A controversial new plan to bring an outpost of a French museum to Jersey City is moving forward despite vocal pushback from many in the community.

The project relies on giving a tax break to a developer in return for the space to build a central Pompidou satellite location and the lower levels of a residential tower already slated for construction in Journal Square.

It comes after the state pulled funding for another version of the museum earlier this year, saying the plan wasn't economically viable.

But despite city council approval for millions in tax breaks, there are still lingering questions about how much this museum will really cost and who will pay.

Ted Goldberg reports.

Last night's city council meeting in Jersey City got raucous at times.

They said they had to have, as we've said, nothing.

Stop vandals.

As council people pressed for more information about a new proposal to bring the center Pompidou to Jersey City thanks to a 30 year tax abatement proposed by Mayor Steve Fulop.

We don't have much time.

Let me answer that exact number.

Okay.

There is no way in the budget like this shows up on day one and in a box all tied up in public like you would like it to happen.

It just doesn't happen that way.

The question of tax breaks also led to some sparks.

Yes, Yes or no?

Nothing at all.

Just answer yes or no.

The tax credits that we're talking about is NJ into project.

That is the wrote these tax credits with a project like this in mind.

The state pulled funding for the original proposal and this new one relies on tax breaks at the city level.

Mayor Fulop's plan includes some help from New Jersey's Economic Development Authority.

But in response to this story, the EDA tells us the Center Pompidou Project has not been approved for any tax incentives from the N.J. EDA.

The museum could be eligible for incentives under our Cultural Arts and Facilities program.

But applications for the program have not yet opened.

City Council voted six three to approve the tax break, with some council people saying control of the property is important.

Even if Pompidou doesn't pan out.

We are getting community space in the heart of Jersey City.

The property that we were never going to be able to be able to afford and look at again.

You can't buy real estate on Journal Square if we can get that now.

Could you imagine what the value will be in at least three years from now?

The next mayor of Jersey City could scuttle this project.

Candidates like Jim McGreevey, Hudson County Commissioner William O'Dea and sitting Councilman James Solomon are all against it.

And so were most residents who came to last night's meeting, which ran for more than 5 hours.

The library won't let us meet in their meeting rooms because they can't afford the staff.

But we can build this museum.

It's ridiculous.

Whenever somebody tries to make me spend my money so quickly, I think that they're trying to get me to spend money on something that's not really worth it.

With his proximity to the PATH terminal and newly developed and newly renovated Loews Theater will not only help to revitalize the area as an arts district for Jersey City, but will also but also has the potential to transform it into a tourist destination for the entire street type tristate region and beyond.

It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to bring a global institution to Jersey City that will allow us to assert our scrappy, working class, hard working creative identity on a global stage.

France wants us to have this museum gifted to us.

They gave us the Statue of Liberty.

While there were a couple of jokes, most of the residents were upset at the proposal and the mayor behind it, who's also running for governor.

The mayor is doing this to save face.

He's doing this.

This is his ego.

This is his pride.

This is not Jersey City.

You guys know what Jersey City is all about.

And you know, this isn't it.

This vanity project is only to help pad his resume for governor using the taxpayers as his piggybank.

This Pompidou project is Mayor Fulop's ego driven gamble, risking taxpayer millions while Kushner cashes out.

It's not for us.

It's for a few developers to solve rich people problems, as Fulop likes to say about us.

At the opening of a new library today, Mayor Fulop defended the proposal and called the council's vote tough and courageous.

I get the controversy around it, but sometimes I think that people need to look at the bigger picture that government can't do this stuff by itself.

We do not have the resources to do it.

So we look for public private partnerships.

Last night was a perfect night to see us get whipped off.

There's no need to for us to rush into this, right?

If we need a public space in Journal Square, there have been dozens of building going up in the square, dozens of opportunities for us to do that.

Tonight, the people were vocal.

And I'm going to tell you, people are not going to forget.

I know some of the council people apologize to each other by the end of the meeting, but some of the residents here were not in a forgiving mood and say they'll remember the next time they go to vote in Jersey City.

I'm Ted Goldberg.

NJ Spotlight News.