HTC endorses Solomon for re-election to Jersey City Council

The Hotel Trades Council (HTC), one of the largest and most influential unions in the New York City metropolitan area, has endorsed Ward E Councilman James Solomon for re-election to the Jersey City Council.

“​​Councilman Solomon has stood with the Hotel Trades Council and our members in some of our toughest fights in Jersey City,” HTC President Rich Maroko said in a statement. “He was a tireless advocate against AirBnb’s proliferation of illegal hotels throughout the city and stood with us when we pushed back against their multi-million-dollar ballot initiative to overturn the city’s ordinance. Over the last four years, he has stood up for hotel workers and for all working-class people in Downtown Jersey City.”

Solomon is locked in a general election contest with Jake Hudnut, who previously lost to Solomon when he ran for the seat in 2017. In that contest, Hudnut came in fourth with 9% of the vote, while Solomon advanced to the runoff election with 32%.

Unusually for a challenger, Hudnut is the preferred candidate of Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, while the incumbent Solomon is backed by many of the state’s most progressive organizations, like the New Jersey Working Families Party and Our Revolution New Jersey. Solomon has also been endorsed by 32BJ Service Employees International Union, another top union in the New York City area.