Jersey City Municipal Council Reorganization and Swearing-In – January 17, 2026

Note: The meeting transcript identifies the date as Thursday, January 15, 2026; however, the provided timestamp indicates January 17, 2026. This summary uses the given timestamp as instructed but notes the discrepancy.

The Jersey City Municipal Council held a reorganization meeting on this date, beginning with the swearing-in of Mayor James Solomon (the 50th mayor) and all nine council members. Following the ceremony, the council conducted its first official business, including the election of officers, approval of a temporary budget, and consideration of resolutions. Public comment focused overwhelmingly on tenant advocacy, code enforcement, and accountability.

Swearing-In Ceremony

• Denise Ridley (Ward A) – sworn in by Newark Municipal Council President C. Lawrence Crump; noted as first African American councilwoman in Ward A to receive three consecutive terms.
• Joel Brooks (Ward B) – sworn in with partner holding the Bible.
• Thomas Zupper (Ward C) – sworn in by Judge Ayed with his wife holding the Bible.
• Jake Efros (Ward D) – sworn in solo by the clerk.
• Elena Little (Ward E) – sworn in with fiancé holding the Bible.
• Frank E. Gilmore (Ward F) – sworn in by Judge Cynthia Jackson.
• At-large members: Michael O. Griffin (sworn in by Judge Jackson), Rolando Lavaro (sworn in by Hudson County Clerk E. Junior Maldonado), and Matama Singh (sworn in by the city clerk).
• Each member received certificates of election from the city and the county clerk.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Charlene Burke (West Side Community Alliance, Bayfront Committee, Parks Coalition) – Offered congratulations and urged the council to engage community experts, especially on parks and shared services.
• Mary Cruz – Spoke on behalf of her sister regarding persistent violations of a no-smoking policy at the municipal courthouse; requested enforcement to protect employees with illnesses.
• David Tennant (Contractors Community Action Association, CCA) – Advocated for inclusion of minority contractors in city development; thanked Councilwoman Ridley and Councilman Gilmore for support.
• Richard Green (CCA) – Called for specific, enforceable legislation to ensure local contractors have meaningful access to projects, not just broad language about inclusion.
• Jeff Kaplowitz (Society Hill 1, Bayfront Commission, Cannabis Control Board) – Nominated Denise Ridley for Council President, citing her record on affordable housing (35% inclusion at a groundbreaking) and responsiveness.
• Kevin Weller (Portside Towers East, Ward F) – Asked the council to reinstate Resolution 25564 (Renter Protection Special Investigation Committee); criticized the previous committee for issuing zero subpoenas and holding zero hearings; highlighted uncollected fines estimated at over $35 million.
• Jessica Rasula (Portside Towers tenant) – Expressed hope for accountability; pledged continued advocacy.
• Daniel Feldman (Portside Towers tenant) – Detailed 269 consecutive days of documented code violations, including lack of uniformed security guards; cited a September 2023 incident of indecent exposure; alleged systematic dismissal of fines by municipal prosecutors.
• Marshall Feit (Portside Towers tenant, first-time speaker) – Called for meaningful enforcement of existing tenant protection laws.
• Barbara Goldberg (Portside Towers tenant) – Stated the previous council did nothing in response to three years of tenant requests; referenced a Rent Leveling Board ruling confirming rent control coverage.
• Shannon Ray (Portside Towers tenant) – Shared personal story of moving to Jersey City as a travel nurse; committed to ongoing tenant advocacy.
• Susan Roca (Portside Towers tenant) – Urged the council to hold large landlords accountable, especially regarding illegal rent hikes and enforcement of fines.
• Michelle Hirsch (Portside Towers West Tenant Association) – Presented a "word of the day" – renaissance; called for cleaning house in the Fulop administration, investigating financial irregularities, and using Faulkner Act powers.
• Paula Mahayosan (Jersey City Parks Coalition) – Raised concerns about the temporary budget allocation for Veterans Affairs: salary/wages listed at $60,000 (down from six figures) and operating expenses at $25,000; noted her nonprofit spent over $46,000 on veteran programs in 2025 with volunteer labor; urged budget increase.
• Eve Taylor (Ward E resident) – Criticized the temporary budget's lack of a revenue plan; highlighted net debt increase of $327 million (78% from 2013 to 2024) and collapse of municipal court fine collections from $16–18 million to $9–10 million per year; alleged "systematic ticket fixing" by the municipal prosecutor; demanded immediate corrective action.

Discussion Items

• Temporary Budget (Resolution 26-006) – Proposed $220 million in temporary appropriations through March 31, 2026. Council members expressed dissatisfaction with having no caucus or time to review the budget before voting. Councilwoman Little and others noted the change in swearing-in date (January 15 instead of January 1) left no opportunity for pre-meeting questions. Finance staff explained the budget was developed by consulting departments for first-quarter needs and is below the 35% statutory cap. Discussion focused on the council office budget, initially set at $120,000 annually for staff salaries (total for all nine offices). Several members argued this amount is insufficient to hire the maximum allowed (four full-time aides at $75,000 each per office). It was clarified that the council could amend the budget later via an emergency temporary appropriation requiring a two-thirds vote. Council President Ridley suggested deferring adjustments to the next regular meeting on January 28, after a caucus on January 26.
• CDBG Grant for Pershing Field (Item 10.4) – $165,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds to repair HVAC and pool systems at Pershing Field. Finance staff confirmed the work will be done through existing open-ended vendor contracts; no city taxpayer funds are involved. Council members welcomed the swift action for the Heights recreation facility.
• Claims and Addendums – The council voted on claims lists and addendums 1–3, representing unpaid bills from the prior administration, including property taxes to the Board of Education. Council members Brooks and Efros abstained, citing lack of time to review; the vote passed 7–0–2.

Key Outcomes

• Election of Council President – Denise Ridley (Ward A) was nominated by Councilman Griffin, seconded by Gilmore, and approved unanimously (9–0). She became the first African American councilwoman to hold the presidency after three consecutive terms in Ward A.
• Election of Council President Pro Tempore – Frank E. Gilmore (Ward F) was nominated by Griffin, seconded by Ridley, and approved unanimously (9–0).
• Resolutions 10.3–10.5 – Approved unanimously (9–0): Temporary budget (10.3, $220 million), CDBG grant for Pershing Field (10.4), and a third resolution (likely routine; not detailed).
• Claims and Addendums – Approved 7–0–2 (Brooks and Efros abstained).
• Reinstatement of Renter Protection Committee – Several council members (including Councilman Lavaro and Councilwoman Ridley) expressed support for reinstating Resolution 25564. No formal vote was taken, but the sentiment indicated the committee would be revived. Councilwoman Ridley stated she would also join the committee.
• Next Steps – Council President Ridley announced upcoming training sessions for new members and staff on budgeting and council procedures. The next caucus is scheduled for January 26, 2026, with the next regular council meeting on January 28, 2026, where amendments to the temporary budget may be considered.
• Adjournment – The meeting adjourned at 5:32 PM.