 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
THE ARTISTS OF THE 111 FIRST STREET ARTS CENTER, THROUGH THEIR TENANTS ASSOCIATION AND THE RECENTLY ESTABLISHED 111 ARTSFIRST FOUNDATION, AND WITH THE HELP OF THEIR MANY SUPPORTERS, HAVE THEMSELVES FUNDED MOST OF THE LEGAL CHALLENGES TO GOLDMAN'S ILLEGAL PLAN TO REPLACE THE ARTS CENTER WITH A LUXURY HI-RISE. THEY DO NOT RECEIVE ANY SUBSIDIES, ABATEMENTS OR FUNDING FROM THE CITY, AND DO NOT SEEK ANY. FORMER MAYOR SMITH'S ADMINISTRATION WAS, HOWEVER, STRONG IN ITS MORAL AND POLICY COMMITTMENT TO THE PROJECT AND ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS CONTRIBUTED LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND OFFICIAL SUPPORT. IT HAS NEVERTHELESS BEEN LEFT TO THE ARTS COMMUNITY AND THE MANY CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUAL VOTERS TO LEAD THE STRUGGLE-- AND LET'S NOT FORGET THE CITY COUNCIL, WHICH SUCH A SHORT TIME AGO DISPLAYED ITS UNANIMOUS SUPPORT. THOUGH THIS IS EXACTLY THE TYPE OF SITUATION THE PROCESS OF EMINENT DOMAIN WAS CREATED FOR, MAYOR-ELECT HEALY HAS RECENTLY STATED HE IS UNWILLING TO COMMIT TAXPAYERS' MONEY TO THE PROJECT. IT'S A POSITION THAT BEGS THE QUESTION: "JUST WHAT DOES THE NEW MAYOR CONSIDER A WORTHY USE OF TAX REVENUES?" IT'S ALSO DISCONCERTING THAT THE CURRENT MAYOR'S COMMENT SUGGESTS HE IS UNAWARE THAT THE ARTISTS ARE NOT ASKING THE CITY FOR A FINANCIAL BAIL-OUT. THEY HAVE ASSEMBLED THEIR OWN DEVELOPMENT TEAM, SUBMITTED THEIR OWN PROPOSAL FOR DEVELOPING THE ARTS CENTER CONSITENT WITH P.A.D. AND HISTORIC DISTRICT GUIDELINES AND ARE ACTIVELY RECRUITING INVESTORS. WHAT THE ARTS COMMUNITY NEEDS IS EXACTLY WHAT THE REST OF JERSEY CITY NEEDS-- INFORMED, COMMITTED, ENERGETIC AND DECISIVE LEADERSHIP. WE NEED LEADERS WITH A SENSE OF MORAL RESONSIBILITY TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE STRENGTH OF CHARACTER TO RESIST THE THREATS AND ENTICEMENTS OF BIG MONEY. WE NEED LEADERS WILLING TO HONOR THEIR COMMITTMENTS TO THIS CITY AND MUSCLE UP TO THE TASK OF BUILDING A FUTURE, NOT JUST WAITING FOR IT TO HAPPEN. IF YOU SUPPORT THE POWERHOUSE ARTS DISTRICT, AND THE ARTS CENTER WHICH IS ITS HEART, IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO SEE A PRODUCTIVE AND VALUABLE CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC RESOURCE DESTROYED, IF YOU ARE A FRIEND TO THE ARTISTS AND THE ARTS COMMUNITY OF JERSEY CITY, NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT. PLEASE CONTACT MAYOR JERRAMIAH HEALY AND YOUR COUNCILMEMBER AND AND TELL THEM NOT TO ALLOW JERSEY CITY TO BE PLUNDERED BY A RUTHLESS SPECULATOR OUT TO LINE HIS POCKETS AT JERSEY CITY'S EXPENSE. JOIN YOUR NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS IN DEFENSE OF THIS PRECIOUS CULTURAL RESOURCE. Bill Rybak Sculptor and woodworker
|
||
|
| ||
| Back | ||