I used to be proud to tell everyone that Jersey City raised me. Growing up, some families had a little more, but the playing field was even enough that everyone had a chance to make something of themselves. Whether you were from the Heights, Greenville, or Downtown, there was a sense of community and opportunity.But today, the playing field isn’t just uneven—it’s a landslide; crushing the less fortunate and making it impossible to crawl their way out of the rubble. The opportunities that once allowed children from every neighborhood, no matter their background, to dream big and work toward a brighter future are being systematically stripped away. The Jersey City of today prioritizes the rich and powerful while pushing out the poor and middle class. For every glimmering high-rise that goes up, countless families are displaced, and the gap between the haves and have-nots grows wider.I was one of those kids who always had a little less. If I had been born into the Jersey City of today, I would never have stood a chance. None of what I have accomplished would have been possible in today’s climate—where child care, housing, and basic living expenses are unaffordable for so many. I am a living testament to what is possible when a city invests in its people. But if I were born today, I fear I would be just another statistic.Today’s vote to give a wealthy investor another tax abatement and prioritize funding a museum we can’t afford to maintain has broken what little hope I had left. We can’t afford to pay city employees a wage that would allow them to afford to live in this city. We can’t afford free summer camps or enrichment programs for low-income children. All programs for special needs children have been stripped away due to lack of funding, leaving some of our most vulnerable residents without the support they desperately need. We can’t even afford to properly fund our schools, yet our council is ready to take on millions of more debt for a project with no real plan to be successful. The city claims there is no money to fix playgrounds or provide safe recreational spaces for children in poorer areas, yet there’s funding for a museum and more amenities that only the wealthy can enjoy. While struggling families peer through the windows at luxuries beyond their reach, their neighborhoods are neglected and their needs ignored. What does this say about our values? About the kind of future we’re building for the next generation?My heart breaks for the children growing up here today, who see luxury towers sprouting up around them while their own families struggle to find stable housing. My heart breaks for the young parents who are working two or three jobs and still can’t get ahead. I fear for the future of the community that shaped me because it feels like that community no longer has a place in the Jersey City of tomorrow.The council’s decision wasn’t just about money or politics—it’s about values. It’s about deciding who we are as a city and who we’re willing to fight for. If we continue down this path, Jersey City will become a place where only the wealthy can thrive, while the rest of us are left behind.We need a change. We need leaders who remember what this city was built on: hard work, community, and opportunity for all. I hope every resident of Jersey City remembers today’s vote and shows up next year to demand a city that works for everyone—not just the few.Sincerely,Vanessa RodriguezA Formerly Proud and Heartbroken Jersey City ResidentThe post Letter: The Jersey City That Raised Me no Longer Has a Place Here appeared first on Jersey City Times.