Arts & Culture

The Problem

Jersey City’s creative spirit is under threat. Rising rents, vanishing studio space, and disappearing local media are driving artists and storytellers out of the city. Without bold action, we risk losing the culture and community that make Jersey City unique. Mussab is committed to keeping artists, journalists, and cultural institutions rooted here to ensure creativity remains accessible to all residents, not just the wealthy

Our Solutions

Ensuring Affordable Artist Housing
Artists built Jersey City’s cultural identity, but many can no longer afford to live or work here. Mussab will launch an Arts Housing Initiative to turn underused buildings and city-owned properties into permanently affordable live/work spaces. He will expand inclusionary housing rules so artists benefit from new development and dedicate a share of community land bank properties to arts uses. This will keep artists in Jersey City and preserve the neighborhoods they helped shape.

Ending the Pompidou Giveaway
Mussab Ali will stop Jersey City from spending millions on a Paris museum outpost unless the state fully funds it. Taxpayer dollars should strengthen local culture, not subsidize deficits for a foreign brand. Instead, Mussab will reinvest in reopening the Jersey City Museum, restoring Loew’s Theater, and supporting neighborhood arts hubs. Unlike the Pompidou, these projects directly serve residents and artists in Jersey City.

Bringing Philanthropy to the Arts
Government cannot do it alone. Mussab will launch a Cultural Endowment Fund that matches private donations with city dollars, unlocking millions in philanthropic support. Grants will prioritize neighborhood arts groups, underserved communities, and artists of color, ensuring equity in how resources are distributed.

Reviving the Powerhouse Arts District
The Powerhouse Arts District was supposed to be Jersey City’s cultural heart, but it was overtaken by luxury development. Mussab Ali will enforce zoning so developers deliver real cultural spaces, make restoration of the Powerhouse a centerpiece project, and partner with local organizations to bring back studios, markets, and performances. This will finally fulfill the district’s original promise.