When you think of the Pompidou Centre, of course, you think of that ultramodern museum in Paris. The architecture of the building is, in many respects, itself a kind of work of modern art. It adds a splash of color and flavor to Paris, adding to it’s legacy.
And a branch of it is now coming to New Jersey.
Yes, that’s right. There will be a branch of the museum that will be coming to Journal Square in Jersey City, New Jersey.
The museum proved to be controversial. Many in Jersey City feel that what should be addressed is the spike in violence in the area around where the museum will be located in and around Journal Square. Others feel that this was not so much designed for Jersey City residents, but rather, for tourists. Some others feel that this museum will cost too much. It will cost $6 million to build, and then will cost the city $5 million for the first six years of it’s operations. With those kinds of costs, many are cynical as to whether or not the museum will be profitable or not, or if the people who drove this museum into being will close the doors if, indeed, the whole venture proves too costly.
Personally, I don’t know all that much about those issues. I cannot speak about what measures, if any, would reduce crime in the area, or whether Jersey City residents will not benefit much from the museum or not. For that matter, not being a businessman, I cannot possibly know or accurately forecast how profitable the museum will be, or if it will prove indeed to be too costly to maintain operations after a few years.
One thing: revenues from the legalized pot industry here in New Jersey are supposed to go a long way to paying for it. Just one more reason to buy yourself a stoke and smoke it. And then, go on ahead to the museum, which may even be enhanced when your a bit high, who knows? High or not, I am intrigued to pay this museum a visit.
Also, I would have thought that more Jersey City residents would have been excited for it, as well. A lot of cities would kill for some kind of tourist attraction. Many seem to make a tourist attraction out of what frankly sometimes seems like nothing to make a big deal out of. That is what I felt about Times Square in New York City, which always seemed pretty uninteresting to me. A bunch of signs and billboards and lights, much flash and not much else. And that's for a city which is not lacking in tourist destinations. Times Square simply does not compare at all with the Statue of Liberty, or the Empire State Building, Central Park, the Met, the Natural History Museum, Rockefeller Center, or some of the Botanical Gardens and other parks in the outer boroughs. Jersey City has the waterfront view of the New York skyline, and it has the Liberty Science Center. Now, it can have another major tourist attraction. Often times, tourist attractions themselves draw money, because...well, tourists flock to them. my suspicion is that this could be the same kind of thing. Not sure why so many people would be opposed to it, although the concerns about crime are clearly legitimate. But as for it not benefiting Jersey City residents, why wouldn't it? It's an art museum, and surely, there are plenty of Jersey City residents who would be interested. Maybe Jersey City residents can get some kind of special discount, even if that means higher ticket prices for people outside of the city. Frankly, I just don't see this as some kind of losing proposition for Jersey City. Frankly, since money from the newly legalized marijuana industry are paying for it, it seems to me like a win-win.
That said, I am no expert. Just sayin'...
What I will say is that this was something that I heard about not too long ago, and got excited about. Being a Franco-American, and having had the privilege of going to the Centre Pompidou in Paris, it would be exciting and wonderful, I think, to visit another branch of that museum right here in New Jersey, less than an hour away from me. I cannot speak about anyone else’s intentions or interest, but I will definitely try and arrange a visit to the museum hopefully not long after it opens.
Jersey City Council approves pricey Pompidou deal; cannabis tax ordinance will take time b y Joshua Rosario | The Jersey Journal, June 17, 2021:
https://www.nj.com/hudson/2021/06/jersey-city-council-approves-pricey-pompidou-deal-cannabis-tax-ordinance-will-take-time.html
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