Italian influence in both CT and NJ...what makes them so different? (Newark: neighborhood)

[Tiger Beer]

A large Italian influence in both CT and NJ...what makes them so different?

[cyntmac]

Pretty sure they're not.
Not from my experience.

[STrapani1105]

Connecticut is a New England state. New Jersey has more Italians, and we're closer to Ellis Island and the city than Connecticut, which where most of the Italian immigrants came through, therefore giving it the strongest influence. Jersey actually borders the city and Ellis Island. From Connecticut you have to go through a bunch of towns (Rye, Harrison, Larchmont, Mamaroneck, New Rochelle) before you even hit the Bronx. If you ask any resident from Connecticut, they will tell that Connecticut definately has more of a New England influence than a New York City influence. The influence New York City has on New Jersey is unmatched by any other region in the world. No other major city has more of an influence on a neighboring area than New York has to New Jersey. There's nothing else like it in the world. This is why I'm proud to be a Jersey Italian.

[taurus430]

My Grandparents from Italy came through Ellis Island, then they eventually settled in Newark, which had a large Italian population.

[Gerania]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

A large Italian influence in both CT and NJ...what makes them so different?

Nothing and everything. I grew up in a neighborhood of immigrants. First, second, third generation; it didn't matter as they hadn't fully integrated and kept to themselves. There were the Irish, Italians, Poles, Lithuanians, Slavs, Jews...on and on. Everyone more or less got along and every group was separate. You went to your own church, ate your ethnic food, visited your ethnic social club. You would do business with them, be a good neighbor, but you would never be their friend because you weren't one of them.

My English, Irish, Welsh rather liberal parents never got along with my Italian, Polish rather traditional in laws...go figure

It's pretty much the same these days but with different players.