July 31st, 2026
Edition 1
A look into Councilperson Ephros’ community outreach, efforts, and developments.
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A look into Councilperson Ephros’ community outreach, efforts, and developments. 〰️
Ward D Newsletter
Upcoming Community Events:
Divesting From Citizens Bank
In early June, Council members Jake Ephros and Joel Brooks (of Ward B) released a joint statement with Mayor James Solomon to announce Jersey City’s divestment from Citizens Bank. This statement came in response to the bank deepening its’ financial support for the country’s two largest private prison companies, CoreCivic and the GEO group. Citizens Bank has allowed these two companies to access more than $2.5 billion in finances while combined, these CoreCivic and GEO group operate over 70,000 ICE detention beds, and are looking to expand to 100,000 detainees by the end of the year.
Both companies have been faced with mounting allegations of forced labor and wrongful deaths due to understaffing and neglect. GEO group even owns and operates Delaney Hall, where detainees recently organized hunger strikes to protest deplorable conditions and ongoing human rights abuses. The divestment of Jersey City’s funds from Citizens Bank is a reaffirmation of the city’s commitment to being a safe place for immigrant families.
Watch Councilman Ephros speak about Citizens Bank on DemocracyNow! here.
Photo by Farragutful, 2022.
“ICE is a rogue agency inflicting terror on immigrant communities, and the private prison industry exists for one reason: to profit from that terror. Citizens Bank is a willing partner in that project. Jersey City’s money will not fund human rights abuses, and we will not rest until ICE is abolished.”
Jersey City Youth Council
By Saadhana Karri, Ward D Intern
On June 24, 2026, the Jersey City Council unanimously approved Ordinance 26-042, establishing the Jersey City Youth Liaison Council (JCYLC). Sponsored by Councilmember Ephros, this ordinance establishes a formal body for young people to directly collaborate with local government officials. This effort was developed over several months through coordination between the Ward D Council Office, Jersey City middle and high school students, and the Mayor’s office.
The JCYLC will bring together residents ages 12 through 18 across each ward to spearhead youth centred initiatives and provide recommendations on issues impacting young people. Applications for the inaugural council will open later this fall and are designed to ensure equitable representation from Jersey City’s diverse communities.
The Jersey City Budget
As soon as Councilperson Ephros took office 6 months ago, it became apparent to our office that Jersey City would be facing a budget crisis. Our first concern was making sure that we were focused on advancing a plan that protects our most vulnerable communities and working Jersey City families, while ensuring that we could maintain operative public services, like transportation, trash collection, and public safety.
Every year since 2019, the City has been spending more money than it brings in with tax revenue. While we support eliminating waste in departments and we scrutinized every line item in the budget during our hearings, we simply cannot cut our way to an immediate solution to this fiscal crisis as some are calling for.
Jersey city was offered a historic aid package from the state which was solidified with the MOU Council voted to approve unanimously. However, that aid package came with a stipulation of a mandated tax increase. We did not make this decision lightly. But we do believe that the tax increase coupled with the state aid is the most fiscally responsible way for us to stabilize the city’s finances.
If your tax bill looks higher and usual, there is an explanation for this:
“The alternatives ... to accepting the $105 million really amount to privatization: selling out our city to private industry. That could skyrocket costs for working class people. It’s neoliberalism. It’s gutting city government through devastating layoffs or sacrificing public assets like land that we own that when in the hands of private capital makes it that much harder for us to actually win the kind of development that serves the public good, like affordable housing or more public housing. I also expressed my frustration to the administration, that they started laying off city employees with no notice to council. In the budget hearings that are coming up, I’m going to fight against layoffs of our rank and file workers that run this city. So, thank you for showing up tonight and for showing up strong. Whether it’s health and human services workers, whether it’s the bus drivers for our seniors (one of two that we had in the city,) whether it’s the crossing guards that keep our neighbors safe. That’s critical. And I will also still look really diligently for savings in places at the top.”
— Councilperson Ephros at City Council’s 7/15 Meeting
The last two tax bills for the year, Q3 & Q4, need to account for both the tax increase and to compensate for the fact that the tax bills in Q1, Q2 were billed at a lower rate, 2.33%. Thus, the catch up for the first two quarters is reflected as split between the last two quarters.
The increase includes the catch up for the first half of the year in Q3 and the other half in Q4. Those high percentage increases of 25% or 28% will not remain forever. It is because of the need to catch up the bills from the first half of the year.
Wondering what your increase might look like? Estimate the impact of proposed 2026 tax increases on your property, including a breakdown by taxing authority and how the increase appears on your quarterly bills using Jersey City’s tax calculator.
Residents Displaced by Fire Return to Habitable Units
Back in November of 2024, a devastating four alarm fire in a ground floor business displaced 26 residents across 9 families from their homes in the adjacent building. Two firefighters sustained minor injuries and were treated at the Jersey City Medical Center. The fire began at a local business and quickly spread to the apartment building next door.
After an initial investigation took place, the 3505 Kennedy Boulevard Condo Association found that it had four units remaining that were still habitable, for some displaced residents to move into.
Photo courtesy of hudpost.
Residents waited over a year for a reply on the legality of moving into these units. After working with Assemblywoman Brennan, our team was able to get a clear answer for those displaced by the fire. The four unaffected units were confirmed to be habitable by the displaced residents, allowing for some families to move back. We remain committed to working alongside the association to make sure the remaining units are repaired so every family can return home.
Our Past Community Events:
Celebrating Freedom on Juneteenth at City Hall with Council President Ridley, Councilman Griffin, and Councilwoman Singh.
Ringing in Independence Day with friends and neighbors. We spent the evening at Riverview Park!
Our July Free Market was a success! We gave away hundreds of household goods, clothing, and electronics to those that stopped by. Thank you to all who donated—we are looking forward to our next one!
Assemblywoman Brennan joined us for a Tenants Know Your Rights session to educate and provide support for JC residents.
Curious about what kinds of services we can help with our constituent services intake form? Take a look at our recently resolved cases.
Resolved Constituent Intake Cases
A Heights resident was experiencing issues with a problematic developer in a next-door lot proposing an overhang, severely impairing both properties’ ability to access their driveways. We spoke with an inspector and directed him to submit a formal request on SeeClickFix, leading to a stop work order until the issues with the overhang were resolved.
A local Heights resident reached out for assistance in collaborating on expanding donation events. We worked with them to distribute hundreds of items ranging from clothing to dinnerware at our Heights Free Market on July 25, 2026! Whatever was leftover was distributed to local shelters. We are looking into how to hold these more frequently to provide more goods to the community.
A resident came to the Ward D office asking for help with EBT fraud, and we were able to put her in touch with Hudson County’s family services to ensure one month’s worth of groceries could be provided.
A Heights native came to Jake with dynamic pricing concerns at a supermarket in Ward D. We referred her to the County but are also looking into protecting the residents of Jersey City from spending more at the register.
Our office helped a Ward D resident facing hundreds of dollars in landlord fees after rental assistance payments out of his control were delayed by connecting him with rent relief resources and next steps to explore.
LET’S KEEP IN TOUCH: