Jersey City Communications Director Nathaniel Styer and the city have parted ways after just over eight months, an official confirmed this afternoon.
Photo via X.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“We’re not going to comment on personal matters. We thank Nathaniel for his service to Jersey City,” Laura Bustamante, chief of staff to Mayor James Solomon, said following an inquiry from HCV. Styer declined to comment.
Bustamante will serve as acting communications director for the rest of this week, with Megan Malloy – currently the city’s digital director – set to take over the role on Monday.
The Hudson County Chronicles wrote that Solomon “relieved … Styer from his duties” today, citing sources. Styer and Chronicles publisher Bruce Alston sometimes sparred on Facebook over his coverage of the Solomon administration.
Styer, a former press secretary for the New York City Public Schools, was the spokesman for Solomon’s transition team after he won the December 2nd runoff last year, before being announced as the Jersey City communications director in January, as HCV first reported.
The role of leading the public relations efforts of New Jersey’s second largest city comes with an annual salary of $130,000, according to public records from earlier this year that reflected compensation shortly after Styer and other city directors were hired.
Solomon’s most recent campaign finance report from July 20th shows that Styer was paid $2,500 a month in April, May, and June for a “Gusto contractor payment.” Gusto is a San Francisco-based company that handles payroll for the mayor’s campaign staff.
Sources familiar with the situation, who spoke under the condition of anonymity since they were not authorized to speak on the matter, said that Styer would also no longer be a part of Solomon’s campaign team.
