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The Breakfast Club
INTERVIEW: James Solomon & Frank Gilmore Talk Jersey City Mayoral Race, Housing, Health Care, Agendas + More
00:28:41
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Smart Water Announcer
This is an iHeart podcast.
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BET 106 in Sports Promoter
Wednesday at 10, 9 Central on BET. An all new episode of 106 in Sports from executive producers LeBron James and Maverick Carter. It's a new top five countdown with hosts Ashley Nicole Moss and Cam Newton. They're breaking down the top moments in sports, culture and entertainment and highlighting both established pros and the stars on the come up. Watch the all new series 106 in sports Wednesday at 10, 9 Central on BET or catch up the next day on BET.
- [00:36]
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Charlamagne tha God
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Councilman Frank Gilmore
Hold up.
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Charlamagne tha God
Every day I wake up. Wake your ass up. The Breakfast Club. Yes, it's the world's most dangerous morning show. The Breakfast Club. Charlemagne. The God Lauren LaRosa DJ Envy Jess Hilarious. And I don't know where Jess went.
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Councilman Frank Gilmore
Wow.
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Charlamagne tha God
I know where Jess went. I don't know where Envy went, though.
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DJ Envy
He on his way back in.
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Charlamagne tha God
Oh, he's on his way back. Okay, we have Councilman James Solomon. He's running for mayor of Jersey City. Good morning, Councilman.
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Councilman James Solomon
Thank you for having me.
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Charlamagne tha God
Now, they did not tell us who this brother is. I have no idea. Nobody told us anything. They just said Councilman James Solomon was coming. So I am sorry, sir. I think that's actually why Envy walked out. Not because he didn't know you. He didn't know how to introduce you. Whatever, whatever. So I don't have a problem looking like I don't know nothing.
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Councilman Frank Gilmore
Councilman Frank Educational Gilmore.
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Councilman James Solomon
Okay, so Frank Frank's councilman here in Ward F of New Jersey City.
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Charlamagne tha God
That's why you walked out.
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BET 106 in Sports Promoter
What?
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Radio Host / Interviewer
They were giving us the information on.
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Charlamagne tha God
The brother, but that's why I just thought. I didn't know anything. They told us Countdown.
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Councilman Frank Gilmore
Envy was ready to get prepared.
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Radio Host / Interviewer
Yeah, no, no. They were giving us information on the brother, so I said, give him a second.
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Charlamagne tha God
Oh, well, we here now. We already started.
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Councilman Frank Gilmore
How y' all doing?
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Councilman James Solomon
Wonderful.
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State Farm Advertiser
How are you?
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Radio Host / Interviewer
I'm doing well. So, Councilman James Solomon. So you're running for mayor of Jersey City.
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Councilman James Solomon
That's right.
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Smart Water Announcer
Why?
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Councilman James Solomon
It's a great question. So Jersey City has gotten being one of the most unaffordable cities in the entire country. Rents up 50% in five years.
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Radio Host / Interviewer
Because it's right next to the bridge.
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Councilman James Solomon
That's right. The Holland Tunnel. Property tax up 50% in five years. And we haven't had a leader who's been focused on actually making the city affordable, putting money in people's pockets, making sure the rent doesn't go through the roof. And so I'm running to deliver an affordable Jersey City.
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Radio Host / Interviewer
Are you from Jersey City?
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Councilman James Solomon
I grew up in Milburn, and I moved to Jersey City 15 years ago.
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Radio Host / Interviewer
Okay.
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Councilman James Solomon
Yeah.
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Radio Host / Interviewer
So you're familiar with Jersey City. The traffic. So how do you stop the traffic out in Jersey City? That's one of the first things. Traffic is always nuts in Jersey.
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Charlamagne tha God
Tell people to move.
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Councilman James Solomon
Yeah. Now we're not doing that.
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Radio Host / Interviewer
And two is the expenses. And how are you going to get, you know, the cost of living so down, so much so that people can actually live there?
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Councilman James Solomon
Yeah. So first thing on that one is we got to get tougher on development. Right. Jersey City developers have taken a lot, and it's time for them to start giving back to us. So right now, we basically had luxury only development. So, no affordable in Jersey City. Tens of thousands of units. So I'm the only candidate run for mayor as long as the Councilman, we don't take money from developers in our campaign. Gives us some real independence. So we're going to demand 20% affordable in all new projects with real rent. So rents a thousand a month. Rents 1500amonth. Because folks say affordable, but what does that actually mean? So we want to be specific. Rents a thousand a month. Rents 1500amonth. And then on transportation, I think a big thing is just trying to make our mass transit work better. So I say for your New York viewers, you know, PATH is actually worse than mta. It's worse than the subway. We had a train laid on fire a couple weeks ago. A couple months ago. So we're going to push to get our pass service running much more effectively, particularly on the weekends. Improve our light rail. Jersey City's got a great light rail. And then improve the buses. We think we can push and do all those things.
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Charlamagne tha God
I want to ask you why is. Tell me, tell us the importance of the city council for people who don't know.
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Councilman Frank Gilmore
So the importance of the city council is really the check and balance mechanism for the executive branch. So if you're looking at the president and then you have the House of Representatives and you have Congress, they're supposed to be that check and balance mechanism from the executive branch. And I would make the argument that the council races are more important than the actual mayoral races because the mayor may want to introduce something, but ultimately the council is tasked with either approving or voting that initiative down. So the city council level is so important, especially to everyday residents.
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Councilman James Solomon
And if I can just add one thing. So Frank and I are the only two members currently on the council that got our seats independently. You know, New Jersey, Jersey City got a really strong political machine, really powerful forces, and each of us got to our seats by starting on the grassroots, knocking on doors, being connected to the people. And that's partly why we've always been aligned politically. And you need independent voices on the council because if you don't have them, you just get the rubber stamp over and over again. Whatever the machine wants, whatever the money wants, that's what they get. And so you really need to have independent voices on your city council, pushing the city forward.
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Radio Host / Interviewer
One thing I was. Jersey City's also known for is bad flooding. Right. Had a car wash in Jersey city maybe about 15 years ago. Right. And what street? Don't even remember the street. Main street going up as soon as you come out. The Highland Tunnel. Right on the right hand side.
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Councilman James Solomon
Oh, yeah, yeah. Bought the car wash. Yeah, I know exactly where we are.
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Radio Host / Interviewer
And then it closed it. You know why?
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Councilman James Solomon
Because it flooded.
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Radio Host / Interviewer
It flooded, right. So it flooded so bad that for like two weeks at a time, nobody could actually get to my car wash because there was so much water there. And then when they got a car wash, they'd have to drive through the.
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Councilman Frank Gilmore
Water, which makes the car back dirty.
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Radio Host / Interviewer
It didn't make any sense. So why is Jersey City always flooded? And what can be done to make sure that that doesn't happen as much?
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Councilman James Solomon
Yeah, it's a great question. So if you look at like the old maps, like where your car wash was, like, it used to be water. I mean, the Hudson river used to be there. And then they filled it in over the years. And so what we can do is a couple of different things. One is like, it's kind of getting like wonky, but like you kind of want to treat your city like a sponge. You want more trees because they suck up the water. You want more poor, poor surfaces, your pavement to be able to soak up the water. And then you get more pumps to basically push the water out. So it's just like investments and it's thinking for the future because it's not getting better. Right. Climate change is getting worse. Right. We had Hurricane Ida. I mean, I was in people's basements seeing the flooding, devastation. I mean, people's livelihoods. People lived in the city their whole lives, all their stuff gone. And so we have to be committed to basically making sure that Jersey City has the best stormwater resiliency programs, expand your sewers, create that sort of porous sponge like surfaces wherever you can, and then you help with the flooding.
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Charlamagne tha God
And you're a cancer survivor.
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Councilman James Solomon
I am, yes.
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Charlamagne tha God
How do you. How does your own medical history drive your agenda for healthcare?
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Councilman James Solomon
I mean, it's the core, I think, of who I am and why I got into public service. I mean, so just to the quick story, right? So I was 30, had gotten married, and a month after the wedding, got the diagnosis. So you just think, you know, you're 30, you think you're invincible. The life's in front of you, and all of a sudden you have cancer. And it made me think deeply about what it is that I wanted in life. And for me, it was just two things. It was family and public service. So it's like, if I get better, if I get that second chance, that's what I want. And I got lucky, right? Treatment worked. Six months later, I was in remission. So actually this is the 10 year anniversary of the diagnosis. And so nine years back in health. And so I was like, you know, family, public service. So my wife and I have three beautiful daughters, Camilla, Corinne and Noel. They're seven, five and three. And then it was give back to Jersey City because, like, Jersey City had my back during my toughest time. So I was like, I have to have their back, and I got to do it the right way. And so that's what led me to run for office. And in council, I know that I have to pay it forward. I know that I got to make sure that people have access to health care. So as a city, we've expanded our health care options, we've opened up clinics, we're making sure more people can get health care. And at the national level, you know, it made me a supporter of universal health care. It made me say, look like when you're going through that tough treatment, you need to be focused on yourself and your family. Then I have to be worried about insurance and bills on top of that to add that extra stress that, like, your illness might bring bankruptcy to your family. Like, that is awful to force somebody through. So for me, it made me a supporter of universal healthcare. And I think, look, other countries, they don't have medical bankruptcies, but we do. And so that's what led me to decide that that was the right approach for us. So, on the national level, I always support candidates that are pushing for universal healthcare.
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DJ Envy
During the times right now, though, where, like Medicaid and Medicare, like, there's so much conversation about things being cut and something will happen. We don't know everything, right, but something will. How do you, you know, personally, as a cancer survivor, deal with the residents that you're fighting for when you have to possibly prepare to tell them, I might not be able to help you as a politician, how do you maneuver that?
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Councilman James Solomon
I mean, these are the most brutal conversations because, like, you get into politics because you want to help people, but you also can't lie to them. And, you know, on health care, you know, we know the Medicaid cuts are coming. And I mean, part of what I kind of hated about what Trump did was he cut it, but he put it after the election, right? So you're going to feel those cuts in 2027, not this year. So he can get through the election before people feel it. But I just tell people that I fight, right? I think that's. That's the thing is you can't promise things you can't deliver, but you can promise that you're going to fight. And so when these elections come in 26. I'm going to fight for candidates that want health care and, and get them into office.
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Radio Host / Interviewer
You know, I've been living in Jersey for about, I would say, 20 plus years, 25 years, something like that. And our station was Bacchanal street. So we're very familiar with going through Jersey City. How come nothing ever changes? Right? There's been so many different mayors in the last 20 years that I've been living in, in Jersey City, right. It's still the same. It's still. Traffic is crazy. It's still, you know, floods all the time. It's still expensive. It's still very, very costly. Even everything but it seems like it. Nothing ever changes. So what will be different with you?
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Councilman James Solomon
I think start with a councilman. We're connected to the people. Like, we start there. Neither of us got to where we got because the machine put us there. And you've seen that over the years, right? The machine picks their person and then you don't serve the people, you serve the bosses. And I think what we're going to be able to do is actually get into office and fight for folks. So again, not taking that developer money, that's huge. Jersey City has had so much growth and development, which isn't a bad thing, but it hasn't been for the whole community. So making sure we actually get affordable units in, getting those $1,000 a month rents in those large new luxury towers, that's doable. It's a thing we can deliver. And I think people will see that. You know, if you're actually a mayor, whose job it is, whose dream it is, is to be mayor, too often people have used it as a stepping stone for the next thing. And I respect politicians with ambition. Obviously wouldn't be here if I didn't have some. But I do think mayor's the dream job that you actually get to serve your community every day, go home at night and put your kids to bed. Like, I couldn't imagine a better job. And I think people will see that they have a mayor who's actually, you know, gives a shit about them.
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Charlamagne tha God
What do you think, Councilman Gilmore?
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Councilman Frank Gilmore
I think, I think also when you're talking about the municipal government and you're talking about the budget and you're talking about ways to find money, we looked and we seen that it was several individuals not paying the payroll tax, right? And these institutions historically get away from. Get away with not paying because of their ties to elected leadership. You know, they give these guys hundreds of thousands, thousands of Dollars in a campaign to turn their back when they see unethical things taking place. So when you have a government that's grounded and working for the people, you can ensure that the people that's making the most money is paying their fair share. What that do it. It release the burdens on everyday homeowners that own one or two family homes. Right. Their taxes are not so high because we're collecting the share that we're supposed to be collecting. With the amount of development that transpired in Jersey City within the last seven to 10 years, there's no way you can have more development and the cost of living going up. You have more ratables, you have more money coming in. Something isn't right here. Right. And there's a, there's a system that say, you know, put the onus on them and, you know, they'll do what's right. Yeah, right. You need a government that's going to be transparent and that's going to hold those developers accountable. You know, I get to, I get the, the kickback. Oh, he's anti development. No, I'm not. I'm just pro responsible development. Right. We want to make sure the development that's taking place, one, benefits the community and two, the developers are paying a fair share.
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Charlamagne tha God
I call it. Well, Killer Mike always calls it compassionate capitalism.
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Councilman James Solomon
Yeah, that's right.
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Charlamagne tha God
Yeah, that's what I agree.
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Councilman Frank Gilmore
That's what I agree.
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Charlamagne tha God
It should be compassionate capitalism. Like, I look at somebody like Zoran Mandani's campaign, right, and all he's talking about is people having more money in their pocket and people being safe. I don't know why politicians complicate any of this. That's all any American wants.
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Councilman Frank Gilmore
Well, when people giving you money, you got to. You kind of got to do your.
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Charlamagne tha God
Job, you know, so your job is to complicate things.
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Councilman Frank Gilmore
No, what I'm saying is when, when, when you have people who have a vested interest in you and they're giving you these monies and they, you know, taking care of your family members and, you know, you're giving out these contracts to all these people who super PAC is supporting you. And that's the messiness in politics, right? So you kind of lose yourself. They offered me to give me X amount of money to run on a certain slate. And I was like, well, I can't be Councilman Gilmore. The people like the councilmen that represent the interests of the people, right? That's what makes me unique. That's the only way I could win a race with 50,000 going against 2.5 million. Right. Because the people like representation, one that understand the problems, one that look like them and two that come from where they come from. Right. That's what make me unique. So it's a disservice to all of the people who supported me for me to say, hey, now I'm in a position to do what I've fought against my whole career.
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Charlamagne tha God
I agree.
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Radio Host / Interviewer
And I want to talk about, I'm sorry, one other thing, crime. Because you mentioned crime with Manani. You know, they saying that homicides is down, which is a great thing.
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Councilman James Solomon
Yes.
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Radio Host / Interviewer
But everything else is up. When they talking. Stolen vehicles is up, assaults is up, thefts is up, criminal mischief is up. How do we cut back on some of the crime that's happening in Jersey City? Because a lot of people where Jersey City was a place where a lot of people go to restaurants, they would go to. The nightlife was big at one time, but it slowed down a lot, which is hurting businesses because crime is up. So how do you combat that?
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Councilman James Solomon
Yeah, it's a good question. So I think it's like you do an all the above approach. So first is, we do need some more officers. We've lost 150 over the last five years. So get some more officers. Get them on the street. Our current police chief keeps them literally in these fixed posts. We're not allowed to move.
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Councilman Frank Gilmore
So.
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Councilman James Solomon
So if they're a crime that happens a block away, you say, hey, officers, there's a crime. They literally tell you, I can't move. Call it in a block away.
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Councilman Frank Gilmore
That's nuts.
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Councilman James Solomon
So we're gonna change that approach. Actually get folks off on the beaten moving. But then you gotta invest in the community. Right? Ultimately, part of the reason that those petty crimes have gone up is we're not offering opportunities for young people in Jersey City. So we're gonna change that. We're gonna have a plan for a thousand summer jobs, get folks off the street, give them youth opportunities, income too, to be able to find what gives them validation, find what gives them hope. And then we got a plan to basically make sure we have violence interrupters everywhere in the city.
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Radio Host / Interviewer
Now they're saying that a lot of the officers are leaving because they feel like the city is not behind them. Meaning people are getting arrested and they're rearresting the same people over and over and over again. They're getting non cash bails and they're coming out and doing these same crimes. And a lot of officers are saying that, you know, why risk my life in Jersey City when I can go down south where they feel like they respect the law a lot better. Florida or Florida, I'm talking Houston, I'm talking in places like that where they.
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Councilman Frank Gilmore
Feel like, well, I mean, I'm on the record, I'm a huge fan of cashless bails. Being in that situation and seeing several individuals sitting in a county jail for two and three years for petty crimes because they don't have the financial stability to get out. But there is, there needs to be a conversation for repeat offenders. I remember at one point when it like this first no cash bail came into play and we seen a lot of people who was arrested for firearms being able to come home and subsequently some of those individuals end up dead or killing other people. So I think that, you know, while there are some benefits, there are some setbacks that we need to be able to tweak out. And ultimately I think the state have done a better job with that, keeping violent offenders in there longer until they either, I guess sentence or exonerate or however that go. But when you're talking about crime, right, in order to really address crime, you have to first understand crime, right? So we've done a fairly decent job as it relates to homicides and violence crimes being down across the city.
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BET 106 in Sports Narrator
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- [17:14]
BET 106 in Sports Promoter
Wednesday at 10, 9 Central on BET is BET's All New Series 106 in.
- [17:19]
BET 106 in Sports Narrator
Sports, hosted by NFL star Cam Newton and sports analyst Ashley Nicole Moss. 106 in sports is where the biggest plays meet the biggest conversations. Each week, Cam and Ashley are counting down the top five moments everyone's talking about. From the most jaw dropping highlights on the field to the viral clips taking over the feed to the culture shifts shaping fashion, entertainment and black Excellence. The Top 5 countdown dives into all the game winning touchdowns, buzzer beaters, red carpet fits and headlines making stories that define our culture. With Cam bringing an athlete's perspective and Ashley bringing an analyst's edge. They're breaking down every angle. The wins, the controversies and the unforgettable moments that keep us talking. Whether it's a wild play that broke the Internet or a championship celebration for the ages or the latest trends shaking up culture. It's if it's big, it's on 106 in sports, whether it's stars like LeBron, Steph Giannis and Durant making waves on and off the court, you know it's making the countdown. So tune in and join the conversation because it's where sports meets style, competition meets culture, and every moment matters.
- [18:25]
BET 106 in Sports Promoter
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BET 106 in Sports Narrator
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- [21:29]
Councilman Frank Gilmore
Because we have organizations like Hudson Partnership, cmo, Credible Messengers, you know, a bunch of groups that I work with, we do what we call high level intervention with individuals who may partake, participate in gang violence and things like that. So it's about funding those institutions. They're doing this stuff with no money, with no money on a shoe screen budget. So we invest in them, they can do more. Now, when you're talking about petty crime, what are some of the motivations of individuals committing petty crime? A lot of these crimes are people breaking in cars, still on laptops because it's visible, taking change and things like that. These, these are people with drug addiction. These are people that have problems, right? You treat the, you treat the problem and not the symptom, right? You get these people in rehabs, you have opportunities for them to rehabilitate. Excuse me, rehabilitate themselves, right? And that's how you have a holistic approach to crime.
- [22:27]
Charlamagne tha God
Do you think the gentrificate, the gentrification in Jersey City will be beneficial or will be too many residents being displaced?
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Councilman Frank Gilmore
Well, gentrification is already there, right? So I always tell people in Jersey City, yeah, man, I always tell people, listen, at the end of the day, I already know, I'm a black man in America, right? I'm of the opinion, right? If gentrification is here, you have to be a part of the system. It's coming. In fact, it's already here, right? I'm encouraging people and this is outside of politics, right? Buy up whatever you can buy up, get together with two or three people, buy it up, buy your grandmother house, get your family house, don't sell the house, right? Because gentrification is here. And to really have stake in a game, you have to own property, you have to have ownership. I don't care who's in charge, you have to have ownership. So you have to be proactive, man. It's already here. And you have to become a willing participant inside of this cycle, right? And I tell people all the time, right? Crime is going to. Is going to move. Because that's the good thing about gentrification, right? It. It eradicates a certain element of a community, right? Because there's an influx of not just black or white, it's just individuals on a high end of the socioeconomic ladder, right? People that make more money. So with that group of people with certain. Certain stuff that's just not going to be around, right? So the gentrification is there. There's also opportunity for people to benefit from it, right? I ain't sitting around complaining about, oh, this person is buying up this. No participate. Get with a brother or sister. I got two friends, they living. They paying $3,000 on each floor in the house. Get a mortgage, right? Don't get in the business of complaining. Like, let's do something about programs.
- [24:21]
Radio Host / Interviewer
Yeah, that's what I'm saying. Most of the time, there's no programs.
- [24:23]
Councilman Frank Gilmore
No, no, no, no, no.
- [24:24]
Radio Host / Interviewer
They can't put down money.
- [24:25]
Councilman James Solomon
Money.
- [24:25]
Radio Host / Interviewer
There's no money to put down.
- [24:26]
DJ Envy
Know about the. But, okay, so politicians that come here, or just in general, when I talk to them, they'll name all these programs and all these resources. But when you just talk to the regular person, grandma is 10 years back taxes. You don't even have the energy to think about that. And you don't know. You don't know who to call to find out, right?
- [24:43]
Councilman Frank Gilmore
That's.
- [24:43]
DJ Envy
What are you doing to bridge that gap of, hey, I'm giving you the resources because I want to make sure y' all can be in the ownership conversation.
- [24:49]
Councilman James Solomon
This is what Frank is. Is great at, right? So, you know, he calls himself Frank Educational Gilmore, but there's a reason for that, right? You know, Frank is in the community every day. He's. He literally goes door to door to let people know. He held a couple of specific meetings about, hey, how do you benefit from homeownership? How do you access the resources that are there? And the community trusts Frank. And so Frank is out there every day doing that. But I think it gets back to something you were talking about with Mamdani. It's just understanding that, like, part of our job is money in people's pockets, right? Part of the reason, you know, people didn't care about things Mamdani tweeted:6 years ago was because he showed that he was actually the one guy who was willing to fight some powerful interests to get more money in people's pockets, right? Freeze rent, right? Get more affordable homes built. And that's what we're doing. And that's what I think for this like race is about. It's like, look, we got people who should be able to buy their homes, who should be able to stay in Jersey City, but they don't know about it. And we are going to actually be focused on getting them money because we don't have other people telling us what to do. We don't have bosses giving us order, we don't have developers demanding that we prioritize them over the homeowners. But we're going to be out there every day knocking on doors, hosting community meetings and like getting people education so they can actually benefit from changes that are happening in the community.
- [25:51]
Councilman Frank Gilmore
And also like my office did, right. We host these first time home buyers seminar. We just have one Saturday. Right. And we have a newsletter that go out. I'm very involved in the community and my whole thing is I'm telling people is like, this is what's available. My whole platform is about educating people. This really the main reason I'm into politics. I'm not really, I don't like politics to be completely honest. Right. But I'm in it because I want to hurt, I want to help people out. Right. And I'm. And I'm encouraging them. It's like it seems hard because in black and brown communities like we don't have these conversations about home ownership as much as we should. Right. So I'm encouraging. I remember I'm a recipient of a first time home buyers house. It took me a year to close on that house. The people I was working with, they said, Mr. Gilmore, you have encountered every single setback that you can encounter in purchase in the house. Right. So I use that to fuel me to help the next person, to help the next family. I'm teaching them outside of my job that if your house have a lien on it, what you can do to get this lien off, how you can leverage the equity in your house. Because us, we're looking at the house, I'm looking at the value in the land, right. So it's about educating. That's the most important thing that I didn't. I think I really was successful at accomplishing this first term is educating the people. And I think that's the most important thing is education.
- [27:23]
Radio Host / Interviewer
Now you shot up in the polls, right? You, a year ago you, you were down low.
- [27:27]
Councilman James Solomon
Yeah.
- [27:28]
Radio Host / Interviewer
And you shot back up where it's almost neck and neck. Why do you think that is?
- [27:31]
Councilman James Solomon
Yeah, well, it gets back to money in pockets, right. Being directly focused on affordability each and every day. But then also it's the dynamic of the race. And it's not too different than what you guys seen in New York. I know you guys are all Jersey residents, but what folks in New York have seen, right, My main opponent is a disgraced former governor, not Andrew Cuomo, Jim McGreevey, who resigned in scandal 20 years ago. And he started with everybody, right? The governor endorsed him. All the bosses endorsed him. He raised $5 million, which is like three times as much as anybody's ever raised in Jersey City before. And so, you know, he starts at the lead. But just like Cuomo came back down to earth, it's the same thing with McGreevey. Because when you knock on someone's door, they don't care about any of that. The only thing they're asking about is, how can I make your life better?
- [28:07]
Councilman Frank Gilmore
That's it.
- [28:08]
Councilman James Solomon
And I can show, look, on the city council, we ban the use of illegal algorithms to ban to set rents high. We repealed the fees they put on our pre public pools. We've been about doing work for people in the community. And so when you get to tell that story to people, they're like, hey, I might not have known about you six months ago, but I want you to be the mayor because you seem like you're actually going to try to make my life better. The guy who reports to Charles Kushner, he's not going to make my life better.
- [28:31]
Charlamagne tha God
Councilman Gilmore, why are you supporting Councilman Salomon?
- [28:34]
Councilman Frank Gilmore
Oh, that's a great question. I mean, I've supported Councilman Salomon because he's been like, one of my biggest allies on the council, and I've witnessed how he worked firsthand. We're the only two independent council people. And just to give you guys a reality on how that looks, that means we only have two votes. You need five votes to get anything passed. So whenever the administration come in with something that's like the regular person, we're looking like, this is dumb. Why is they voting? And they get passed is because the administration have these. These. These council people that's a part of the administration, and they just vote for whatever the administration want. I've witnessed Councilman Solomon work with the odds against us 7 to 2, and to get meaningful legislation passed. I've witnessed him argue with legal and say, listen, I didn't ask you if. If we can do it or we can't do it. I'm saying find a way in which we can do it, because they're Notorious for saying, oh, we can't do this. We can't do that, right? Whenever it's me or Councilman Salman coming to them, but everybody else, they go, and they try to make a way. So for me, when I'm looking at it, I'm looking at one who is really genuine about doing the job, who have the experience, who can have the financial capacity to get to the finishing line, and. And who I will be able to work with best to get the most resources for my war. Because ultimately, I want to make sure my residents and Ward F are taken care of. And Councilman Solomon have proven to be that individual. Fun fact. Everybody running for mayor wanted me before they even made any announcements. Everybody. If we can get Gilmore, we're in a good position, right? So they used to say I was like, the hot. My friend would say, you the hot chicken in high school. Everybody wants you. And, you know, I wait, waited patiently, and I looked at who was. Because for me, like, who you're connected to is really important. You know, my mentors say, be mindful of the company you keep, right? So. And I see Councilman Salomon have done a great job by surrounding himself around people who's really into doing the business of the municipal government. For me, I said, you know, I have to get behind that, right? You know, like I said, people have offered me very lucrative things. And some people was looking at me like, oh, what is wrong with this guy? He don't understand politics. And I'm like, no, I don't understand politics the way you understand it, right? So that's why I'm supporting Councilman Salomon, and that's why he's gonna be our next mayor.
- [31:06]
Councilman James Solomon
Dope.
- [31:07]
Radio Host / Interviewer
All right, well, in wrapping, closing this out, what do you want to say to your residents in Jersey City?
- [31:14]
Councilman James Solomon
It was the question interview you asked, which was like, things haven't changed. So I get the cynicism. I get why people are frustrated. But I do think we can. We can have hope. We can have genuine public servants that each and every day get up and think their job is to serve other people and make their lives better. So I ask for everyone's vote if you live in Jersey City, because genuinely, we can make the city more affordable. We can end the luxury only housing and get housing that actually people can afford. We have a plan to get rent to own for teachers, firefighters, nurses, you know, cops, make sure that they're able to stay in the city that they serve. We're going to cap rent increases, and we're going to stabilize property taxes, which have gone up 50% in five years. So if you want leadership that's independent, that puts the people first, and the only bosses, the residents of Jersey City, then we're asking for your vote.
- [31:58]
Radio Host / Interviewer
Last question. I thought that was the last one.
- [32:00]
Councilman James Solomon
Keep going.
- [32:02]
Radio Host / Interviewer
With so many influences, artists and et cetera, et cetera, in Jersey City, have you guys ever said, you know what? Let me work with them to make sure that we can protect our own community because somebody might be strong here? I've seen what Brass Baraka did a long time ago. This guy might be strong in this war. This guy might be strong in this war. Then if we work together, we can stop some of the crimes. Have you guys?
- [32:22]
Councilman Frank Gilmore
Yeah, I mean, so that's. That's the approach, you know, Raz, shout out to my brother, Raz Baraka. That's. That's my big brother. That's my mentor. Um, and that's something we've done, like, on a. On a micro level. We haven't really got to the place where we need to. To get to as it relates to that. But to your point, that is so important is these are the people that's on the ground that actually know the people, and they are related to the people. So you have to, one, fund that initiative, and two, be serious about it. Right. Don't fund it one year or halfway, and then the next year, not fund it. Right. I'm looking at north, because NORC in Jersey City is similar in a lot of things. And I'm looking across the bridge, and I'm saying, wow, they're doing a great. A lot of great things, like the 24 hours. A piece like that is beautiful. That was beautiful. Now people feel like they're a part. Like we belong, right? So they're more vested. It's kind of like the homeowner versus the renter. Right? Homeowners take more care of the property because they understand how it affects their property value. Right? And you just make sure everyone's a part of the conversation, Everyone is benefiting. And I think ultimately, a style deal match is a match made in heaven.
- [33:35]
Charlamagne tha God
When we do that, you know, Councilman Solomon, they just dropped a hit piece on you in.
- [33:38]
Councilman Frank Gilmore
Oh, yeah.
- [33:39]
Charlamagne tha God
Jersey City Times. They said you come from a privileged background.
- [33:43]
BET 106 in Sports Narrator
I don't.
- [33:43]
Charlamagne tha God
You know, I saw him. I saw him do that with. And I'm like, I don't see why that matters. If a person cares about public service, like, I don't.
- [33:52]
Councilman Frank Gilmore
You gonna penalize me from my parents making the right decision. That's kind of how life should work. Your parents should put you in the best position to succeed.
- [34:01]
Councilman James Solomon
Yeah.
- [34:01]
Annabe Sofas Advertiser
And you.
- [34:01]
Councilman James Solomon
And you asked Charlamagne about, like, the cancer diagnosis. Like that, you know, it was this thing that, like, just all the scales fell away. None of that's what matters is are you dedicating your life to making other people's lives better? And do you fight for what's right? And when I talk knock on someone's door, the question is, how are you gonna lower my rent? How are you gonna make sure my kid's public school is better? How are you gonna make sure I can cross the street safely and not get run over?
- [34:22]
Councilman Frank Gilmore
That.
- [34:23]
Councilman James Solomon
How are you gonna make stop the flooding? That's. Those the questions they ask. And I think we're gonna win because we don't get distracted by all the, you know, the bs. We just talk about how we're gonna make your life better for the city.
- [34:31]
Radio Host / Interviewer
Well, Councilman Gilmore, Councilman Solomon, good luck.
- [34:35]
Councilman James Solomon
I appreciate it.
- [34:35]
Radio Host / Interviewer
When can they go out there and vote? When can they go out there and vote?
- [34:37]
Councilman James Solomon
So early voting is open now, so you can vote 10am 10am to 8pm at 12 sites across J. Election Day is November 4th. Polls are open 6am to 8 p'm. On Election Day in New Jersey.
- [34:47]
Radio Host / Interviewer
Now get out there and vote. And we appreciate you brothers, for joining us.
- [34:49]
Councilman James Solomon
We appreciate it.
- [34:50]
Councilman Frank Gilmore
Thank you for having us.
- [34:51]
Radio Host / Interviewer
It's the Breakfast Club. Good morning.
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Charlamagne tha God
Every day I wake up. Wake your ass up.
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Councilman James Solomon
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Councilman James Solomon
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