Graphic by Chelsea Pujols / SOC Images.
Housing remains a core topic across the state as high-stakes elections in New Jersey gain victories for the Democratic party.
Celebrations for Governor-elect Mikie Sherill, Jersey City Mayor-elect James Solomon and Hoboken mayor-elect Emily Jabbour fuel voters to continue fighting for affordable housing. You can read more about this and new Hudson County housing opportunities in this month’s The Jersey Escrow—where all your housing information is stored.
150+ Organizations Urge Governor-Elect To Remember Housing
As New Jerseyans celebrate the state’s continued status as blue, voters and organizations remind Governor-elect Mikie Sherill to strengthen affordable housing laws and initiatives like the Mount Laurel Doctrine.
The doctrine, originally passed in 1975, encourages all New Jersey municipalities to provide affordable housing and outlaws exclusionary zoning. This ensures that all New Jersey residents, regardless of zipcode, are able to find housing. Despite flaws and controversy surrounding the doctrine, the Mount Laurel Doctrine is unique to New Jersey and has inspired other states to pass affordable and inclusionary housing law.
A letter signed by 158 organizations like the ACLU of New Jersey, Fair Share Housing, local New Jersey churches and NAACP chapters, emphasize the importance of the Mount Laurel Doctrine and highlight that there is more work to be done.
“We are encouraged that during your campaign, you pledged to address housing affordability — including ending outdated zoning laws that block new homes from being built, stopping diversions from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, expanding support for first-time and first-generation homebuyers, and cracking down on landlords who leave families facing unlivable conditions and discrimination,” they wrote to Sherill. “As you take office, it is an especially critical time to implement these priorities…”
You can read the full letter and the list of organizations who signed here.
Wins For Candidates Focused On Affordability In Jersey City And Hoboken
December 3 marked the end of Jersey City and Hoboken’s election season, and with it brought victories for candidates focused on affordability and housing in the cities.
Former Councilman and now Mayor-elect James Solomon of Jersey City won with 68% of the vote against former New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey, who had 32% of the vote.
“The mission is clear. The work begins tonight,” Solomon said in his acceptance speech. “And the work that we have to do is to make Jersey City affordable. And so I say tonight, an affordable Jersey City starts now.”
On his campaign website, Solomon pledges to require developers to set aside 20% of their units for affordable housing, build workforce housing for first responders, teachers and healthcare workers, ban broker fees and ban landlords from using software to increase rent.
Hoboken Mayor-elect Emily Jabbour also pledges to support affordable housing.
Jabbour details tenant protection initiatives like a Right to Counsel program, which will provide free legal services to tenants. She also plans to develop educational programs for a more informed Hoboken by allocating funds to the city’s Rent Control and Stabilization Office. Resources will be provided to both landlords and tenants.
Jabbour won the run-off election with 53.6% of the vote, while opponent Michael Russo had 46.4%.
Town Of Guttenberg Opens Applications For December
The Guttenberg Housing Authority will be opening their applications from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Dec. 9. Applications will be available at their 6900 Broadway Avenue office and interested applicants must bring identification, proof of address and proof of income.
To be considered very low income in Guttenberg, Guttenberg families must annually make below the following numbers:
- Family of 1: $46,900
- Family of 2: $53,600
- Family of 3: $60,300
- Family of 4: $67,000
- Family of 5: $72,400
- Family of 6: $77,750
- Family of 7: $83,100
- Family of 8: $88,450
For more information, you can visit the Guttenberg Housing Authority website.
