08/03/2026
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By The Chronicler In Chief/The Hudson County Chronicles
Mayor James Solomonβs last gasp at gaining any real influence over Jersey Cityβs public schools will come through the four Board of Education seats up for grabs in November.
Letβs call this what it is. Solomon hired Dr. Dia Bryant as Deputy Mayor of Education at 200k per year, but City Hall has no authority over the Jersey City Public Schools. The BOE is an independent entity. Dr. Bryant cannot direct the superintendent, change district policy, move personnel or carry out an education agenda without cooperation from the people running the school system.
From what I understand, BOE leadership and Superintendent Dr. Norma Fernandez were not exactly rushing to return the Deputy Mayorβs emails before Solomon publicly went after the superintendent over her contract and the districtβs academic performance.
So what does Solomon do? He turns up the political heat and unfairly puts his own Deputy Mayor on the defensive while she is still trying to build a working relationship with the district.
That was a political rookie mistake. Dr. Bryant now has to walk into the room representing an administration which publicly challenged the people she needs cooperation from. She has no legal authority over them, no vote on the board and no power to force anyone to work with her. Her entire position depends on communication and relationships, and her own mayor just made both more difficult.
Some of Solomonβs criticism may be justified, but timing and strategy matter. Leadership is not only about calling people out. It is also about understanding who must return to the table the next morning and clean up the political mess.
This is why November BOE elections are more important than some realize. Solomon needs candidates. He needs allies. He needs board members willing to give City Hall access and influence inside a school system where the mayor currently has no authority.
So, who are the Solomon candidates? Make no mistake, a political agenda is definitely in play. Three BOE seats, a billion-dollar school budget, thousands of jobs, major contracts and the future direction of the district are all on the table.
November will not be some quiet little school board election. It will be City Hallβs attempt to get through the schoolhouse door. By Any Means Necessary in 2026.
City of Jersey City Official Government Page
Jersey City Mamas
State of New Jersey
