MAYOR JAMES SOLOMON CELEBRATES 100 DAYS OF BUILDING A CITY GOVERNMENT THAT WORKS FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WORK
Posted on 04/27/2026
Contact: Nathaniel Styer | Communications Director
[email protected]

MAYOR JAMES SOLOMON CELEBRATES 100 DAYS OF BUILDING A CITY GOVERNMENT THAT WORKS FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WORK

In 100 Days, a New Administration Takes On the Tough Fights and Delivers Real Results for Jersey City's Working Families

JERSEY CITY, NJ — Mayor James Solomon today celebrated the first 100 days of rebuilding Jersey City’s government to effectively serve the city’s working people – not the rich and powerful. Since being sworn in on January 15, 2026, the Solomon Administration has moved aggressively to modernize city government, rebuild public safety, and reduce spending to take on the city’s inherited fiscal crisis head on.

“I ran for office on the promise that as mayor we would build a Jersey City government that works for the people who work. 100 days in, and we are delivering on that promise,” said Mayor James Solomon. “From building affordable housing to filling potholes, to high-quality youth jobs and modernizing city government – we are fundamentally rebuilding Jersey City. Gone is leadership that prioritized powerful interests, while allowing basic services to fall apart. Next comes days 101 through 1,461, and we will not stop fighting every day to provide the government our residents deserve.”

In just 100 days, the Solomon administration has canceled the $40 million Pompidou deal and replaced it with plans for affordable housing and a community center; saved the city $30 million a year by switching to a better health insurance provider; launched the first-ever citywide audit of rent control, and audits of more than 100 long-term tax abatements; overhauled Jersey City's 16-year-old 911 system with modern text-to-911 capability; filled more than 2,000 potholes after a four-year gap in city service; expanded protections for immigrant communities; applied for more than $54 million in grants — more than all of 2025 combined — and publicly disclosed the $254 million structural deficit the city inherited, while aggressively reducing spending.

Fighting For A City Working Families Can Afford

The administration is taking on the landlords, developers, and insider deals that drove up costs, putting Jersey City residents first.

  • Canceled the Pompidou – saving Jersey City $40 million – and building affordable housing and a community center in its place.
  • Launched a citywide audit of long-term tax abatements, covering more than 100 active PILOTs, to ensure developers pay their fair share.
  • Signed an executive order directing a permanent, public rent-control database identifying every property lawfully subject to rent control – with the initial review almost complete.
  • Directed municipal prosecutors to seek maximum penalties for housing violations, treating unaddressed habitability violations as continuing daily violations per tenant, per unit, per day.
  • Recorded six affordable housing agreements locking in deed restrictions on 454 affordable units.
  • Reformed the fee structure for community cultural events, cutting organizer costs roughly in half — reversing a system that had billed the Philippine-American Friendship Committee nearly $11,500 for its annual parade.

Rebuilding Public Safety To Serve Working People
The administration is modernizing policing so officers can focus on what matters: enforcing laws fairly, stopping crime, and building trust with communities.

  • Overhauled the 911 Communications Center, with a brand-new system launching May 14, that replaces 16-year-old infrastructure and introduces text-to-911 with photo and video capability and new management and accountability.
  • Expanded immigrant protections with a comprehensive executive order banning use of city property for federal immigration enforcement and mandating citywide staff training on protocols for ICE encounters.
  • Rebuilt the Vision Zero Task Force – and demanded mandatory participation from all city agencies unlike the old task force - and reinstated the Traffic Enforcement Division on Day One to ensure traffic rules are being fairly enforced and to aggressively address dangerous driving that kills.
  • Eliminated JCPD fixed posts that wasted police resources, drove up costs, and created distrust between the police and that community.
  • Established new citywide Domestic Violence and Robbery Units, and recruited a new class of police officers
    Launched JC IMPACT, a CompStat-style accountability system tracking response times, violent crime clearance rates, and Vision Zero compliance.
  • Redeployed Arrive Together, a health-centered co-responder program pairing police officers with mental health clinicians, and focused on high-traffic areas - including to the Pedestrian Plaza

A City That Gets The Basics Right

The administration brought in new leadership and launched hands-on initiatives to provide high-quality youth jobs, fix streets, and improve city services.

  • After four years without filling a single pothole, reestablished the Department of Public Works’ pothole filling operation in less than a month – filling over 2,000 potholes to date.
  • Launched “JC Spring Clean Up,” deploying citywide street-cleaning teams, dedicated bike-lane clearing crews, and coordinating community cleanup events.
  • Published an unprecedented public After Action Report on the January 25 blizzard, with specific operational fixes already in motion.
  • Began overhauling the City’s website and public-facing tools like SeeClickFix so residents can find help when they need it
    Expanded our youth summer jobs program – beginning with 250 new grant funded positions to support small businesses.
  • Received 962 applications for summer jobs across city departments and processed 447 applications across hiring programs in just 11 weeks, and added 32 new American Red Cross-certified lifeguards.

Addressing Jersey City’s Fiscal Crisis Head On

The administration is relentlessly working to close the $255 million budget deficit created by rampant mismanagement and financial gimmicks under the previous mayoral administration

  • Publicly disclosed and explained the $255 million structural deficit inherited — a level of fiscal transparency. unprecedented in Jersey City
  • Reduced city spending by $30 million a year by switching health insurance providers to one offering employees equal or better coverage.
  • Ordered departmental directors to reduce spending by 10%, while protecting core city services.
  • Mayor Solomon is taking a $1 salary in 2026.
  • Launched an outside audit of health insurance claims after discovering tens of millions in unpaid bills.
  • Implemented overtime tracking for JCPD and Fire for the first time in recent memory.
  • Applied for more than $54 million in grants in the first four months – more than all of 2025 combined.
  • Secured $3 million for the Open Space Trust Fund.

"As a co-chair of the transition team I have seen from day one of the transition through his first 100 days in office, Mayor Solomon and his team working hand in hand with the community in an unprecedented open and transparent process to tackle the city s fiscal challenges while undertaking initiatives to address the affordability needs of all of Jersey City s residents," said County Commissioner Bill O’Dea.

“The first 100 days are a foundation, and Mayor James Solomon is building it with transparency and vision. I look forward to the continued progress and partnership ahead,” said Senator Angela McKnight.

“The first 100 days of this Administration have shown a commitment to addressing the real challenges facing working families,” said Ana Mara Hill, Vice President and NJ State Director, 32BJ SEIU. “From affordability to workers’ rights, we’ve seen important steps in the right direction for our members and the communities they serve. There is still much more to do, and we look forward to continuing to work together to ensure that the progress made translates into real, lasting change for working people.”

“Mayor James Solomon’s first 100 days have shown strong, values driven leadership focused on action, transparency, and putting residents first,” said Elizabeth Schedl, Executive Director of the Hudson Pride Center. “Jersey City is already seeing progress in public services, community safety, and protecting vulnerable communities. I’m hopeful for what we can continue to build together, including a city where LGBTQ+ residents and all communities can thrive.”

“100 days in, and what stands out most is that this administration is not just making promises, it’s creating real opportunities for young people to engage, lead, and be part of the solution,” said Janhitha Veeramachaneni, Chair of the Jersey City High School & College Democrats. “When government works for families, it also builds a generation that believes their voice matters.”

Nathaniel Styer
Communications Director | City of Jersey City
[email protected]