Dear Editor:While I understand the desire to make Jersey City an arts hub, let’s be clear: what you’re proposing isn’t about benefiting the entire community—it’s about serving the interests of a select few. Public funding for projects like the Pompidou Center, which carries a 30-year commitment and will likely cost tens of millions in taxpayer dollars, cannot be justified when critical needs like affordable housing, education, and infrastructure go unmet.1. Arts Already Thrive Here: Jersey City already has a vibrant arts scene. From local galleries to community events and festivals like the Jersey City Art & Studio Tour (JCAST), there is no lack of artistic expression. We don’t need an expensive foreign import to validate our culture, particularly one that will cater to wealthy residents while sidelining the working-class communities that built this city.2. Tax Abatements and Gentrification: You argue that high-rise residents pay high taxes, but many of these luxury developments benefited from generous tax abatements, effectively contributing less to the city’s budget than they should. A study from Jersey Digs in 2022 revealed that these abatements often shift the tax burden onto lower and middle-income residents, creating further economic strain on the very communities you claim to support. Additionally, a 2018 report by Rutgers University showed how tax abatements have led to a wave of gentrification, pushing out long-time residents and small businesses.3. Affordable Housing Crisis: The argument that social security recipients should expect to be priced out is exactly why we need to focus on housing equity, not luxury developments. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition (2023), New Jersey is one of the most expensive states for renters, with Jersey City among the hardest hit. Seniors and working families should not have to choose between leaving their homes and being priced out by gentrification. We need more affordable housing, not projects that siphon public funds into elitist ventures.4. Public Money for Public Good: It’s worth noting that the Pompidou Center has been criticized for being a costly gamble. In Paris, it’s a symbol of modern art, but Jersey City needs projects that address systemic issues like housing affordability, not extravagant expenditures with questionable returns. A report by The New York Times (2023) highlighted concerns about similar ventures in other cities, where public-private partnerships led to significant public losses while private investors profited.In conclusion, if wealthy residents want luxury amenities like symphonies and international art galleries, they should pay for them privately. The community shouldn’t foot the bill for projects that don’t serve the interests of the majority, especially when we face real issues like housing instability, displacement, and underfunded public services. Jersey City has its own rich cultural history—one that deserves investment and protection, not exploitation by outsiders looking to make a profit.Rev. Raymond Angel Guzman-CaraballoBoricua Community Building CenterWard B, Jersey City McGinley Square ResidentThe post Letter: Pompidou Serves the Interests of the Select Few appeared first on Jersey City Times.