JERSEY CITY - The crowd - and it was a happy crowd - stood shoulder to shoulder at the Mana Contemporary Art Center as James Solomon spoke.

As he launched into the customary "thank you," a few people began a chant - "SO-LO-MON, SO-LO-MON ..."

When the mayor-elect got to the guts of his remarks Tuesday night, he called it an "incredible progressive win"

It was quite a win. He was going up against a former governor who had powerful folks on his side. That proved to be a bad thing for Jim McGreevey, not a good thing.

It is comforting for many in this city, one presumes, to realize that a majority of voters rejected a one-time governor with a stained past in favor of a local councilman.

Of course, it wasn't as if Solomon had no politicians in his corner.

Andy Kim endorsed him.

Ravi Bhalla and Katie Brennan, two just-elected state Assembly members, were in the house.

As was Bill O'Dea, the third-place finisher on Nov. 4, who endorsed Solomon. He got a big thank you from Solomon and great applause from the crowd.

Solomon spoke of a "mission," and it was clear what that mission is.

"An affordable Jersey City starts now," he said.

A key part of his campaign was capping rents in designated affordable housing units at $1,000. He also talked about expanding youth recreation and services for seniors.

If there was an overriding message - and goal - for the state's second largest city, it was this:

"We must deliver real progressive government."