So How bad is Newark Really? (Trenton, Lincoln Park: house, rent, work)

[66nexus]

I'll reiterate: Newark has problems, numerous problems. However I can see the changes, however small or slight. It seems that Newark isn't turning around fast enough for a lot of people. You can count one or two rental projects downtown, or count that 'one or two', as one or two more Newark has acquired since what...the 60's? Mulberry St. Promenade would have already been under way but it's still stuck in litigation. Downtown has the chicken shacks for sure, they are mostly the only surefire 24hr spots...But what about new 27Mix, Theater Square Grill, Maize...Ihop(which is open ALL night) Applebees? I agree with BobK, people will NOT move back on a large scale because the upswing is too much in its infancy. But-it is there
I do hope Booker does more for the city as he comes off correct and does have a big mess to clean up. James did a lil sumthin but the corruption was so rampant any good can be easily overshadowed. I mean c'mon, all those 'paid for by the city' vacations...unwise

[urbywan]

The state took over the schools over 10 years ago, still run them. Nuff said.

[66nexus]

Originally Posted by urbywan

The state took over the schools over 10 years ago, still run them. Nuff said.

I thought we already established that this is already a long-standing and well known fact.

[kort677]

Originally Posted by 66nexus

I thought we already established that this is already a long-standing and well known fact.

and no matter how much lipstick you slap on the pig, it's still a pig

[66nexus]

Originally Posted by kort677

and no matter how much lipstick you slap on the pig, it's still a pig

That's a horrible analogy...

[kort677]

Originally Posted by 66nexus

That's a horrible analogy...

no, that's newark

[66nexus]

[quote=kort677;881445]no, that's newark[/QUOTE

Okay I'll speak in your language then: A pig is a pig. It was born a pig, it will die a pig. Newark is a struggling city, it wasn't always a struggling city and will not always be a struggling city. Newark has a lot to overcome, but there are positive things to be noted. Anyone who doesn't see the changes just don't stay up on it. People argue that it's only a few 'here and theres', but those few here and theres are MUCH more than Newark had in a very long time. The NYTimes may have rode around with the NPD and noted some of the crime probs...but they also recently did an article called 'Not Hot yet but Newark starting to Percolate.' I'm surprised people whine about Newark now, when in the late 80s and early 90s the place was SO much worse it was unbelievable. But, I guess you don't know nothin' about that.

[kort677]

[quote=66nexus;881497]

Originally Posted by kort677

no, that's newark[/QUOTE

Okay I'll speak in your language then: A pig is a pig. It was born a pig, it will die a pig. Newark is a struggling city, it wasn't always a struggling city and will not always be a struggling city. Newark has a lot to overcome, but there are positive things to be noted. Anyone who doesn't see the changes just don't stay up on it. People argue that it's only a few 'here and theres', but those few here and theres are MUCH more than Newark had in a very long time. The NYTimes may have rode around with the NPD and noted some of the crime probs...but they also recently did an article called 'Not Hot yet but Newark starting to Percolate.' I'm surprised people whine about Newark now, when in the late 80s and early 90s the place was SO much worse it was unbelievable. But, I guess you don't know nothin' about that.

you can keep telling yourself how wonderful the place is
I can assure you that while the town might get better it will never attain the status it once had and you will never see the suburbanites abandoning their half acre lots to live in shoe box condos. It just isn't going to happen.
I am glad you like where you live and I hope the place makes a turn around, but I and people like me will never consider it as a place to live or visit

[66nexus]

[quote=kort677;881567]

Originally Posted by 66nexus

you can keep telling yourself how wonderful the place is
I can assure you that while the town might get better it will never attain the status it once had and you will never see the suburbanites abandoning their half acre lots to live in shoe box condos. It just isn't going to happen.
I am glad you like where you live and I hope the place makes a turn around, but I and people like me will never consider it as a place to live or visit

And I must reiterate for the nth time that Newark, although better, is not a 'wonderful place'. Again, it has numerous problems...what I was trying to get across was that there is a change. Based on your responses it seems you don't know much about Newark's changes, or the city itself. You even said you wouldn't visit...
-How can you, as a mortal man or woman with zero ability to tell the future say that Newark will never attain the status it once had? So you think Newark will be a sh*thole forever, name me one city that has always been bad. And people would have never went downtown and said so until NJPAC opened(and the club right next to it) (we'll have to see how the arena does but I'm optimistic). The word 'never' shouldn't be used because the fact is this: you simply do not know.
-People in the suburbs don't have to abandon anything for Newark to come back. Everyone doesn't want the white picket fences and huge open yard. Booker actually did reduce crime but not the murder rate. This is hard but can be achieved. I think Newark can attract young, single professionals who aren't exactly trying to start a family. Jersey City's waterfront is proof that everyone doesn't want to live in the suburbs, Newark has to position itself as an attractive alternative. I don't have a problem with the suburbs at all but you can keep suburbia and I would never try to take it away from you.


PS Times Square NY in the late 60's 70s nicknamed 'Slime Square' because of drugs, crime, prostitution. We already know where Times Square is now...

You said before that you people like you would never consider Newark to live or visit. What you must understand is that there are a lot of people unlike you.

[cyntmac]

True that many have no interest in even visiting but people are cynical for a reason. The extremes here are too much. The improvements at this point in time are not enough to attract even an open minded suburbanite. On the other end of the spectrum the current residents do not seem to be impressed with the current mayor or any of the so called progress up to this point.

This thread is even farther out on the extremes. Either you can't entertain even visiting a place like Newark and think it can never be more than a miserable hole(offering nothing for you) or you seem to see it as a place on the upswing with a broad appeal and can't wait to see what happens next. The truth is in the middle somewhere but it is not represented on this thread.

Newark does have its own forums on the net. That is where you will get something closer to the modern day reality. The residents are not all idiots who need to be schooled by "the man". If you post over there you will see for yourself. Just don't be surprised if their threads are very short on optimism.