Quote:
Originally Posted by SilkCity0416
Do you people have anything else better to do, then trash cities on this forum? I live in Paterson, and yes, it is a tough town, but that doesn't mean that everyone in this city, or the whole city for that matter, is one giant slum. Paterson is a large and diverse city, where people are just trying their best to get by in life. We have to remember that New Jersey really doesn't have a classic big city, like some states. I lived in Ohio for sometime, and if Newark (our state's biggest city) was in Ohio, it would be the the 5th biggest city (behind Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Toledo) I lived in Cleveland, and I can say, that it will make any city on this list, look like Disneyland. You haven't seen bad into you walk in some parts of Cleveland. That being said, you have to remember, that NJ has a HORRIBLE reputation in this country. We are seen as being nothing but a toxic, urban hell, where there is nothing but pollution, traffic, and urban sprawl throughout the place. Also, let's not forget, NYC's dumping ground. I tell people all the time that NJ is a wonderful place, but they just laugh it off. (New Joisey is nasty!) While I try my best to change eople's feelings about NJ, would you please just take a second to realize that people do call these places home, and I'm sure no one wouldn't like to hear that their hometown (or state) made a top-ten list for a negative reason. I know these places could be dangerous, but that doesn't mean we have to knock them. Jersey City is nice! They don't call it's downtown "Wall St. West" for nothing. Newark is getting there. It has a great history going back to 1666 (making it older than Philadelphia) Soon we New Jerseyans will be proud to say Newark is the city of NJ. Paterson has history like no other place in this country. Alexander Hamilton founded this city, as the first planned industrial city in America. America's industrial power was born at the Great Falls of the Passaic. So lets just realize that NJ and it's cites are one with each other. Talking trash about them, is the same as downing New Jersey (your home) as a whole.
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JBIZinc says;
I agree with Silk City. Yeah, we all know about how bad parts of Jersey are, but, firstly, I have been living in Somerset and Hunterdon county most of my life with few serious concerns about violent crime, a great education, great downtowns, a great career and 1 hour in either direction to NYC or Philly, two of the greatest cities on the planet. Secondly, poverty is an issue that will not go away and if every person capable of making even a small contribution to bettering their surroundings left, the entire state would go the way Newark went 40 years ago when the middle class left.
Don't get me wrong, the cost of living is tough and I too am considering moving to Lehigh Valley(they have their own gangs), so I understand why people want to leave particularly if they don't have two incomes or one big one, but lets not identify NJ only by the cost of living and crime. The cost of living is high in part because proximity to higher paying/more interesting jobs is high. The fact that the poor and immigrants flock to certain parts is not the fault of the people or towns of NJ. It's an issue that people can run away from because ignorance is bliss. Of course it is still going on and the lessons to be learned before it's all figured out are similar to the lessons that will lead to peace.....everywhere. So lay off Jersey. All the great places in PA and NC and elsewhere that are hot destinations right now would not be as hot if it weren't for the sold NJ homes and intelligent, educated NJ middle class that are financing those areas upswings.
I am about to leave a lab in Hoboken. Out my window is one of the best evening views of Manhatten you can find. It's awesome. I am gonna get in my car and drive through Hoboken and I know I will see at least something interesting. It might be a really hot women, or a poor person, or students of many different cultures, a hopping bar, etc...Then I will drive back to central Jersey through some, yeah, pretty stinky areas(literally) and it will remind me how much of the countries industries thrived here first but also encourage me to go green in my personal life and in my job as a chemist. Then as I get close to home, the rolling hills and beautiful changing trees look the complete opposite of what 90% of the rest of the country thinks about NJ...and I know where is safe and where is not the closer I get to home.
Anyway, if it gets too expensive, none of that will matter, but don't diss NJ because of what is happening to it and if you really cared, stick around and try to do something about it. Maybe someday, if it gets really cleaned up, the only people left will be the ones who really deserve all the great things this area has to offer, minus the crime and expense