Former Gov. Jim McGreevey, a declared candidate for Jersey City mayor in 2025, is coming out against the Centre Pompidou x Jersey City project, insisting that the municipal government cannot afford to invest in something of this magnitude.
“Jersey City cannot afford the prospect of the Pompidou satellite location in Jersey City,” McGreevey began in a statement.
“There are greater and more pressing concerns facing Jersey City, including: property tax and rent stabilization, the reconstruction of the Charlie Heger Ice Rink at Pershing Field, recreational facilities for our youth, as well as grappling with the need to repair our schools.”
McGreevey’s remarks come one week before the Villa Albertine, Centre Pompidou, and Hudson County Community College (HCCC), with the support of the city, will host a “Night of Ideas” at the college from 6 p.m. Friday until 1 a.m. Saturday.
He continued that while the Pompidou was announced in 2021 and initially slated to open in 2024, but it is now looking like late 2025 or early 2026, as Mayor Steven Fulop, also a Democratic candidate for governor, said in an interview exactly one year ago.
Furthermore, between the City of Jersey City and the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency, the State of New Jersey has allocated $58 million towards the project that has still not been spent, while the Pathside building cost $10 million, which was issued as debt for the JCRA and comes with 6.5 percent interest annually.
Also a former Woodbridge mayor, state senator, and state assemblyman, McGreevey said restoring the Pathside could cost between $10 and $30 million, while the memorandum of understanding for the project indicates the city is on the hook for $31.76 million to the Pompidou in Paris to date.
He also estimates annual upkeep costs between $5 and $15 million.
“The Pompidou satellite location is an unnecessary cost to Jersey City and will worsen the
potentially vulnerable financial position in which the city currently is,” McGreevey concluded.
“The significant funds required for the Pompidou museum in Jersey City will be better used to address financial liabilities, which the city must urgently address. We must live within our means.”
Just over a year ago, eight city officials, including Fulop, went to Paris to meet with partners about the Pompidou, which was paid for by over 60 private donors, as opposed to taxpayer dollars, as HCV first reported.
A city spokeswoman declined to comment on McGreevey’s take on pending city business, though this is the latest sign that tensions between the current mayor and a potential successor boiling over.
On the February 7th episode of HCV Live & Uncut, Fulop said he did not currently see McGreevey making the runoff, getting bested by Hudson County Commissioner Bill O’Dea (D-2) and Ward E Councilman James Solomon, the latter who has not announced his plans for 2025 yet.
“If I was giving you an honest answer, I think today, assuming James Solomon gets into the race, [Council President] Joyce Watterman gets into the race, Bill O’Dea is in the race, former Governor McGreevey, [Hudson County Commissioner] Jerry Walker,” he began.
“I would say that … today at this moment, I would say the runoff is Bill O’Dea and if James Solomon gets into the race. I don’t think that Jim McGreevey’s getting any traction in the community, it’s a lot of people statewide …”