Those who can afford to live in New York, not only live here, but who live here lavishly, seem to be tone deaf. On Monday, May 4, the Metropolitan Museum of Art will once again stage its Met Gala. The honorary chairs for this year’s event? Jeff Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sánchez Bezos. Last Sunday, Lauren was featured in a New York Times article titled, “Someone Has to Be Happy. Why Not Lauren Sánchez Bezos?” The subtitle: “As half of an unfathomably powerful couple, Mrs. Sánchez Bezos seems to have influenced the uber-rich to stop apologizing, and start enjoying themselves.”

In the article, Lauren said that she and Jeff wake up together and begin each day by listing the 10 things they are grateful for. The article was so over the top, it prompted Katie Couric to ask the writer, Amy Chozick, “Are you allowed to refuse assignments? This feels, um, off.” If that Times article was “off,” as many who followed up Couric’s comment on Instagram agreed, then what do we say about having one of the world’s wealthiest couples parade down a red carpet at the Met Gala?

Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has made affordability his key issue, said he will not be joining this ostentatious parade of wealth. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez attended the 2021 Met Gala wearing a dress that proclaimed “Tax the Rich.” Her appearance sparked an ethics investigation in Congress. She hasn’t RSVPed for this year, but I’m guessing she will follow the mayor’s lead.

The museum’s annual event raises funds for its Costume Institute. Last year, ticket prices were $75,000 per person, an increase from the $50,000 charged in 2023. Despite that high price, there’s always a frenzy to snap up one of the tickets. Of course, the ticket price is just one cost associated with the event.

This year’s theme is “Costume Art,” which explores the relationship between fashion and art by pairing garments with pieces from the museum’s permanent collection. Attendees are encouraged to treat the body as a blank canvas, highlighting fashion as a form of artistic expression. With these “anything goes” guidelines, the cost of a dress may well exceed that ticket price. 

While normal people won’t be able to get into the Met to view the gala, there’s always a crowd outside eager to see which celebrities show up and what they are wearing. The race to outdo each other often results in some over the top dresses for the women and suits, or what passes as a suit, for the men. 

We can only guess what Lauren’s gown will cost. (Rest assured she won’t be purchasing it on Amazon.) But she will certainly have competition. Co-chairs include Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour, the former editor of Vogue who now holds several titles at the parent company, Condé Nast. In previous years, Wintour had banned members of the MAGA crowd from attending. But with the Bezos pair now honorary chairs, expect to see many Trumpers on the red carpet.

Of course, the Met Gala isn’t the only occasion where there are displays of affluence. The Golden Globes, the Oscars, the Kentucky Derby, and numerous events at Mar-a-Lago, often shine a spotlight on celebrities, corporate executives and others who are at the top of the income pyramid. 

But this moment just feels wrong. The optics are disturbing. There’s still a war raging in Iran, our service members are in danger and, by some reports, not even being given enough to eat. Gas prices are at historic highs, food prices, too, and many here in the city are suffering after Trump cut off the services these families depend on to live. Awarding billionaires like Bezos with this glitzy platform is like rubbing salt into a wound. We can’t help but think about how our values in this country have become so skewed. 

Yes, we love the Met and we want to preserve their collections. It is one of the few places in New York where anyone can enjoy incredible works of art. It costs a lot to keep all that going, so raising money is important. Is this the best way to accomplish that goal? Would all these wealthy people write those large checks without having the opportunity to be lauded at the Met Gala? And what about taking a percentage of those funds and contributing it to the non-profits that are helping to feed the hungry? 

I have a suggestion for next year’s gala. Make it about working people. Showcase statues, paintings, and other works that celebrate those who keep our country going. Those who work in health care, food service, sanitation, transit, air traffic, police and fire protection. Let’s have those workers parade alongside some of these wealthy individuals. For just one night, let’s celebrate all the people who truly make New York work. Let’s thank them for what they do and let’s give them the recognition they deserve. 

Maybe it would work. Maybe not. But isn’t it worth a try? 

Shutterstock photo by Rokas Tenys