You’re absolutely right. That’s the right thing to do. Here is a start and I will post again later today after I draft a comprehensive summary.

This is the NJ State law: https://www.state.nj.us/dca/divisions/codes/publications/pdf_lti/new_const_m_dwell_law.pdf

In addition, if you live in Jersey City, this is our local law, Chapter 260: https://library.municode.com/nj/jersey_city/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CH260RECO

It’s actually more nuanced than that. There are specific requirements that must be met by both the building and the building’s original owner. I’d be glad to walk through them with you. Feel DM me and I’ll explain.

Read the press pieces about the Portside Towers tenants on their Twitter feed — https://twitter.com/RentControlJC - and then DM them or email RentControlJC@gmail.com

This is not correct information and that’s part of the problem. It’s easy to dupe tenants who just repeat what they hear and who don’t read and think critically for themselves. The state statute regarding rent control (the NJ Newly Constructed Multiple Dwelling Law aka NJSA 2A:42-84.1 et seq) and the Jersey City rent control ordinance (Chapter 260) have very specific requirements about what needs to have happened and when in order for a building to have an exemption for rent control. There is no “one size fits all” automatic 30 year exemption. And not all exemptions are for 30 years. As a matter of fact, the default for all buildings in Jersey City is that they are subject to rent control unless specific requirements have been met.

Perpetuating incorrect information allows both the city and landlords to take advantage of tenants who don’t know better.

Now for the cya: I’m not a lawyer but I do know the local and state rent control laws very well. Feel to DM for specifics if you like.

Also, email RentControlJC@gmail.com

This is the Portside Towers tenants who have been appearing at City Council meetings since November. They'e been regularly covered in both the national and local press since the fall for their push for tenants' rights and enforcement of the rent control law in Jersey City.

Perhaps you are correct. But if he does care, he can show his constituents otherwise.

Should Fulop run for governor, he's smart enough to know that while money might get him so far, at the end of the day, it's votes that are needed to get him elected.

Word travels; Jersey City does not exist in a vacuum.

This post got your attention, so yes, the press that results from the City Council meetings is one example of why constituent advocacy is important. Unless you attend the meetings you might not yet be aware of the following:

• Portside tenants are bringing awareness about Jersey City's rent control law, Chapter 260, to fellow JC tenants. The amount of misinformation about rent control exemptions, even here on Reddit, is astounding. Even city agencies may not be giving tenants correct, lawful information.
• Portside tenants are striving to teach other tenants how to organize their own tenant associations. Forming a tenant association is an added layer of protection while tenants fight for their rights (see NJSA 2A:42-10.10).
• Portside tenants are teaching other tenants how to determine whether a mutli-family building within JC has a proper exemption, no matter what a building's owners may say on tenant leases. Behaving 'as if' one is exempt from rent control is not uncommon. Tenants should know that it is illegal and there is a process to defend themselves.

City Council members and even Hudson County officials/candidates are paying attention. The consistent, growing number of tenants who have been showing up at City Council meetings is bringing awareness for increased transparency related to lawful exemptions from rent control. No one tenant needs to feel alone anymore. And where there's increased transparency, we can expect a decrease in nefarious actions against tenants by bad actor landlords. It's been less than five months since Portside tenants went public with their fight for tenant rights...there's so much more organizing in the works.

If you are interested in learning more about what has been accomplished, you can DM me. You can also follow Portside tenants on Twitter (@RentControlJC).

Disclaimer: I am not an attorney

Hudson County Executive and Commissioner candidates Eleana Little, Ron Bautista, and Adrian Ghainda also stood in solidarity with tenants and for enforcement of the law.

Romano’s letter

https://preview.redd.it/rni6s3n5jcha1.jpeg?width=1125&format=pjpg&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=cdf7b3ee4f3fea1146f5174d767d08fa86bdf137