Letter to the Editor from Adam Gordon, Executive Director of Fair Share Housing Center.
The City Council of Jersey City passed a deeply flawed inclusionary zoning ordinance earlier this week against intense community opposition.
Fair Share Housing Center Executive Director Adam Gordon has issued the following statement in response:
We are deeply disappointed that the City Council approved a sham inclusionary zoning bill even after hearing four hours of testimony from more than 60 residents and advocates who were opposed.
These residents, representing all corners of Jersey City, recognize that the ordinance, as currently written, would enable wealthy developers to build large number of luxury homes without providing any affordable housing for working families.
The people of Jersey City, from the NAACP to grassroots organizers, called on the City Council to push the pause button and to work with them on a new proposal to effectively tackle the rising inequality that is pricing families out of Jersey City — yet the Council instead decided to side with politically connected developers.
The fight for a fair and inclusive New Jersey is far from over.
We stand with the thousands of Jersey City residents who have taken to the streets to protest systemic racism and rising inequality, as well as the dozens of advocates who testified last night.
Along with them, we recognize that an illegal and deeply flawed #fauxIZO is not the answer to Jersey City’s rapid gentrification. We will work with them to push for comprehensive legislation that will ensure that people of all races and income levels are able to call this city home.
