Mayor Fulop: Build the New Jersey African American Museum at Jackson Square                                                         GetGoogleCustomSearch(); AdGroup1(); AdGroup2(); AdGroup3(); AdGroup4(); checkStickyAdCookie();  AdGroup14();             GetHorizontalMenu1();  AdGroup15();  GetLogo();   GetDate(null, '');     #1 Source For Hudson County Political Insider News    GetUnauthorisedAccessText();  start(); GetSubMenuHeader166();  Mayor Fulop: Build the New Jersey African American Museum at Jackson Square  GetArticleDate("4/30/2018");             The MLK Hub is set to become a destination attraction for "City Workers" as the home of the proposed Municipal Complex on the soon to be renamed Jackson Square. There is no denying the Southside of Jersey City has been neglected and it has received lackluster support by past City Governments in reviving the once prosperous commercial districts. If you know Jersey City’s history, you know the corridor of Monticello & Jackson Avenues were once the most prominent places to live and work in the entire Northeast for African Americans. For years various City Administrations have watched as it's Jersey City Redevelopment Agency has intentionally reneged on numerous development projects along the Southside of the City. The City is no stranger to being the main contributor in the ethnic cleansing and the cultural legacies of areas in our city; for example, downtown Jersey City was once home to the Latino and Italian communities with both enjoying their love for the now gold coast.  The city now wants to circumvent a community-based plan, the Martin Luther King Drive redevelopment plan, and continue to disregard the cultural and social significance of King Drive by creating its own plan for the predominantly African American community. The City is quick to label the MLK Hub a failure but fails to mention that it has held the community as an economic hostage in failing to deliver on their funding promises made on their part concerning the MLK Drive. Why? It's simple, the Southside of the City has the paws of Gentrification in its grasp. It is home to highest unemployment in the city and home to underperforming public schools, making it an easy target for developers.  The Mayor believes by setting forth a Municipal Complex it will spur development in the area. That will not be answered today or tomorrow, but it will undermine the Community's 30-year-old MLK Drive Redevelopment Plan, undoubtedly it will spark the beginnings of eminent domain proceedings leading to mainly black and brown residents being forced by the City to sell their properties, so Developers can push forth rapid nonexclusionary gentrification agenda.  The renaming of MLK Hub to Jackson Square should be a community decision, honoring the Jackson brothers who were African American pioneers in Jersey City Black business is noble, which it brings forth my own idea. The City should cease efforts in making Jackson Square, a Municipal Complex, instead make it a destination for citizens throughout the United States. The Fulop administration should investigate the feasibility of establishing the New Jersey African American Museum, a place that could be a yearly destination for citizens of all ages and ethnicities year round. Jersey City has a rich history of African American pioneers, Judge Shirley Tolentino, Dr. Lena Edwards, Flip Wilson, Famed Attorney Ray Brown and countless others. Imagine also a Jersey City Performing Arts Center featuring a Community Center, surrounded by cafes, and business incubators created by Rising Tide Capital graduates.      1 .pagedropcap {float:none;}  GetSubMenuFooter166();  AdGroup11(); GetHighlights2(); AdGroup13();     GetFooterMenu61(); GetContactInformation(); { powered by bulletlink.com }  GetGoogleAnalytics('PAGE:mayor_fulop:_build_the_new_jersey_african_american_museum_at_jackson_square');