The Jackson family museum and performing arts center planned for Gary got a boost last week, but it's a long way from a launch. That gives plenty of time to work out important details, such as who should build it and who should operate it.

Mayor Rudy Clay wants a Michael Jackson museum to be built on land the city owns between the Genesis Center and City Hall. Gary is, after all, where Jackson and most of his siblings got their start in the music business.

Last week, Clay went to Las Vegas to receive an oversized check for $10,000 from Johnny Brenden, president and CEO of Brenden Theatres Corp. Brenden said he has contributed to similar projects before.

Clay said decisions had not been made yet about whether the project will be private, public or a partnership.

"We have the wherewithal, we have the love, and we have the land," Clay said at the Las Vegas event. The majority of the City Council supports it, he added, as long as a "developer of a hotel and museum is willing to build without taxpayer money."

That absence of taxpayer money is important. The city is on the rocks financially and has no business funding this museum.

It could, however, work with a private group to make this happen.

That $10,000 is a drop in the $20 million to $30 million bucket needed to build the museum and performing arts center.

If the museum is to open, it should be owned and operated by a private foundation or other group, not by the city itself. Allusions have been made to a hotel developer getting involved in this project. That might work, too.

Gary could lease or sell the land for the museum to use the 10 acres Clay wants for the museum location, but construction and operation should be the responsibility of a private or nonprofit group, not the city.

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