Vote Local Matters

+ Steven Fulop (Incumbent)

Hasn't provided responses yet.

+ Lewis Spears

What is your relationship with the arts in Jersey City and how would you like to see it develop?

As an educator, I know that the arts are fundamental to expression, creativity and an essential channel for every type of energy in a community. There are so many creative people all over this city that simply have not had the platform and the opportunities to share their talents over the past eight years. Unfortunately, this means that they have not been given the investment as well.

Jersey City cannot continue to invest in opportunities for international and national artists and neglect the artists that live here in hopes of becoming “a destination city.” Not when we have so many vibrant artists of all walks of life that live right here. It’s time for Jersey City to celebrate our homegrown artists, to create the platforms and put the might of the city behind them to bring attention to the diverse of creatives who live here.

What kind of impact do you see the Pompidou Center having on Jersey City? And how would you ensure that our local arts community stays engaged throughout the planning process and fully benefits from the development?

Look, let’s be clear about a few things. The way the Pompidou Center was announced, without any consultation with the local arts community or concerns for their desires and needs, is a perfect encapsulation of how this administration does things. The local arts community was never engaged as part of this process, and they do not have a seat at the table in any meaningful way at this point.

As Mayor, the first thing I would do in regards to the Pompidou Center, is to convene a meeting of area arts organizations to hear their concerns and hopes for the project. In particular, I will be sensitive to how the presence of such an art center will impact affordability in the neighborhood and how it will impact funding to our local arts organizations who may now have to vie with an internationally known institution for money. I would include local arts organizations and individual artists in this process and invite their feedback and ideas. We must strengthen these bridges now, most of all because the Pompidou is a temporary project -- it is slated to be in that space for about five years. It’s important that when it leaves, it leaves the neighborhood in a better place than it’s in now, with regards to affordability, quality of life, and of course, the arts.

The Pompidou will radically change the JSQ neighborhood for the time it is open. It is important that we connect what the centre brings to our city with the city itself; that it not just become a warehouse for European art, but that people en route to see the collection get to see some of the great art this city has to offer. The Centre Pompidou x JC project should be a way of introducing more people to JC arts, not squeezing the smaller groups out.

If we do not make the Pompidou Center work for all of the residents of Jersey City, its impact will be detrimental to the affordability in the Journal Square area, and our local arts community. To make the Pompiodu Center work for us, especially after the investment the City has already made, we need local leadership. I would create a local committee featuring an artist from each ward to ensure that we are maximizing the opportunities of the Pompidou Center in a way that recognizes and celebrates our local artists. Whether we’re talking about art career courses, art classes or local exhibitions, this warehouse of European art must not make kids in the most diverse city in the United States feel as though their own creative expression isn’t “the standard” of art.

Do you have specific goals or types of programs you’d like to see supported through the Arts and Culture Trust Fund? For all of Jersey City and/or your Ward specifically?

My first goal as Mayor with regards to the Trust Fund would be to distribute the money to struggling arts organizations and artists in a way that would be paramount to their optimal growth. It is absurd that we have collected this money and it just sits in an account somewhere, while the creative people who make JC such a great place are left to fend for themselves.

Beyond that, the Fund must support a variety of arts organizations throughout the city. This money can’t go just to their poster organizations; we must invest in spaces and organizations throughout our city. I would put a special emphasis on making sure that non-profit venues that support the arts get funding because, without them, there’s no place for experimental art to grow.

I would really love to create an annual fellowship that allows local artists to work towards an annual Jersey City exhibition, to teach kids in their communities about creative expression, and to elevate community voices as part of their work.

How do you see the City helping our local arts sector recover from the economic devastation of the pandemic?

The City should be the biggest promoter and booster of the arts here. I would love to see Cultural Affairs and the Office of Innovation work with arts organizations to help them get the word out about the work they do. With few media outlets covering NJ arts, it’s difficult for smaller organizations to publicize their exhibitions, concerts, and performances, and to grow their audiences beyond just what they have physically nearby. We need to work with these groups to help them with their marketing not only within Jersey City but throughout the state and the tri-state area. In doing so, we will not only be promoting homegrown talent but the city itself. Here are a few initiatives I believe think could really help our local arts sector:

1. Entrepreneurship training and support for artists through the JCEDC so that they can understand what grant funding has been made available to them at the city, county, and state level, and support in applying for these funds.
2. Prioritizing or carving out space for local artists in the City’s funding of new public art installations in underserved areas
3. Paying local artists to advise the city on sustainable arts programs that leverage the programs that already exist in our community.
4. A paid fellowship and annual exhibition to install local artists deeply in our local communities to reflect the energies that exist here.

+ Denise Ridley (Incumbent)

What is your relationship with the arts in Jersey City and how would you like to see it develop?

As Councilwoman, I have worked to expand the arts in Ward A. One way is through negotiating a 500 seat performing arts center in the Ward. The building will also house a ballet school with outdoor courtyards to view live performances. In addition I've made sure the programming for the facility included input from Jersey City Public Schools, Jersey City Recreation and Youth Development, and Jersey City Cultural Affairs. I would like to see the arts scene expand further in the Ward through pop up galleries, murals, and more promotion of local artists.

What kind of impact do you see the Pompidou Center having on Jersey City? And how would you ensure that our local arts community stays engaged throughout the planning process and fully benefits from the development?

My hope is that the Pompidou Center will expose our children in Jersey City to art they would normally not have access to on a daily basis. I hope it inspires more residents to get involved in the Jersey City arts scene. I believe that the Arts Council should assist in an advisory capacity to those overseeing the development of the Pompidou in Jersey City.

Do you have specific goals or types of programs you’d like to see supported through the Arts and Culture Trust Fund? For all of Jersey City and/or your Ward specifically?

I would like money from the arts fund to be geared towards arts classes for children in Ward A. These classes can be facilitated at local community centers and churches. I would also like to see local artists supported with funding and possibly a space for an art gallery in Ward A.

How do you see the City helping our local arts sector recover from the economic devastation of the pandemic?

I believe the City can work with the State to dedicate some of the recovery funding to arts-specific businesses. Some of this has been done. Any additional opportunities to assist the recovery of arts institutions and artists that assist with education should be moved on.

+ Kristen Zadroga-Hart

What is your relationship with the arts in Jersey City and how would you like to see it develop?

Growing up in Jersey City, my father was an artist. He wasn't the traditional easel and canvas type artist- his vessel of choice was wood. Most of the local pubs and bars had big wooden signs that had the name of the establishment and some relevant design- typically a leprechaun or a shamrock. My father would spend hours with his oil pencils, chalk lines and paint pallette creating works of art that would define the business and welcome customers. My father never accepted payment for his paintings. He would tell me it was a labor of love, and for him, getting paid for it would take some of that love away. I still see that passion in local artists, but for so many of them, their art is their livelihood and we need to support them. I would love to bring more opportunities to showcase our local talent beyond an occasional pop up gallery. With a development like Bayfront coming to Ward A, we could use that as a springboard for creating an artist community with live/work affordable housing and shared space to learn, teach, mentor and grow together.

What kind of impact do you see the Pompidou Center having on Jersey City? And how would you ensure that our local arts community stays engaged throughout the planning process and fully benefits from the development?

The idea of a world class museum and creative space is great, if it helps the local community. My understanding of the Pompidou is that the city is giving way more than we are receiving in this deal, just for the sake of being able to say we have a nice new shiny thing. I would like to see some push back on how Jersey City and the residents will benefit. from this partnership, which isn't really a partnership if it's one-sided. We need to ensure local artists are getting the opportunity to be employed, showcase their talents, work with local students and aspiring artists. Jersey City residents need to get more than is currently agreed to- and it needs to be in the form of a legally binding and enforceable contract.

Do you have specific goals or types of programs you’d like to see supported through the Arts and Culture Trust Fund? For all of Jersey City and/or your Ward specifically?

If you search the mural map located on the city's website, many parts of the city are covered in little dots to indicate where murals are located. When you look to the south of the city on that map, there are very few dots to be seen. Much like every other service, or opportunity, or investment- Ward A is the forgotten ward. The sprinkling of murals that are actually on the map include paintings as small as four feet wide. I would like to see more of an investment in public art, created by local artists, to show that we value the talent, time and efforts that they bring to the community.

How do you see the City helping our local arts sector recover from the economic devastation of the pandemic?

The pandemic has impacted every facet of life, not the least of which is the art world and artists themselves. Maybe years from now we will be able to look back and see how the isolation, trauma, situation, reemergence and recovery have directly influenced artists across every media, but first we have to get to that point. The Arts & Culture Trust fund, if implemented correctly, could be a good first step in helping local artists stay afloat during this uncertain time. The funds need to be collected and distributed fairly, across all parts of the city and every level of artist needs to be given the same opportunity to receive the financial help they so desperately need right now. Investing in the ats, just like investing in our public schools, should be a commitment that is unwavering because it builds community and tells the story of who we really are.

+ Joel Brooks

Hasn't provided responses yet.

+ Mira Prinz-Arey (Incumbent)

What is your relationship with the arts in Jersey City and how would you like to see it develop?

My relationship with the arts community in Jersey City goes back many years. My good friend Gaye Dunstan and I started participating in JC Fridays because we wanted to bring music and arts shows to the west side of the city. A West Side Story became West Side Arts and Music. We have produced a summer music series for the past six years, and have produced three fall music and arts festivals since 2015.

Professionally, I have been involved with artists and arts organizations since I was in high school, and have been a strong advocate for most of my adult life. In addition to the work I have done while in Jersey City, as a councilperson I have worked with artists and arts groups to bring additional programming to ward b and Jersey City. I advocated for the Arts Trust Fund and was part of the Jersey City Covid Relief committee, which was responsible for the distribution of funding for our arts groups, non-profits, and working with the JCAC to provide funding to individual artists. Supporting our artists and arts organizations helps Jersey City thrive.

What kind of impact do you see the Pompidou Center having on Jersey City? And how would you ensure that our local arts community stays engaged throughout the planning process and fully benefits from the development?

I believe the Pompidou Center will have a significant impact on Jersey City. It will allow our residents - adults and children alike, to have access to exposure to artworks without having to travel outside the city and state, let alone the country. In my research on other Pompidou outposts I have seen how the Pompidou collaborate and integrate into local arts scenes and expect the same for Jersey City. There is an opportunity for our local artists to work with and benefit from the experience of this institution and the opportunities that tourism will bring. It is very important to me that the building of the Pathside and opening of the Centre Pompidou X provide job and training opportunities to our residents. I think this is a great opportunity to work with our schools and colleges as well. NJCU and HCCC can add to their arts curriculums and our students in Snyder High School's arts programs will have greater access to to these collections allows people to have open and critical conversations about history, and arts education programming that includes materials classes provide an opportunity to learn math and science skills in another way - mixing colors is an exercise in fractions and percentages while ceramics work

Do you have specific goals or types of programs you’d like to see supported through the Arts and Culture Trust Fund? For all of Jersey City and/or your Ward specifically?

I am very excited to see what programs and goals our artists and arts groups would like to achieve with the Arts and Culture Trust Fund. There is a real opportunity to provide support and funding to help new organizations grow as well as help our anchor organizations become that much stronger. There is also an opportunity for artists and groups to collaborate together to create exciting works and new and innovative programming for artists that may not have access to other kinds of funding. Full disclosure, I am a non-voting member of the Arts and Culture Trust Fund committee, and am looking forward to hearing all ideas for ward b and the city.

How do you see the City helping our local arts sector recover from the economic devastation of the pandemic?

The City took a great first step in supporting our local arts sector recover from the pandemic with the Jersey City Covid 19 Relief Fund. As a member of the committee, we were able to support our arts non-profit organizations with funding for operations as well as programming. We also worked with the JCAC to provide support to individual artists. The work we did for the fund also helped inform conversations around how to better structure the Arts and Culture Trust Fund which will provide annual support. I also think the City should work closely with the JCAC and JCEDC to identify funding opportunities at the state and federal level by actively applying for grants as well as provide grant writing workshops and seminars.

+ Kevin Bing

What is your relationship with the arts in Jersey City and how would you like to see it develop?

I am a strong believer in the arts community here in Jersey City. My campaign is fortunate enough to have the endorsement of my good friend Katelyn Halpern, owner of SMUSH Gallery in Journal Square. I actually used to live above SMUSH Gallery and attended early JCAC meetings there. If elected to the council, I want to use my position as a platform for the arts community to not only build ties with the city but strengthen connections with itself.

What kind of impact do you see the Pompidou Center having on Jersey City? And how would you ensure that our local arts community stays engaged throughout the planning process and fully benefits from the development?

I think the Pompidou will be a wonderful addition to Jersey City’s art scene and I hope to be present at its opening ceremony in Ward C. However, much like when a new structure is built and requires added infrastructure such as electricity and heating, the Pompidou’s addition to Jersey City is going to require a sort of civic infrastructure. By this I mean measures to prevent displacement of current residents when the Pompidou raises rent in the neighborhood and assurance that the local art’s community is able to benefit from the attention and resources devoted to the Pompidou. As council person I will push forward programs that feature local artists in the Pompidou, foster collaboration between the Pompidou and local venues on projects, and provide accountability for the local arts community so they do not get pushed out of funding.

Do you have specific goals or types of programs you’d like to see supported through the Arts and Culture Trust Fund? For all of Jersey City and/or your Ward specifically?

Instead of specific goals, I would endorse a robust process to make sure the funds are best spent with strong community input. While President of the Journal Square Community Association, I saw first hand how the open space trust fund was allocated and I think that’s a good model to build upon. Namely, I would like to see an arts institution partner with a local community group to build ties and get buy-in from the residents in that Ward. I want to see funds spent equitably through the city and importantly, I want to see the funds spent quickly to help the institutions that are struggling with the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

How do you see the City helping our local arts sector recover from the economic devastation of the pandemic?

Pandemic recovery is a key plank of my platform. There are millions of dollars still given to Jersey City from the American Rescue Plan that is unused. In the next four years, I would like to see the city council provide that funding to artists, venues, and programs that assist economic recovery and make our culture here in Jersey City all the more vibrant.

+ Rich Boggiano (Incumbent)

What is your relationship with the arts in Jersey City and how would you like to see it develop?

I've been fighting for the Lowes Theatre in Journal Square for decades. Thanks to a lot of people, the revitalization is finally happening. I'm also big on Jersey City's amazing history - our city is 400+ years old but has been stuck in NYC's shadow for too long. For example, the Statue of Liberty is an amazing piece of art, but I was part of the fight in the 1990's so New Jersey could lay claim to Liberty Island. Did you know the Statue of Liberty's mailing address is 1 Communipaw Ave, Jersey City, NJ?

What kind of impact do you see the Pompidou Center having on Jersey City? And how would you ensure that our local arts community stays engaged throughout the planning process and fully benefits from the development?

The center is huge for Jersey City because it makes Journal Square a standalone destination and not a sideshow to New York City for tourists from all over the world. Jersey City is a city that's always been made of people from countries around the world, and I'd like to see that reflected in the local arts community. We have so many interesting ethnic groups with unique cultures, history, food and arts - that should be reflected in the ongoing planning process for the center.

Do you have specific goals or types of programs you’d like to see supported through the Arts and Culture Trust Fund? For all of Jersey City and/or your Ward specifically?

I would like a community theatre production with the Dept. of Recreation and any of the non-profits. Non-professional adults and teens would have the opportunity to work with theatre professionals to create an annual production. I also want to see the Lowes Theatre revitalization seen through to completion.

How do you see the City helping our local arts sector recover from the economic devastation of the pandemic?

Jersey City has all of the ingredients to be a good city, but it can never be a great city without artists. And the best way to help the arts in Jersey City is to make Jersey City an awesome place where people want to visit and can afford to live. I've lived through some of Jersey City's darkest days and believe a rising tide here can lift all boats, but we have to balance revitalization with affordability. To me that means doing everything we can to set aside space for different kinds of artists to work and live.

+ Tom Zuppa

What is your relationship with the arts in Jersey City and how would you like to see it developed?

Journal Square is the heart of Jersey City and we need to return it to the soul of the City's arts and culture community. It is important that Ward C has a representative who is living and breathing our community on a daily basis and the arts is no different. I serve on several non-profit boards and am a Trustee on the Board of the Jersey City Theater Center where I have advocated for locating a space in Journal Square for community performances. I also serve as a Trustee on the Board of the United Children's Music Project, which provides orchestral music education to students ages 5 to 18. The UCMP originated in North Hudson but is expanding to Jersey City. I work first-hand with these organizations contributing to our arts community.

What kind of impact do you see the Pompidou Center having on Jersey City? And how would you ensure that our local arts community stays engaged throughout the planning process and fully benefits from the development?

Similar to the renovation and re-opening of the Loew's Theatre, we have to ensure that the Pompidou benefits our residents with employment opportunities and support for our local businesses. It also means educational opportunities for our students, and setting forth community space for our local artists. We want a thriving local artists scene and to not lose community nights and events that highlight our diversity.

Do you have specific goals or types of programs you’d like to see supported through the Arts and Culture Trust Fund? For all of Jersey City and/or your Ward specifically?

I would like to see a continued commitment to youth programming for our student-artists. Art provides an amazing outlet and method of communication for people of all ages and programming will provide a needed supplement to what is being offered at our schools. I will, of course, be an advocate for our residents in Ward C, but support these initiatives City-wide.

How do you see the City helping our local arts sector recover from the economic devastation of the pandemic?

As Councilperson, I will continue to be an advocate for our residents. Much like with assisting our local businesses, we need to do a better job doing outreach and getting information out to our residents. There are numerous grants and fellowship programs available to artists and it is necessary for Ward C's representative to highlight the arts and promote these opportunities. Seeking increased community input from a diverse set of voices is an essential part of my campaign and will include supporting our arts community. The non-profit organizations that I referenced -- JCTC and the UCMP -- continued their great work during the pandemic with a focus on virtual performances and education opportunities, respectively, and the City should assist local artists with providing a virtual platform and performance space.

+ Danielle Freire

Hasn't provided responses yet.

+ Yousef Saleh (Incumbent)

What is your relationship with the arts in Jersey City and how would you like to see it develop?

My relationship with the arts prior to being a Councilperson has been one of admiration and as a consumer. I would attend art shows and festivals in Jersey City and Hudson County. I also purchase and collect art as well. Emphasis on STEM education and innovation is important, but it must always be coupled with an investment in the arts because art/music/performances/spoken word and poetry is what tethers us to our humanity. It gives us ways to express ourselves, and our ideas. It gives us the opportunity to honor our past, cherish our present, and forge our future. That is why when I became a Councilman following the tragic death of the late Councilman Michael Yun due to the global pandemic, I understood that art would need to take precedence in whatever future we build when the pandemic is over. I was proud to endorse the Jersey City Arts Referendum, and encouraged residents to vote in favor of it so that we can dedicate funds to the arts and culture in Jersey City. I saw it as an exciting opportunity for us to bolster an already burgeoning and vibrant arts scene in Jersey City and expand upon it. Jersey City is the most diverse city in the United States, and I would love to see it develop and embrace even more of the diversity in our beloved hometown. The arts fund and the arts council can begin to shed light, and understanding on often misunderstood cultures or cultures that are not the most visible in our eclectic society.

What kind of impact do you see the Pompidou Center having on Jersey City? And how would you ensure that our local arts community stays engaged throughout the planning process and fully benefits from the development?

The Pompidou Center offers a once in a lifetime opportunity to not just put Jersey City on the proverbial map when it comes to the art scene, but also to expose our community to some of the most notable works of art ever made. As a first generation American that was born and raised in Jersey City, I have not had the opportunity to travel internationally. I am one of eight, with 7 sisters and I was too broke or too busy to travel (usually both at the same time). This presents an opportunity to bring the works of art to the people, and in the most diverse city in the United States. I would ensure local artists and local experts and community members are informed of the Pompidou and partner with community organizations and schools to find out what they would like to see from the Pompidou. I would partner with the JC Arts Council to create a Pompidou Committee to ensure notices and feedback are communicated in different languages, and diasporic communities within Jersey City are canvassed and asked what they'd like to see. I would also talk to the Jersey City Cultural Affairs Department to make sure all-sides are coordinating whether it is an event, a program, an art show, or a performance. I would like to see the Pompidiou seamlessly integrate and elevate the cultural events we already know of and cherish here in Jersey City, while offering fresh perspectives and new galleries that will enrich everyone.

Do you have specific goals or types of programs you’d like to see supported through the Arts and Culture Trust Fund? For all of Jersey City and/or your Ward specifically?

I would like to see more programs on Palestinian art, culture, and dance supported through the Arts and Culture Trust Fund and done for all of Jersey City. I would also like to see more art from the Muslim world. Jersey City has a very large Muslim population and I feel as though Palestinian and Muslim communities are often overlooked. I also would like to see more Hispanic arts programing in the Jersey City Heights area where a large Hispanic community currently resides. I'd love to see more poetry, spoken word, dance, food, and art festivals/galleries in the Heights. The Hispanic Museum will be moved to Ward D Jersey City Heights and I would love to see the Arts and Culture Trust Fund and Arts Council partner with the Hispanic Library. I would also love to see more programming for other minority communities in Jersey City such as the Black community - I would love to have the Arts Council partner with the City Council or the Board of Ed to sponsor music, poetry, or arts lessons to help initiate a spark of interest in a child's heart.

How do you see the City helping our local arts sector recover from the economic devastation of the pandemic?

The City can continue to help the local arts sector recover from the pandemic in a variety of ways. I am committed to continuing to fund the mural program and I have promoted murals throughout the Jersey City area. I would like to use my social media to boost art shows and galleries and work with local artists to do interviews with them. Furthermore, I am working with the Central Avenue SID to do an Arts and Food Tour. We want to partner with small businesses across the Heights to do a night of arts programming at each restaurant/establishment paired with musical entertainment from that region of the world. It will be a complete cultural immersion that will elevate not just palate but your mind as well. I would also like to sponsor more arts shows and galleries in the parks. I would work with the County and city agencies to ensure we apply for as many grants as possible and also support the non-profit organizations.

+ John Salierno

What is your relationship with the arts in Jersey City and how would you like to see it develop?

I try to get involved in Jersey City's arts scene as much as possible. I like to take my children whenever there is a concert, and I also know some local musicians. I would like to see more exhibits and more geared toward young people. Many children could use art to divert them away from negative influences and make them productive members of society.

What kind of impact do you see the Pompidou Center having on Jersey City? And how would you ensure that our local arts community stays engaged throughout the planning process and fully benefits from the development?

Aside from boosting our local economy and providing jobs, The Pompidou Center will make Jersey City a cultural destination, instead of just a bar scene. We need transparency throughout the planning process to ensure we have input in the development.

Do you have specific goals or types of programs you’d like to see supported through the Arts and Culture Trust Fund? And how do you see the City helping our local arts sector recover from the economic devastation of the pandemic?

I think the city should demand more from real estate developers to fund and/or aid the arts. In addition to green space or educational space, large developments could be required to dedicate space or funds for artists to display their work to the community.

+ Jake Hudnut

What is your relationship with the arts in Jersey City and how would you like to see it develop?

The arts have played a major role in my life. One of my earliest memories of childhood is the earthy smell of clay in the garage where my mom worked on her ceramics wheel. I’ve always been a highly visual person, and as someone who struggled in school, art and making things was something that kept me engaged.

That close relationship with the arts only grew when I came to Jersey City in 2004. Shortly after I moved here I heard about 111 First Street and how an entire community of artists was about to be displaced. When a couple years later the building was demolished, the mourning in the arts and broader community was palpable. Up from the ashes of 111 emerged arts organizations like Art House followed by Nimbus Dance, the JCTC and 150 Bay.

Today, I have strong connections to this community. Dressing up for the annual Art House Snow Ball is a favorite yearly tradition that I share with my partner, Tyler. And I couldn’t be more proud that Tyler just opened his first studio at 150 Bay, from which his new fashion label will expand and grow; he shares the same dream of Jersey City as a thriving arts community.

Yet while the Downtown arts scene has grown and is lucky to house these four important anchor arts organizations, I’d like to see the Powerhouse Arts District live up to its promise of affordable artist work and live space. With the Arts and Culture Trust Fund in place it’s important to support not only these anchor arts organizations for their programming and educational outreach, but I would also like to see support for small independent artists and studios.

What kind of impact do you see the Pompidou Center having on Jersey City? And how would you ensure that our local arts community stays engaged throughout the planning process and fully benefits from the development?

The opening Pompidou Center will bring a level of international art to Jersey City that will raise Jersey City’s status as a nexus for the arts to another level. For Jersey City to have been selected as the first Pompidou satellite is a great honor. Audiences will be drawn to Jersey City to visit the Pompidou and will be exposed to all the exciting arts Jersey City has to offer. Our children and students will be exposed to the work of world renowned contemporary artists, which will serve to expand their knowledge and understanding of the many different arts mediums.

At the same time it is important that the local arts community reap benefits from the Pompidou coming to Jersey City. I would like to see local artists involved in events and workshops and programming some community-based exhibitions. The Pompidou is known for its training programs in arts administration, curating and marketing and those workshops should be made available to Jersey City residents.

Do you have specific goals or types of programs you’d like to see supported through the Arts and Culture Trust Fund? For all of Jersey City and/or your Ward specifically?

It’s important to support a broad range of arts through the Arts and Culture Trust Fund - from dance, music and theater, public art, and visual arts and film to scripts and screenplays, books and graphic novels, animation, installation and art that has no name. Group and non-profit organizations as well as by single artists should be able to receive funding through the Trust Fund. Cultural, economic, racially diverse artists of all ages from throughout Jersey City should be supported.

Educational programming for our kids is also something that must be supported. Afterschool enrichment initiatives can give children a way to develop their creativity, enhance their communication skills and introduce them to the wider universe of art. As teachers, local artists will benefit economically and know they are giving back to their community in a significant way.

How do you see the City helping our local arts sector recover from the economic devastation of the pandemic?

Artists move to a neighborhood as the first pioneers. They improve an area simply by living and working there. They improve their own spaces. Galleries pop up, then cafes and restaurants and then? They get pushed out of the place they helped create because now everyone wants to live there. It happened in Soho, then Tribeca and Brooklyn and now Jersey City. New legislation coming at the state level will help - and I will be a fierce advocate, because it will need a plan and a great deal of civic support to make it happen.

The arts draw people in and serve as a prime economic engine for the City. Go to a show or a gallery and stop off for dinner or a drink afterwards. It’s what people do. We must nurture our artists and make it possible for them to make a living in the arts. Strengthening our anchor arts organizations will go a long way toward assisting independent artists by offering space - theaters, rehearsal space, galleries - that through Trust Fund grants can be used by independent artists.

Should more federal emergency funds be made available, I will be a strong supporter of Jersey City artists being recipients of funding in addition to that already received. Currently, the Powerhouse Arts district is the only location zoned for affordable housing for artists. Working with my City Council colleagues and the Arts Council, I will push for legislation that broadens the zoning to other areas of the city.

Recognizing that artists and creative communities have a positive impact on both the economy and reputation of Jersey City, I will actively encourage residents and businesses to support the arts.

+ James Solomon (Incumbent)

What is your relationship with the arts in Jersey City and how would you like to see it develop?

I am a staunch supporter of the arts here in Jersey City. Gaby, the girls, and I are enriched by our arts community, from the Alley Cat Gallery during JCAST to Nimbus’ Nutcracker performances during the holidays. I would like to see our Arts community develop in the next four years by supporting home-grown artists and institutions. I would like to see our art organizations become increasingly stable as they either settle in new homes or find new, permanent spaces. Furthermore, we must build housing that is affordable for artists to live in. That’s why I will continue to fight for more affordable housing for artists over the next four years, and will not let developers out of their obligation to build artist housing in the PowerHouse Arts District or anywhere else.

What kind of impact do you see the Pompidou Center having on Jersey City? And how would you ensure that our local arts community stays engaged throughout the planning process and fully benefits from the development?

The Pompidou Centre offers an excellent opportunity for Jersey City, but it is not without potential drawbacks. In the best-case scenario, the Centre can be a permanent, generational creative hub for the city, allowing local artists to display their creations alongside some of the great masters of history, and in front of visitors from across the globe. It has the potential to give Jersey City residents and children the chance to gain exposure to a world-renowned collection of works.

In the worst-case scenario, the Centre could be a drain on the city budget and a temporary experiment for the city. I have major concerns that the Center Pompidou could rethink their commitment to Jersey City and leave after their initial five-year commitment expires. We need to get a firm commitment from the negotiators at Centre Pompidou that the space will remain in Jersey City for decades to come. We also need to get commitments from the state and county governments that they will provide long-term funding commitments, to prevent a drain on Jersey City’s budget.

I promise to be a fighter for our local arts community’s inclusion in the decision-making process throughout the construction phase and when the center is fully operational. It is vital that the JC arts community is involved every single step of the way. We need to make sure that these decisions are made in the public forum, not behind closed doors in the proverbial smoke-filled rooms by politicians and business people in suits. I will use my position as City Councilperson to ensure that there is ample public comment allowed at every step in this journey.

Do you have specific goals or types of programs you’d like to see supported through the Arts and Culture Trust Fund? For all of Jersey City and/or your Ward specifically?

Back in 2020, I voted in favor of taking the Arts and Culture Trust Fund to a public vote and then publicly supported the referendum later that year. Our arts community is vital to maintaining Jersey City’s vibrancy and vitality as a city. The Fund will provide a steady funding stream to both established organizations like Nimbus and Art House as well as new artists who are on their way to being discovered by broader audiences.

Beyond approving the Fund’s creation and its broad goals, I think the Council - and all politicians - should stay out of determining the distribution of funds. Hudson County’s political machine is notorious. Co-opting artists through money is one of the machine’s tools to maintain its power grip on the political system. There are now, in theory, independent committees determining the Fund’s allocation. They should do their work without political interference.

How do you see the City helping our local arts sector recover from the economic devastation of the pandemic?

In April 2021, I called for Jersey City to devote a portion of its American Rescue Act Funds to provide aid to arts organizations. We know many organizations lost most of the regular revenue in 2020 and 2021. That aid would help arts organizations recover. Furthermore, my office has been active in helping individual artists and businesses get access to economic recovery aid from the federal and state governments, including PPP loans, grants, and unemployment.

+ Frank Gilmore

What is your relationship with the arts in Jersey City and how would you like to see it develop?

Mentoring youth in Jersey City has offered me a way into the art world from their perspective. Through my community advocacy efforts and relationships with local non-profit art organizations, I can offer them support and guidance. I would like to see all organizations within Jersey City offer mentorships, partnerships, and more opportunities to our inner-city artists; especially Ward F.

What kind of impact do you see the Pompidou Center having on Jersey City? And how would you ensure that our local arts community stays engaged throughout the planning process and fully benefits from the development?

If the Pompidou Center is truly willing to work with our local arts community, it will have a great impact on Jersey City’s local arts scene. For this to happen, we must galvanize our artists and art organizations to bring the community’s concerns to the table. Local artists and art advocates must have a seat at the table so that our voices are heard and demands are met. We must also make sure that our residents fully understand the opportunities that can be created for local artists so that they can advocate as well. There are definitely strength in numbers.

Do you have specific goals or types of programs you’d like to see supported through the Arts and Culture Trust Fund? For all of Jersey City and/or your Ward specifically?

I would like to see the money used for affordable shared studio space, to produce and promote exhibits, to guide young artists and support organizations that advocate for local artists in Ward F and Citywide. This includes audio and visual arts as well as written art such as playwrights and poets.

How do you see the City helping our local arts sector recover from the economic devastation of the pandemic?

Providing dedicated grant writers to apply for Artist Relief funding is one way to assist our local arts sector. Our objective now is to see how artists were impacted so we can have a more accurate understanding and come up with other feasible solutions to this concern than just grants.

+ Vernon Richardson

Click the image to see Vernon's responses.

+ Jermaine Robinson (Incumbent)

Hasn't provided responses yet.

+ Amy DeGise

Hasn't provided responses yet.

+ Elvin Dominici

What is your relationship with the arts in Jersey City and how would you like to see it develop?

Arts in general is very close to me as I am self-published author of two books: a novel by the name of Black Rose and a poetry book called Flor de los Deseos. I believe that every resident should have the opportunity to learn how to express themselves through art because it gives them an opportunity to realize creative outlets available to them. I’ve made sure my children participated in extracurricular arts programs at their public schools, either through music or drawing. It gave them an opportunity to finds their individuality and improved their opportunities to not get involved in harmful behaviors, like drugs or violence. I believe that our city should give more children these outlets and our administration should invest in them. Doing so, would make the programming accessible to those most in need of them, like our families living in poverty. The most heartbreaking thing I hear from parents is, “I can’t send my child to that program because it is too expensive.” These programs are beneficial to our residents and I know for a fact that they cannot work for free. The city needs to invest resources and apply for state/federal funding to adequately fund organizations that will offer free programming to our most vulnerable populations.

It is unfortunate to see the city investing funds from our city budget to support an international corporation rather than investing in local art programming and the artists who support it. I believe in having local artists who can brings a sense of pride to the community. It also sets examples for young people who might be considering careers in the arts. Artists support their communities by teaching their art and craft and they should be adequately funded to provide that opportunity to children throughout our city.

What kind of impact do you see the Pompidou Center having on Jersey City? And how would you ensure that our local arts community stays engaged throughout the planning process and fully benefits from the development?

The Pompidou Center is a luxury which residents cannot afford. I do not think it was smart for the city administration and most council members to agree to investing $12 million from our budget to this private entity. They are basically stating that external resources are more important that the vibrant art communities we currently have in our city. Why did artists have to fight for a trust fund that will generate only about $1 million a year when the city could’ve easily provided it within the budget? The city could have provided 20% of the funding going towards the Pompidou to create an annual fund of $2.4 million, provided an additional $5 million to fund afterschool arts programming in schools throughout the city, and still had about $5 million to invest to other resources for our community.

Unfortunately, this was passed and is now effectively in place if I become your next councilperson-at-large. However, I would work with other council members to force the administration to have a review panel in place, made up of city council members, local arts organizations (specifically those working in the Journal Square area), and independent local artists. The city administration and officials from Pompidou would have to present their proposals to the panel for review and approval before going through towards city planning, zoning, etc. This will ensure that the needs of local residents are at the forefront as it pertains to the center and the area around it (i.e., parking, support for small businesses, etc.). I believe the city council should also pass an ordinance requiring the Pompidou Center provide a specific amount from each ticket sale to go into a fund managed by the review panel. The fund will specifically target providing grant funding to organizations and artists to provide afterschool programming to Jersey City youth. There would be parameters in place where at least 85% of the children served receive free or reduced lunch and where most of the children served attend a Jersey City Public School that is designated as a Title I School or at least 80% of the children receive free or reduced lunch.

Do you have specific goals or types of programs you would like to see supported through the Arts and Culture Trust Fund? For all of Jersey City and/or your Ward specifically?

First and foremost, I believe the trust fund needs to equitably managed and local artists need to be a part of the conversation as to what programs and activities are funded. In addition, the city administration needs to make sure the funding gets allocated and distributed promptly and equitably to artists and organizations. As it pertains to the type of programming, I believe I outlined them above but will explain in more detail. I believe most of the programming being offered should go towards youth and families from a low socioeconomic status. We should be providing adequate funding to artists and organizations to run their programming while making sure the programming is free to these families. This is another reason why I believe the $12 million from the Pompidou deal would’ve been better utilized by funding this programming ourselves.

The programming should not exclude any child from participating in it. Therefore, I believe it should be open to children throughout Jersey City. However, I believe that the majority of the children served should come from Wards that currently have low participation rates. I assume the low participation rates might be due to various issues (i.e., funding, transportation, timing, etc.). I would like to see research information as to the number of children from every Ward participating in programming, the number of families who can afford to pay, the average amount paid by families for art programming, and the racial/ethnic breakdown of children participating in arts programming. This would help us build a stronger case for providing artists and organizations with adequate funding while reducing the wasteful spending on outside entities, like the Pompidou Center.

How do you see the city helping our local arts sector recover from the economic devastation of the pandemic?

Even before the pandemic, local artists were struggling to make ends meet in our city. I’ve heard stories from artists on the limited amount of resources or funding available to help them stay afloat while also paying astronomical costs of living in our city. Based on my experience working with small businesses in the city, I know that these struggles have escalated due to the economic devastation of the pandemic.

One way that I would expand recovery efforts is by reviewing the municipal budget and finding opportunities to fund more relief support for small businesses, which would include the local arts sector. I would find opportunities to revisit the funding allocated to the Pompidou Center in future city budgets to redistribute money going towards to the center to fund support for the local arts sector. We should be looking to provide economic relief to local entities before trying to support more resources for external entities.

In addition, as mentioned before, I would like to require the Pompidou Center to fund future programming provided by local art organizations and artists. The city administration and council can find innovative opportunities to provide more funding and support that will be adequate and equitable to all artists and organizations. This should include department leadership dedicated to finding all funding opportunities from the state and federal government available to distribute to artists and organizations. It can also include requiring that developers pay into the trust fund if they are looking to get approvals for any building with six (6) or more units.

+ Chris Gadsden

Hasn't provided responses yet.

+ June Jones

Hasn't provided responses yet.

+ Rolando Lavarro (Incumbent)

Hasn't provided responses yet.

+ Daniel Rivera (Incumbent)

Hasn't provided responses yet.

+ Joyce Watterman (Incumbent)

What is your relationship with the arts in Jersey City and how would you like to see it develop?

My relationship with the arts in Jersey City is a positive one. I sit on the mural board because I believe the arts play a vital part in ensuring diversity. I’ve been mindful of patronizing local artist, whether it’s visiting an art gallery, attending a dance show, or buying from an artist I see selling pieces on the street. One way I would like for the arts to develop is by granting artist more visibility. I believe Jersey City has always been a city that’s celebrated art but with more visibility, I know it can be a cultural aspect of the city that could not be denied.

What kind of impact do you see the Pompidou Center having on Jersey City? And how would you ensure that our local arts community stays engaged throughout the planning process and fully benefits from the development?

I believe the impact the Pompidou Center will have on Jersey City will be very beneficial to our residents. It will encourage tourism on a local, national, and even worldwide level. Residents of Jersey City, both children and adults, will be able to view and experience a type of art they may have never thought they would have access to. To help ensure the local arts community stays engaged, we will have to continue to communicate thoroughly. This type of communication warrants the arts community to have a seat at the table and be aware of the plans coming to the city.

Do you have specific goals or types of programs you’d like to see supported through the Arts and Culture Trust Fund? For all of Jersey City and/or your Ward specifically?

A main goal I currently have for the Arts and Cultural Trust Fund is for it to cater to the children and seniors in Jersey City and grant them exposure to all art programs. I believe this can be done through scholarships and free workshops that will expose them to dance, music, and art. My goal is to provide children with the possibility to learn and develop new interest.

How do you see the City helping our local arts sector recover from the economic devastation of the pandemic?

I believe the city will help our local arts sector recover from the economic devastation of the pandemic by continuing to provide access to The Cares Act, which will help artist become aware of grants that will support and help their businesses. I believe city will also explore the option of The Arts and Cultural Trust Fund being utilized to help our local artist in times of emergency.