To Mayor Steven Fulop and the Jersey City Municipal Council,Jersey City’s administration has proposed a 30-year tax abatement for a residential development in Journal Square, in order to create a site for the Pompidou Jersey City Museum. Although investment in the arts in Jersey City is much needed, this proposal involves an immense, multiyear commitment of taxpayer dollars.We strongly oppose this project: not only is its financial plan risky, speculative, and unrealistic; but also, just as important, it does not make sense to invest immense taxpayer funds for a foreign institution to come to Jersey City when our schools, parks, public transportation, and affordable housing are severely in need of resources, as are Jersey City’s homegrown arts organizations and artists. For the reasons below, we urge you to oppose Ordinance 24-086:Urgency and Planning Concerns: The proposal’s rushed timeline hinders thorough assessment. It lacks essential planning components and deviates from successful models for cultural institutions, which typically involve grassroots support, private funding, or university affiliations. It is abnormal and irresponsible to rush the approval process for a public infrastructure of this size within a two week time period. Operational Funding Challenges: The Pompidou project is expected to have an annual operating cost of $23–34 million, while only $4 million in revenue has been identified. The proposal lacks a clear, realistic fundraising strategy to address this significant funding gap. Local Investment vs. Foreign Museum: Investing in a foreign museum like the Pompidou diverts resources away from local arts organizations that have long supported Jersey City’s cultural scene. A fraction of the Pompidou’s budget could significantly bolster and sustain local arts initiatives. Lost Tax Revenue and Local Impact: The proposed 30-year tax abatement for the Pompidou project will result in substantial lost tax revenue, potentially affecting funding for schools, city parks, roads, and general maintenance. This financial shortfall could lead to increased tax burdens on residents and reduced public services. Affordable Housing and Community Needs: The proposed development offers minimal contributions to affordable housing, with a $2 million “contribution” to the affordable housing trust fund being inadequate compared to the profits developers will gain. The focus on a high-profile museum project overlooks pressing local needs, such as affordable housing and improved infrastructure. Cultural Relevance and Equity: The Pompidou Museum is likely to cater primarily to higher-income residents and tourists, rather than lower-income communities. This project risks further excluding the very residents who have contributed to the city’s cultural fabric. Competitive Disadvantage: The proposed Pompidou would enter the most highly competitive museum market in the world, facing competition from major New York City museums with much larger budgets, superior facilities, better art collections, and in more visible and trafficked locations. Projections for visitors to the Pompidou are uncertain because the museum would struggle with visibility and prestige in this saturated environment. Museum Facility Issues: The plan to convert residential space for museum use raises concerns about meeting modern museum design requirements, such as high ceilings and open layouts, which are crucial for accommodating large-scale art installations and exhibitions.For so long Jersey City has been in the shadows: not well-known like New York City, not as big as Newark. Jersey City has been somewhere to move away from rather than move to. But that is all changing now: Jersey City is growing, developing, and expanding.Let’s move beyond the insecure system of beliefs that have plagued Jersey City for generations: that we shouldn’t invest in ourselves; that what is good and worthy of support is not our own people and our own communities. The idea that a foreign museum will somehow magically put us on the map, is faulty and outdated thinking. What we build together is a function of investing locally, stewarding our own resources, and bolstering Jersey City’s rich cultural and artistic makeup. Jersey City IS on the map – Let’s turn over a new leaf in Jersey City and prioritize intelligent and responsible investment in our own residents, our own youth, our own communities, and our own organizations.Signed,Jersey City Working Artists, Arts Leaders and Arts Professionals:Cheryl & Christopher Mack, Co-directors, Bridge Art Gallery Cheryl Riley, Multimedia Artist, Art Advisor Courtney Sloane, Interior Designer Diane Dragone, Founder & Artistic Director, The Kennedy Dancers Gidge Miller, Director, Hudson West Folk Festival James Pustorino & Anne Trauben, Directors, Drawing Rooms Gallery Jason Samuels Smith, Tap Dance Artist, Choreographer Juan Cartagena & Nanette Hernandez, Directors, Segunda Quimbamba Folkloric Center Katelyn Halpern & Benedicto Figueroa, Directors, Smush Gallery Olga Levina, Co-Founder & Executive Producer, Jersey City Theater Center Rashad Wright, Poet, Actor, Musician Romana Jaroff Secades, Managing Director, IMG Artists Samuel Pott, Founder & Artistic Director Nimbus Dance & Nimbus Arts Center Sarah Lane & Luis Ribagorda, Dancers, American Ballet Theater Sean Hagerty, Producing Artistic Director, The Curtain Theda Sandiford, Visual Artist Tina Maneca, Visual Artist & Curator Winard Harper, Jazz Percussionist; bandleader Zach Herchen, Artistic Director, Con VivoThis letter also serve as a petition on change.org that we hope members of the general public will join with us: https://chng.it/TvJfJkSJdHThe post Coalition of Professional Arts Groups and Artists Launches Petition Drive Against Pompidou appeared first on Jersey City Times.