Tenants and housing workers from Journal Squared Luxury Towers gathered last week to call for stronger rentals and labor standards. The demonstration found 380 housing code violations in the building following a state inspection in October 2024.
The rally, held outside the complex owned by Kushner Real Estate Group, highlighted concerns over substandard living conditions for tenants and low wages for workers responsible for maintaining the building. Protesters claimed that despite KRE’s substantial revenue, the Porters and Concierge of Journal Squared will earn between $16 and $20 an hour.
“We are crucial to the luxurious experiences that KRE promotes, but there is no fair distribution,” said Shakira Drown, Squared’s Concierge. “I’m paying just $18 an hour while supporting a family of five. For a few months I’ve been forced to choose the bills I should pay. As hard as it is now, In particular, I’m worried how much worse it will get in three years from now. I don’t want to be priced from my home.”
Protesters also raised concerns over algorithms that lock down rents and excessive fees that they say are contributing to the city’s affordability crisis.
“The porters and concierges who run apartments deserve the respect, wages and benefits that they can afford to live where they work,” said Anna Maria Hill, vice president of 32BJ SEIU and director of New Jersey. I did. “It is unacceptable that a luxurious landlord can pay workers little while charging tenants an incredible fee on top of thousands of rent.”
When Journal Squared opened up fully in the fall, the KRE group touted it as a symbol of Jersey City’s economic boom and the “new standard for luxury living.” However, participants in the rally claimed it was behind high-end branding, claiming that KRE’s wage policies and rising rental costs only deepened economic inequality in the city.
KRE did not respond to requests for comment.
The event attracted support from several local officials in attendance, including Jersey City Councilman James Solomon, Hudson County Commissioner Bill Odea, mayoral candidate Mussab Aria and New Jersey Legislative candidate Katie Brennan. .
The rally was part of a broader push by 32BJ SEIU to organize housing workers in Jersey City. Last year, Guardian Services workers in six buildings secured a four-year contract that includes pay raises and health care paid by employers.
Most recently, New Jersey cleaning contractor BABCO Services has reached a settlement with the National Labor Relations Commission after granting oversight and threats to workers involved in the union organization. Babco has agreed to recognize the union and begin negotiations for contracts for employees. Employees currently earn $18.50 an hour.
