Why not to move to New Jersey (Newark, Jersey City: school, living in)

[Citizen Chin]

Originally Posted by victorianpunk

And I lost IQ points breathing the air in New Jersey. Between the hairspray, the curry, the fumes from Andy Cavatellie's Mustang and that weird what ever it is smell from the turnpike, this air is killing me.

Well, NJ air quality has received an 'F' from the American Lung Association for 10 straight years.

New Jersey's air was given failing grades for a 10th consecutive year by the American Lung Association in its annual "State of the Air" report, which again found that people in rural corners of the state suffer as badly as they do in the grittiest urban areas.

[url=http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-13/1240979103102320.xml&coll=1]Jersey earns 10th straight F for air quality - NJ.com[/url]

[luckyshoes]

Originally Posted by victorianpunk

And I lost IQ points breathing the air in New Jersey. Between the hairspray, the curry, the fumes from Andy Cavatellie's Mustang and that weird what ever it is smell from the turnpike, this air is killing me.

That's too bad. You should really move. Where are you going to go?

[ReluctantGardenStater]

There are a lot of things in this post that I agree with and some I have slightly or very different perspectives on. I have lived in New Jersey all my life and I really don't have the time to address everything in full, as I could write 50 pages on the subject, but I will try to get to some of the stuff which hits close to home.

1: THE PEOPLE. If you lived in one of those more rural states you might have less intelligent, "simple minded" types, which might stink. But, at least you'll have natural beauty, which New Jersey is certaintly lacking (I'll get to that later) but here, you have the worst of both world: a urban environment AND people who might as well be hillbillies.

- I’ve been to many states where the people have been nicer and more outwardly helpful/friendly than back here in NJ. I think there is a certain truth to the myth of “Southern hospitality” as I have encountered much friendlier folks in general in Virginia, Georgia, and particularly Tennessee, who make NJ look self-absorbed and insulated. That said, I wouldn’t call NJites “hillbillies” or imply they have the intelligence of hillbillies. I find many people in this state to be highly educated, which is probably their downfall to some extent, as I have encountered many who think they know more than they do and have a type of arrogance which I consider a Northeastern trait in general, not specific to NJ.

And those that aren't fist pumping 18-35 year olds are either thugs who want to rob you, soccer moms who want to call the police on you ("but officer, ohh, let me tell you! He's driving through this neighborhood at six o'clock in the evening! Ohh, those people shouldn't be out this late") or some yuppie who wants to look at you like he/she might look at an insect.

- I have met many who fit this exact description, and many who don’t. That’s all I’ll say as it would take hours to accurately detail all the negative and positive experiences I’ve had with different groups and communities in this state.

The lack of natural beauty. So many people I say this to say "well, what about Hunterdon county!" and I say...what about Hunterdon county? People here in Jersey think that an exurb counts as natural beauty. Every so called "state park" is located within no more then ten miles of yet another racial segregated suburb filled with well to do snobs trying to stay away from non-whites and their guido, club hopping, alcoholic children.

- That’s not true. Some state parks are located next to racially segregated cities (Great Falls in Paterson). However, I think you discount the scenery a bit too much. Yeah, it’s not one of the nicest states in terms of scenery I have been to. One of my biggest complaints about NJ is overdevelopment and overpopulation in the commuter areas, which are putting a squeeze on nature areas. I’ve been much more impressed with Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains and Florida’s coast than I have with NJ’s scenery, but that’s not to downplay the truly beautiful areas of the state either. Sussex, Hunterdon, Warren, Ocean, and Cape May are truly beautiful. There are even a good number of towns in Monmouth which I feel capture the spirit of small-town America and the “Garden State”; truly scenic. If NJ’s COL wasn’t through the roof, I wouldn’t mind settling down in Hunterdon specifically, in the Delaware River region, for at least a few years.

Also, half of New Jersey's "open space" is actually swamp and marsh, and what little woods we do have is polluted and ugly as hell. As for mountains...are you really going to call those medium size hills which are the Ramapos and the Watchungs "mountains"? Give me a break! They're nothing but a "scenic" spot for yuppies to build their love nests.

- Yeah, NJ’s “mountains” do not compare to those of Arkansas, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Colorado, etc. Sussex does have beautiful forest-land though, and say what you will about marshlands, but I find the Pine Barrens to be one of the crown jewels of South Jersey’s nature scene. There is a lot of diversity of wilderness in the state, although it is obviously not as dramatic or awe-inspiring as say, Colorado or California.


sprawl, sprawl, and more and more sprawl. Jersey doesn't really have too many towns and villages, just suburbs away from everything and ugly McMansions. Real, honest to goodness towns, which are getting rarer and rarer in America as it is, are few and far between in Jersey. And if you don't like the 'burbs, you can always go to...

- This is somewhat true and now the McMansions are encroaching into even my town, but it is not a NJ-specific problem. One of the worst states dealing with the problems you describe here is Florida. Overdevelopment is certainly a concern, but I don’t necessarily think it’s one of NJ’s more extreme flaws.

The ghettos. Every single city in Jersey with one exception, that I'll get to, is a ghetto. Newark: Ghetto. Elizabeth: Ghetto. New Brunswick: Ghetto. Perth Amboy:Ghetto. Jersey City:Ghetto(except for that yuppie part by the water that cost a million dollars for a studio) Trenton:Ghetto Camden: SUPER GHETTO.

- This I absolutely agree with. Crime is out of control in NJ with little to no improvement with each passing year. The county cops are more concerned with enforcing traffic laws in NJ’s infamous speed traps than they are with bringing order back into NJ’s urban wastelands, which drain the state of resources and dominate the political landscape in the worst way. NJ has no NYC, it has no Seattle, no Houston, no Portland, no Chicago; it has Newark, Camden, and Trenton. This is one of NJ’s worst image problems, in my opinion and prevents a lot of tourism from pouring into the state. NJ’s industrial cities once had a quite vibrant culture and there is great history and scenery to be reflected here, from the Great Falls in Paterson, to George Washington’s campaign in Trenton, but none of it can truly be realized because of crime which is totally beyond any form of control.



The congestion. People in Jersey live in suburbs...but they have the same traffic as people living in most cities. Yahh, gas is cheaper in Jersey, but the fact that you spend so much time idling that it makes up for it. You will still have to drive four hours to get somewhere in Jersey just like you might in Nebraska...only difference is, instead of lush scenary and countryside, all you'll see is the brake light of the car infront of you and ghetto or plastic suburbs, and the place that takes you four hours to get there is only ten miles away.

- Agreed, although some don’t seem to mind this. Personally, I can’t stand it which is why I won’t be here too many more years. It’s a personal preference though.

Worst yet, you can't even carry a gun in Jersey like you can in other states.

- The nanny state liberals run rampant in this state and the firearms policy is a terrible joke. I am an ardent gun-rights supporter, but I don’t even mind states with moderate regulation such as Pennsylvania. New Jersey and New York are far too extreme though. There is a culture in this state of catering to criminals and harassing the law abiding. That is one of the things which most disgusts me.

Nanny state. Laws against everything. Why not just cut the red tape and just come out and say it: fun is officially outlawed in the state of New Jsersey. No guns, no tinted windows, no fireworks, bars close early, and even a measure to ban bikini waxes! I would not be suprised if the FBI used this thread to tract me down and I'll get a fine in Jersey for "complaining without a permit".

- Agreed. Probably reason #2 why I could never remain here, as all the things mentioned just totally go against my beliefs on social freedoms. NJ’s regulations are ridiculous and don’t gain the state any popularity points among outsiders. This is not something in the drinking water though. It is the “nanny state” wing of the Democratic Party which has its foot up NJ’s ass and seeks to implement these restrictive policies in NY, CA, and several other states as well.

The price of living. With the exception of gasoline (which, as I explained above, really isn't an exception) everything in Jersey cost more. Granted, we have more millionares per capita then any other state, so the high prices are sustained. Car insurance, rent, utlities, groceries, you name it.

- Agreed. I feel it’s part of a bargain people agree to when choosing to live in the center of five major metropolitan areas – New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington D.C. For some people, that’s worth it. I personally despise urban life, so it’s just one more reason to hightail it out of here as soon as possible.

[frankgn87]

go to south Jersey. Please don't bundle North Jersey with us down south... BTW- Philly is 100 times worse they anything in North Jersey too

[BobKovacs]

Originally Posted by victorianpunk

And I lost IQ points breathing the air in New Jersey. Between the hairspray, the curry, the fumes from Andy Cavatellie's Mustang and that weird what ever it is smell from the turnpike, this air is killing me.

You've been whining about every aspect of NJ for quite some time on here- if it's so horrible, pack your two pairs of Emo jeans, your bottle of black nail polish and your copy of Twilight and leave. As we're fond of saying down here in Atlanta- "Delta is ready when you are".

[Boompa]

Youse can get hurt calling people Guido

[colleeng47]

Originally Posted by luckyshoes

That's too bad. You should really move. Where are you going to go?

Hopefully he/she won't move to my adopted state. Oklahoma doesn't need any whiners. Or complainers. Or negative outlookers (is that a word?). Or "unhappy wherever I am" types.

NJ is a great state. Like EVERY state it has it's good and bad. You don't like it that much? Oh well, I guess you know the answer to that question.

[angerinthenation]

I've said this time and time again and these people think I'm crazy. You don't even have to ask for trouble. There's somebody willing to give you it.

After the numerous amount of things I've been through in Jersey, one thing that I actually can say I have walked away from is being aware. You know, I always think twice about the what if especially when it comes to people. Jersey has some seriously F'ed up people. You wonder what happened to them in their lives to make them come out to be so screwed up. And you know what's the craziest part about it all, they seem to think that behaving like that is completely NORMAL. I remember dealing with some people that did some wrongful things and they felt that they were doing RIGHT. They seem to think that it's okay for Jersey to be the way it is because that's the way Jersey is. They accept so much bs that it's a way of life. For real, that's why the state is the way it is. Why Newark is screwed up? Why Jersey is in the situation it is in the financial crisis? For real, chances is Jersey is probably going to be the first state in history to vote itself out of existence.

[Citizen Chin]

I've lived in Jersey pretty much my whole life, and I agree with what you're saying. Many people here seem to be so jaded and cynical and used to BS that, like you said, they've come to believe that that's just how life is.

It tends to be a very Machiavellian culture here (northeastern NJ); one hand washes the other; the enemy of my enemy is my friend, etc.

Originally Posted by angerinthenation

I've said this time and time again and these people think I'm crazy. You don't even have to ask for trouble. There's somebody willing to give you it.

After the numerous amount of things I've been through in Jersey, one thing that I actually can say I have walked away from is being aware. You know, I always think twice about the what if especially when it comes to people. Jersey has some seriously F'ed up people. You wonder what happened to them in their lives to make them come out to be so screwed up. And you know what's the craziest part about it all, they seem to think that behaving like that is completely NORMAL. I remember dealing with some people that did some wrongful things and they felt that they were doing RIGHT. They seem to think that it's okay for Jersey to be the way it is because that's the way Jersey is. They accept so much bs that it's a way of life. For real, that's why the state is the way it is. Why Newark is screwed up? Why Jersey is in the situation it is in the financial crisis? For real, chances is Jersey is probably going to be the first state in history to vote itself out of existence.

[angerinthenation]

Originally Posted by Citizen Chin

I've lived in Jersey pretty much my whole life, and I agree with what you're saying. Many people here seem to be so jaded and cynical and used to BS that, like you said, they've come to believe that that's just how life is.

It tends to be a very Machiavellian culture here (northeastern NJ); one hand washes the other; the enemy of my enemy is my friend, etc.

Exactly, it's scary. To me, you get to understand a lot about psychology in this state. Just last week, I found out somebody who i THOUGHT was a cool person even though he was just an acquaintance turned out to be a nut when I actually got to spend sometime with him. He actually scared me. In his case, I was trying to be cool, try to get him to relax but he was clearly in the zone. Talking to me nonstop for about 20 minutes why I should get involved with whatever, making these serious crazy faces, his eyes about to pop out his head at some point, it just told me to stay the hell away from him. He's probably going to end up killing somebody some day.

And that's just one of many of the crazy stories I've got involving crazy people around this area of Jersey. It seems like a lot of crazy people or people who do crazy things are out here. Even in kindergarten, I was running into these nutjobs who unfortunately, picked me to be their target of their craziness. I had teachers and students assaulting me in front of everybody in the classroom and everybody going like "who cares", turning a blind eye at what just happened. Then I'd have deal with the craziness on my block too which was in another town from that crazy school I'm talking about with people pulling knives out on you just because so and so doesn't like you and they're going to "fix you". It's hard to convince somebody that the people in a particular place aren't screwed up. There's a lot of other stories I could talk about but I'll leave that for my memoir though. The only thing I can say that I learned from spending all these years in Jersey is that the only person who really has your back is yourself. It's a dog eat dog mentality out here. It's an extreme way of looking at life but I learned that from living in Jersey though.