Gary City and the Big Jackson Project

Gary, in the U.S. state of Indiana, is the birthplace of Michael Jackson and all his sisters and brothers.

The city was founded in 1906 with the launch of a steel plant, and it reached its peak as that industry flourished. But with the industry’s decline in the 1960s, the city’s glory and prosperity faded. At that time, with rising unemployment and increasing crime rates, the residents of Gary increasingly began migrating to other cities and states in the U.S. One of these families was the Jacksons, who moved to California in the winter of 1968. Little by little, Gary deteriorated: buildings collapsed, and poverty came to the city. In the midst of the economic recession in the U.S., life for the residents of this city became even harder. They were looking for additional funding from Indiana, and it was expected that with the coming of a black president, Barack Obama, the situation in this mostly black neighborhood city would improve—but it never did.

Poverty and decay have blocked the progress of the big project to build a recreational and arts complex for the Jackson family—celebrities and honors of this city. Although the former mayor, Rudy Clay, and the city’s youth are struggling hard against these difficulties to save their city.

Bringing the Jacksons’ project to fruition is not only a tribute to Michael and a memorial to the famous Jackson family; it will also breathe new life into the city.

Rudy Clay says: “For the people of Gary, I want to witness the opening of this complex.”

Clay believes that once this complex is launched, a flood of Michael Jackson fans will pour into Gary and bring prosperity to the city.

Since last summer, the Jackson family has tried to help move this project forward by opening a charitable foundation to raise money and by setting up a company. But the 75-acre plot of land set aside for building this complex is full of unfulfilled dreams.

Simon Sahouri, from the Jackson Development and Marketing company, is the person taking charge of this project on behalf of the Jackson family. The complex is planned to include a museum, an arts center, an amusement park, a casino, and even a student dormitory for Indiana University. This complex needs $300 million in funding.

Sahouri says there are investors, but he has not disclosed their names. He expresses hope that Joe and Katherine will be able to witness the opening of this complex during their lifetimes.

Last year, Mayor Clay announced that he had cancer. He named Karen Freeman-Wilson as his successor. This mayor, who won the election, says she supports the idea of building the Jacksons’ project as a tribute to the King of Pop, but before anything can be done, funding must be secured; otherwise, they will use the land set aside for the project for other purposes.

Source: eMJey.com / abc local