Jersey City activist Katie Brennan formally kicked off her bid for state Assembly in the 32nd Legislative District
A series of supporters spoke before she did.
“She used to control the AC in my office when we both worked with the county. Katie made sure that Hudson County was using its home dollars to build affordable housing for our most vulnerable constituents in Hudson,” began Waterfront Project Executive Director Carol Sainthilaire.
“Because of Katie and her dedication to affordable housing, not only for renters but also for homeowners, we were able to help end foreclosures for hundreds upon thousands of homeowners across the State of New Jersey,” Sainthilaire said.
She noted homelessness in Hudson County went up 27 percent from 2023 to 2024.
“It’s because we have been caring more about developers and luxury apartments. We need someone like Katie leading our state, leading Jersey City, leading Hoboken, because we need change.”
Another local activist, Beverly, Brown Ruggia noted Brennan fought against the gutting of the Open Public Records Act and toward ending the county line ballot structure.
“I don’t want dumb, uninformed people representing us anywhere,” she said to applause.
“Housing is pretty much the worst crisis in our state. Everything feeds into that. Katie has always fought to make housing … accessible and safe for everyone.”
Justin Shoham, who runs Enigma Consulting, called Brennan a friend whose leadership is needed at a time like this.
“This is what many people consider the darkest hour in American history. I wish I could tell you that the party we have here is a healthy one that can definitely fight back and definitely preserve what we have,” he said.
“I’m afraid to tell you that is not the case. There are too many leaders, ya know, who indulge in the corruption, the corporatism, the cronyism, the nepotism. They don’t listen to the people.”
Despite the circumstances, he said Brennan’s candidacy still gives him hope.
“She knows what it’s like to be on the wrong side of power, and she won,” Shoham declared to applause and cheers, referring to her sexual assault case that ended up being settled for $1 million.
Brennan then addressed the dozens of supporters on hand.
“We’ve been given candidates by the political machine. The party controlled “the line” on the ballot, and we had no say in who represents us. We didn’t have a choice. And with that, what did we get?” she questioned.
“Trash!” someone in the crowd called out.
“We got trash. The same old nothing. What did we get? We got OPRA gutted. We got our schools being defunded a quarter billion dollars annually. We got more people on the PATH for less service. Or tonight, no service: We got nothing.”
“We have been squeezed until, or worried that you can’t even afford to live in Jersey City or Hoboken anymore,” Brennan added.
She said this election cycle is different now that the line will not to available to install candidates.
“Now New Jersey has a democracy for the first time in a very long time!” Brennan declared to cheers. “Now you, the voters, have a choice,” she argued.