![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/128-Glenwood-Ave-e1789570254770.png\")
<\/a>128 Glenwood Ave. in Jersey City. Photo via Google Maps.<\/p>\nHow does the Solomon Administration decide who has to \u201csell [their] s***\u201d and who gets $1.2M?<\/p>\n
The Solomon Administration is proposing to spend $1.2 million to purchase a vacant lot at 128 Glenwood Ave for a community garden, including $1 million in Community Development Block Grant funds and $230,000 from the City\u2019s capital fund.<\/p>\n
This plan is the result of three years of advocacy from the McGinley Square Community Board to preserve the property as a community garden and prevent a developer from constructing housing there.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s worth noting that the McGinley Square Community Board lists its address at 130 Glenwood Ave., directly next door to the proposed community garden plot.<\/p>\n Community Development Block Grant funds are federal dollars intended to benefit low- and moderate-income residents, create suitable living environments, and address urgent community needs.<\/p>\n The city will use these funds to pay three times what the developer paid for the land, a return that beats the S&P 500. All while the city raises taxes 15.15%, cuts back on services, and warns of the need for difficult choices and fiscal discipline.<\/p>\n Under the previous administration, Jersey City held public hearings for CDBG funding. Residents and nonprofits were given opportunities to comment on proposed activities and later apply for funding.<\/p>\n But the process under the Solomon Administration has been opaque.<\/p>\n Earlier this year, the McGinley Square Community Board applied for a $475,000 grant from the county, following approval from the city council.<\/p>\n The status of that grant and the jump in asking price are among many unanswered questions about the process that led the city to decide to acquire the lot for $1.2 million.<\/p>\n Chief among them: Why should scarce federal community development funds be directed to a community where nearby properties are assessed at $700,000 to $900,000+?<\/p>\n There is no shortage of need in Jersey City, and future federal dollars are scarce until there is a change in leadership in the executive branch. What else could $1.2 million accomplish?<\/p>\n The recent 25th anniversary of the September 11th attack on the World Trade Center emphasizes the need to maintain investment in Jersey City\u2019s fire department.<\/p>\n The city recently featured<\/a> a quote from Battalion Chief Richard Gorman across its social media pages: \u201cThe greatest firefighting force on this earth\u2013they called us for help.\u201d <\/p>\n But is today\u2019s fire department adequately equipped to meet the needs of Jersey City, let alone support an emergency in neighboring communities?\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n In recent weeks, the temporary structure that houses Engine Co. 10 and Ladder Co. 12 has been temporarily closed due to mold, leading to questions about response times.<\/p>\n According to online reports<\/a>, some fire equipment is over 26 years old, trucks remain out of service, and the department lacks manpower.\u00a0<\/p>\n Proponents of the garden have said they want to protect their neighborhood\u2019s character. But this isn\u2019t a debate over a garden, neighborhood character, or firehouses.<\/p>\n This is about policy and prioritization. How does the Solomon Administration determine who is worthy of investment and preservation? And how do they determine which history is preserved? Is it just buildings? Or the generations of families that occupy those buildings?<\/p>\n When Greenville residents expressed concerns over rising property taxes, senior advisor to the mayor Stu Thomas said: \u201cSell your s*** and move.\u201d<\/p>\n But when the McGinley Square Community Board raised concerns over a neighboring development, they got $1.2 million in federal and taxpayer dollars?<\/p>\n If the administration believes this is the best use of scarce CDBG and capital funds, it should be able to defend that choice.<\/p>\n They should also explain why neighborhoods struggling with aging infrastructure, inadequate public facilities, and the rising cost of remaining in their homes have not received the same level of support.<\/p>\n Stu Thomas\u2019 comments about Greenville residents have been dismissed as an unfortunate remark<\/a>. But the purchase of this land renews scrutiny on those remarks and the priorities of this administration.<\/p>\n What neighborhood does the Solomon Administration listen to, who do they really represent, and who do they want to see remain in Jersey City?<\/p>\n These are not one-off unforced errors; these are policy choices that show us who the city wants to invest in and who is expected to accept change.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n