This is going to sound horrible... (Newark, Trenton: house, neighborhoods, to buy)

[azwildcats70]

Why on earth are so many poverty stricken areas in NJ filthy? I never understood this? I grew up ridiculously poor in Arizona (7 of 9 kids, in a trailer, mom brain damaged since I was 10 and Dad never making more than $35K a year) and we were never messy, dirty, filthy... what's up with that? Do you have to have money to get off your lazy butt and clean the garbage out of your yard?

[Alex07860]

Originally Posted by azwildcats70

Why on earth are so many poverty stricken areas in NJ filthy? I never understood this? I grew up ridiculously poor in Arizona (7 of 9 kids, in a trailer, mom brain damaged since I was 10 and Dad never making more than $35K a year) and we were never messy, dirty, filthy... what's up with that? Do you have to have money to get off your lazy butt and clean the garbage out of your yard?

Rather sad but true. people don't have pride on themselves or their property so they don't mind living in filth and among trash and of course they don't mind having a hand out asking for help. Not to clean their streets but probably to buy a 40 or a pack or worse.

[Calico696]

I have never understood this either. I can understand the house needing to be painted and other repairs going south if money is a issue. But soap and brooms don't cost much. We weren't exactly rolling in the dough when I was growing up. Mom didn't work, Dad worked 3 jobs to make ends meet. Our clothes weren't always new but they were always clean.

[FlyersFan]

Originally Posted by azwildcats70

Why on earth are so many poverty stricken areas in NJ filthy? I never understood this? I grew up ridiculously poor in Arizona (7 of 9 kids, in a trailer, mom brain damaged since I was 10 and Dad never making more than $35K a year) and we were never messy, dirty, filthy... what's up with that? Do you have to have money to get off your lazy butt and clean the garbage out of your yard?

Half my relatives are Canadian from the Toronto area. There is NO street litter to speak of and the "poor" neighborhoods of the city are just as clean as the affluent areas.

[NewHomeHappy]

Originally Posted by azwildcats70

Why on earth are so many poverty stricken areas in NJ filthy? I never understood this? I grew up ridiculously poor in Arizona (7 of 9 kids, in a trailer, mom brain damaged since I was 10 and Dad never making more than $35K a year) and we were never messy, dirty, filthy... what's up with that? Do you have to have money to get off your lazy butt and clean the garbage out of your yard?

key word here folks

[njkate]

Sorry but this is not just in Jersey....I've been to many areas of the country where the poverty areas were rat holes

[mike0421]

Originally Posted by njkate

Sorry but this is not just in Jersey....I've been to many areas of the country where the poverty areas were rat holes

+2 for Kate. I was thinking the same thing reading this post. Once you leave the inner cities in NJ, it is probably one of the cleaner states I've been to. People in the suburbs and rural areas in NJ generally adhere to a very high standard.

There are some truly trashy areas in this country, in the rural and even suburban areas. Graffiti, roadside garbage, illegal dumping etc.

[EEEPNJ]

Originally Posted by mike0421

+2 for Kate. I was thinking the same thing reading this post. Once you leave the inner cities in NJ, it is probably one of the cleaner states I've been to. People in the suburbs and rural areas in NJ generally adhere to a very high standard.

There are some truly trashy areas in this country, in the rural and even suburban areas. Graffiti, roadside garbage, illegal dumping etc.

I'd also rep you if I could Kate... I thought that as well.

[desertsun41]

Originally Posted by azwildcats70

Why on earth are so many poverty stricken areas in NJ filthy? I never understood this? I grew up ridiculously poor in Arizona (7 of 9 kids, in a trailer, mom brain damaged since I was 10 and Dad never making more than $35K a year) and we were never messy, dirty, filthy... what's up with that? Do you have to have money to get off your lazy butt and clean the garbage out of your yard?

What specific area are you referring to?

Camden? Trenton? Newark?

[Busch Boy]

I kind of agree with the poster. Go visit what people consider "ghettos" in California, Florida, and even near-by Connecticut; they look VERY different from the ones in Jersey/New York. They are definitely nicer and overall cleaner. Connecticut is VERY strict when it comes to littering. Half of my family lives up there.