than 50% of the vote, which set up for this mayoral runoff, or second election. Solomon had the most votes out of six candidates with McGreevey trailing in second and O’Dea placing third.
To learn more about the Dec. 2 elections, you can click here. If you’re unable to vote in person on Dec. 2, you can apply for a mail-in ballot but it must be postmarked before Tuesday, Nov. 25 or dropped off the Hudson County Clerk Division of Elections by 3 p.m.
For more runoff election information from Hudson County, you can visit: https://vote.hcnj.us/.
You Can See This Grammy Award-Winning Artist On Thanksgiving Night
Grammy award-winning singer Ne-Yo is coming to The Ashford, located at 145 Newark Avenue, in Jersey City to help wrap up your Thursday night.
After filling up on turkey at Thanksgiving dinner, you can stop by the Ashford for a night with guest performer Ne-Yo and everything else the bar/restaurant has to offer.
Ne-Yo is no stranger to Hudson County’s vibrant night life. Back in April he was at the Madd Hatter in Hoboken performing in back-to-back nights.
You can get tickets here. For more information, you can reach out to [email protected] or call/text 201-888-2566.
Jersey City Recognizes November As Puerto Rican Heritage Month
Last week, the Jersey City city council unanimously approved a resolution that officially states November as Puerto Rican Heritage Month and recognizes Nov. 19 as Puerto Rican Day or “Día de la Puertorriqueñidad.”
“As a Boriqueño in Jersey City, I am proud and grateful that our City Council unanimously recognized November as Puerto Rican Heritage Month and Nov.19 as Día de la Puertorriqueñidad. This moment affirms our indigenous heritage and the many ways Puerto Ricans have shaped this city, state and nation, and it marks a meaningful step toward telling our story truthfully and ensuring our place in Jersey City’s past, present, and future,” Rev. Raymond Angel Guzman-Caraballo, the executive director and founder of Boricua Community Building Center, told Slice of Culture in a statement. The center is who proposed this resolution to the council.
“November as Puerto Rican Heritage Month gives us a chance to honor the complex truth of our history, rooted in Indigenous Taíno, African, and Spanish influence. By reclaiming Nov. 19 as Puerto Rican Day our city restores the day’s real meaning and allows us to reflect on our identity and the generations who carried it forward.
“Nov. 19 also calls us to remember leaders like Lolita Lebrón on the same day she was born and the legacies of Roberto Clemente and Jackie Robinson—who twice played against one another at Jersey City’s Roosevelt Stadium and whose courage and conviction reflects our ongoing struggle for equality and self-determination.”
According to a study by Neilsberg, Jersey City is the second-largest city with a Puerto Rican population in New Jersey. Newark is No. 1 and Camden is No. 3. The Boricua Community Building Center holds different events and workshops including story times, cultural workshops and a film festival.
“Our hope is that public institutions like schools, colleges, universities and the Jersey City Public Library begin to tell the full and unvarnished truth of our history, because as Boricua we are an indigenous people with roots and influences far deeper than any ships that arrived on our shores,” added Guzman-Caraballo.
“We have been here, we remain here, and we will continue telling the truth with pride, accuracy, and dignity.”
This Jersey City Native Is Having A Women’s Safety & Appreciation Drive, And He Needs Your Help!
Jersey City native, who goes by 7Alkaline on Instagram, is having a Women’s Safety & Appreciation Drive. Each woman will receive a safety and comfort bag filled with essentials.
He needs your help with donations and spreading the word.
Click here to learn how you can help. The event is a call to come together to support and protect the women in the community!
Tuition Is Now Free At This Hoboken College If You’re Under The Income Limit
Starting this fall, tuition at the Stevens Institute of Technology could be free for you if your family earns an income of $75,000 or less.
The university said the new plan is called the “The Stevens Investment.”
“Pursuing higher education opens doors for students and their families, promoting social mobility and creating new career opportunities. For some families, the cost of tuition can make that path feel out of reach,” a spokesperson said.
The full tuition offer is intended for first-time, first-year, full-time undergraduates who are citizens or permanent resident students admitted to a degree program at Stevens.
Tuition at Stevens costs more than $31,000 per semester. Students who apply can also obtain government financial aid.
In order to qualify, students must complete both the FAFSA and CSS Profile by the posted application deadlines, the university said.
The Division III technology-focused college followed the lead of Harvard and fellow local university, Princeton, who took similar actions.
Harvard currently covers tuition for students belonging to families who earn less than $200,000. The university noted that about a quarter of their undergraduates have had their tuition covered.
Hey Commuters! The Light Rail Is Heading To Bergen County
Last week, NJ Transit announced that it’s moving forward with plans to extend their line from Hudson County to Bergen County.
NJ Transit stated it has issued a Request For Proposals for contractors to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for a proposed 10-mile extension to Englewood Hospital. This extension will include seven new stops in five different towns.
The new stops would include:
- One in North Bergen in Hudson County
- Six in Bergen County: Ridgefield, Palisades Park, Leonia and Englewood
The line would run on West Side Avenue to North Bergen, and then on an existing railroad right-of-way owned by CSX Transportation (CSX) between 91st Street in North Bergen and the northern border of Englewood.
The train currently stops in these Hudson County towns:
- Bayonne
- Jersey City
- Hoboken
- Weehawken
- Union City
- North Bergen
“Providing mass transit options to all regions of New Jersey takes cars off the road, cleans the air we breathe, and drives economic activity,” said Kris Kolluri, agency president and CEO.
“The Northern Branch project will fulfill that need and enhance the lives of all who call Bergen County home,” Bergen County Executive James Tedesco added.
NJ Transit is the country’s biggest statewide public transportation system. It has 253 bus routes, three light rail lines, 12 commuter rail lines and Access Link paratransit service.
Know any local news we should include? Email Stella Accettola at [email protected]!
