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My family and I are looking to move to a progressive/liberal community in Northern NJ with good schools, low crime, and reasonable taxes. Can anyone advise?
Having said that, Maplewood is known for being progressive/liberal, although I don't know much about the schools. Portions of Maplewood border Newark, which isn't good, but if you stick close to the trainline and "old town" Maplewood area you should be fine.
Glen Ridge/Montclair/Verona are towns also considered progressive/liberal, with decent schools and lower crime than other areas.
But again, taxes are reprehensible in those areas.
Progressive - Montclair = yes, Glen Ridge = no. Less than ten years ago I ran into a guy who moved to the area to be in charge of real estate for N.J. Transit. He worked in downtown Newark and was considering buying in G.R. until people told him it was - if I remember correctly - 'restricted.' (When he told me that , I had to think for a minute to get his drift, since I had run across that term maybe once in my life.) Evidently, at the turn of the 21st century, Glen Ridge still has the reputation, at least, of being inhospitable to Jews. And probably blacks and others. If this is no longer true, my apologies to the town. NJT guy wound up moving to Maplewood, a block from my parents. You want progressive? The answer is Maplewood, South Orange, Montclair; maybe West Orange.
Last edited by jonathan snyder; 02-19-2007 at 05:29 AM..
Progressive - Montclair = yes, Glen Ridge = no. Less than ten years ago I ran into a guy who moved to the area to be in charge of real estate for N.J. Transit. He worked in downtown Newark and was considering buying in G.R. until people told him it was - if I remember correctly - 'restricted.' (When he told me that , I had to think for a minute to get his drift, since I had run across that term maybe once in my life.) Evidently, at the turn of the 21st century, Glen Ridge still has the reputation, at least, of being inhospitable to Jews. And probably blacks and others. If this is no longer true, my apologies to the town. NJT guy wound up moving to Maplewood, a block from my parents. You want progressive? The answer is Maplewood, South Orange, Montclair; maybe West Orange.
There are definitely jews in G.R.(probably mostly reformed) but they have been in that town for a lot longer than 10 years in the cases that I know of. Some of those areas still practice a form of "racial steering" though I don't think it is overt these days. People who have dealt with this have learned to read between the lines however. This is a reality all over the Northeastern U.S.
Everyone has a different definition of what liberal or progressive means. I know people who consider themselves very liberal who are somewhat racist. They would never admit it though.
While I am not sure what you mean by "progressive", there are towns in northern bergen county that I absolutely love, with some of the lowest tax rates in the state.
Upper Saddle River is beautiful, lots of space, large properties, high prices, low low taxes.
Allendale is also very low tax wise, property is a bit smaller and more affordable.
Glen Rock taxes are reasonable as are prices.
Ramsey is very nice, taxes a bit higher.
Again, as to the political agendas of these towns I have no idea, but I do know that they all have diversity in their populations as I know people of all backgrounds in each town.
Hope this helps.
Livingston has excellent schools, not a Republican in sight, with a population that includes Asians, Indians, Blacks, Jews. Taxes are high (what do you expect in NNJ) but it is a great town with great town services. I will be sorry to move out.
GD
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towns in nnj/bergen
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