Baraka Takes Aim at Jersey City’s $2,000 Rents

Jersey City, NJ — Newark Mayor and NJ Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ras Baraka took direct aim at Jersey City’s housing market during a recent visit to Hudson County.

After speaking at an event hosted by Ward F Councilman Frank Gilmore, Baraka told HudPost that Jersey City’s rapid development has not benefited working-class residents and that the city’s housing boom has primarily driven up rents.

“He [Fulop] always argues that Jersey City has built more housing than anybody,” Baraka said. “That’s true. Jersey City has, but 90% of the rents in Jersey City are over $2,000.”

Baraka argued that while Jersey City has built a significant amount of housing, most of it is too expensive for working-class residents. “We need affordable housing. He just ain’t built none,” he said, referring to Fulop’s record.

Fulop, who has positioned himself as a pro-growth candidate, has defended Jersey City’s development boom. During his State of the City speech, he called the city’s economic transformation the “definition of success,” pointing to job growth and rising property values.

A recent Fairleigh Dickinson University poll showed Baraka leading Fulop among Democratic primary voters, with the Newark mayor pulling ahead alongside Rep. Mikie Sherrill.