Perception of NJ from out of staters (Orange: renting, house)

[mike0421]

Originally Posted by JohnVeenstra

There are a lot of farms, especially when you travel west outside the Route 287 semi-circle around NYC. My cousin happens to be the Secretary of Agriculture for NJ. He lives in Sussex County.
In 1983 I opened mortgage offices in NJ for a large commercial bank. The bank had mortgage offices in about 40 staes, but, not in NJ. To get some in-house, experienced mortgage peoPle to run the office, they posted the job for State Manager in all the offices in the other 40 states. Many were interested in the promotion and job opportunity, etc. However, when they found out the job was in NJ, they all turned it down and none of them had actually ever been here. So, I was working with the bank in Rochester, NY at the time and they had to fill the position because it was getting time to open the offices. Someone said, what about me, he's from NJ. The boss came in and said: 'What do you think about NJ?" Nothing else was said. I said yes and flew down next morning. I think NJ is one of the best kept secrets. Many people simply like where they were born and raised because that is what they are used to.

And I think therein lies the central stigma when it comes to NJ. For, NJ is to me, one of the most unusual places, if not the most unusual, in the US. The population density, coupled with earlier era suburban design makes it so. And because most people are used to "Vanillamerica" which is to say, pod developments separated by ubiquitous retail/commercial districts, and almost entirely car-centric. There are many areas in NJ that buck that trend, because mixed use zoning was once viewed as desirable. Many who come to NJ have an expectation of 'order' when it comes to how a neighborhood or habitat is laid out. Today, much of Plano Texas, for instance, looks just like Marietta Georgia, which looks much like Chandler Arizona. (Welcome to Applebees!) Most of NJ will never be mistaken for these newer 'exurbs'. So there is a resistance from out of staters who see older places such as Fair Lawn, Rutherford, Pennsauken, etc and associate it as ugly or undesirable, or not like the rest of the country. And again, it goes back to being used to what one grew up with. That's also the reason why many, many ex-New Jerseyans have a tough time coping when they move to places, especially southern states, because their initial expectation of cheaper living is eventually overtaken by the disparity in overall living conditions.

[CuCullin]

Originally Posted by tommyc_37

But it's a real perception issue, based on very little fact. How do we change it?

Why change it? Keep the riff raff out

Seriously though, people from Long Island (including family) think they live the "Suburban" life. They are also so clueless about NJ that they couldn't believe a small town like High Bridge has several LARGE parks, trails, annual bike races, oktoberfest, 5 baseball fields, an observatory in spitting distance, a museum, great restaurants, etc.

Completely clueless. People at work have even asked if I really took the pictures lol

I dont much care

[john_starks]

Originally Posted by mike0421

And I think therein lies the central stigma when it comes to NJ. For, NJ is to me, one of the most unusual places, if not the most unusual, in the US. The population density, coupled with earlier era suburban design makes it so. And because most people are used to "Vanillamerica" which is to say, pod developments separated by ubiquitous retail/commercial districts, and almost entirely car-centric. There are many areas in NJ that buck that trend, because mixed use zoning was once viewed as desirable. Many who come to NJ have an expectation of 'order' when it comes to how a neighborhood or habitat is laid out. Today, much of Plano Texas, for instance, looks just like Marietta Georgia, which looks much like Chandler Arizona. (Welcome to Applebees!) Most of NJ will never be mistaken for these newer 'exurbs'. So there is a resistance from out of staters who see older places such as Fair Lawn, Rutherford, Pennsauken, etc and associate it as ugly or undesirable, or not like the rest of the country. And again, it goes back to being used to what one grew up with. That's also the reason why many, many ex-New Jerseyans have a tough time coping when they move to places, especially southern states, because their initial expectation of cheaper living is eventually overtaken by the disparity in overall living conditions.

great post

[monack]

Originally Posted by CuCullin

Why change it? Keep the riff raff out

Seriously though, people from Long Island (including family) think they live the "Suburban" life. They are also so clueless about NJ that they couldn't believe a small town like High Bridge has several LARGE parks, trails, annual bike races, oktoberfest, 5 baseball fields, an observatory in spitting distance, a museum, great restaurants, etc.

Completely clueless. People at work have even asked if I really took the pictures lol

I dont much care

Something we can agree on.

I live on Long Island - and the immediate reaction that I get when I tell people that I am moving to NJ is... "Jersey? GOD! WHY?" - and all I can think of is because - it's not HERE.

Long Island has it's positive points, but you're right - they think that they are living in suburbia up here. But the parts of Long Island that are anything like Jersey are few and far between. The houses are too close together here, as a general rule, and the traffic is unbearable.

Long Island is great if you don't ever want to leave the Island...

[tahiti]

Originally Posted by mike0421

And I think therein lies the central stigma when it comes to NJ. For, NJ is to me, one of the most unusual places, if not the most unusual, in the US. The population density, coupled with earlier era suburban design makes it so. And because most people are used to "Vanillamerica" which is to say, pod developments separated by ubiquitous retail/commercial districts, and almost entirely car-centric. There are many areas in NJ that buck that trend, because mixed use zoning was once viewed as desirable. Many who come to NJ have an expectation of 'order' when it comes to how a neighborhood or habitat is laid out. Today, much of Plano Texas, for instance, looks just like Marietta Georgia, which looks much like Chandler Arizona. (Welcome to Applebees!) Most of NJ will never be mistaken for these newer 'exurbs'. So there is a resistance from out of staters who see older places such as Fair Lawn, Rutherford, Pennsauken, etc and associate it as ugly or undesirable, or not like the rest of the country. And again, it goes back to being used to what one grew up with. That's also the reason why many, many ex-New Jerseyans have a tough time coping when they move to places, especially southern states, because their initial expectation of cheaper living is eventually overtaken by the disparity in overall living conditions.

I totally agree. I always wonder about those who complain NJ is only endless strip malls and subdivisions. It's clear those people have never been to places that truly ARE like that. See Phoenix, Denver and Sacramento suburbs for instance.

[fischfan13]

Originally Posted by CuCullin

Why change it? Keep the riff raff out

Seriously though, people from Long Island (including family) think they live the "Suburban" life. They are also so clueless about NJ that they couldn't believe a small town like High Bridge has several LARGE parks, trails, annual bike races, oktoberfest, 5 baseball fields, an observatory in spitting distance, a museum, great restaurants, etc.

Completely clueless. People at work have even asked if I really took the pictures lol

I dont much care

You beat me to it.
I absolutely hate LI and the "cluelessness" that lives there.

I have taken pictures of Lacey and the lakes inside of it when snowcovered, and people have asked where I was when taking these.
Crime in "Surburbia" LI is much higher than crime in small towns in NJ. Have you watched the news lately? Racism is rampant there. Murders are not a surprising story on the news when it comes from LI as well.

Hey Tommyc, didja tell them that you are from "Historic" Jersey City?

[clevedark]

My mother-in-law has the best comeback, "if New Jersey's so bad, then why does everybody live here?"

I can't remember the last time I heard someone make fun of NJ to my face (and I live in Mass and I'm constantly telling people where I'm from).

[tommyc_37]

Originally Posted by fischfan13

You beat me to it.
I absolutely hate LI and the "cluelessness" that lives there.

I have taken pictures of Lacey and the lakes inside of it when snowcovered, and people have asked where I was when taking these.
Crime in "Surburbia" LI is much higher than crime in small towns in NJ. Have you watched the news lately? Racism is rampant there. Murders are not a surprising story on the news when it comes from LI as well.

Hey Tommyc, didja tell them that you are from "Historic" Jersey City?

Funny you ask...the woman in Scenario # 3 actually had very nice things to say about Downtown JC.

[fischfan13]

Originally Posted by tommyc_37

Funny you ask...the woman in Scenario # 3 actually had very nice things to say about Downtown JC.

Of course she did, you said she was from Lawngisland.

[colleeng47]

I moved from NJ to another state with poor perception. "Redneck, bible thumping, flyover state."

No one here in Oklahoma has ever insulted NJ, if anything, they are very curious about it, and oftentimes mention what beautiful pictures they've seen of the fall colors.

And, until you've compared a Farmer's Market in OK to a Farmer's Market in NJ, you'll never more appreciate the title "Garden State." I can get great beef, buffalo meat, and dairy products here, but the fresh veggies and fruit leave a lot to be desired.