Brian Laird on WNYC. Back in December, we had the incoming mayor of Jersey City,

James Solomon, on the show to talk about his hopes and vision for the city after he got elected.

Now, just a few weeks into his term, the new mayor has announced that Jersey City is in dire

financial straits. He said last week that the city is facing a budget deficit of a little over

$250 million, which amounts to nearly 30 percent of its annual budget. And Mayor Solomon is blaming the

crisis on the former mayor, Steve Fullop, who led the city for 13 years before running for

governor against Mikey Sherrill last year. We had Steve Fullop on the show yesterday in his new

job in New York. But the new mayor of Jersey City has released a detailed report on the deficit,

saying the city landed in this financial mess because of what he calls

gross incompetence and negligence under Mayor Fullop.

He also argues it's particularly striking because the deficit was created

during a period of economic prosperity for

Jersey City. It is also worth noting, however, as Fullop is fast to point out, that Solomon himself

served on City Council during most of the period when this deficit was created, when Philip was here

yesterday, to talk about his new role as president and CEO of the partnership for New York

City. We also briefly discussed the deficit, which he denies responsibility for. So there's a

political blame game. That's one story. But there's also the deficit itself. New York City is in a

similar boat with much bigger numbers because the whole everything is different, is bigger in New York City.

But today we are joined by Mayor Solomon to explain his take on the budget deficit and lay out his plan for economic recovery.

We'll also touch on a few other Jersey City issues and also that election or at least nomination

that Michael Hill just reported on of the candidate, the DSA candidate for Congress winning

in New Jersey 11 where Mikey Sherrill used to serve. But Mayor Solomon, welcome back to WNYC and just a few weeks

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