I would say that I don't really care about the area code changes -
except that I know - deep down - 'tis the work of the Jersey Devil!
(So something evil is afoot.)
And yes, the Jersey Devil (former NJ governor James T. Florio)
still resides in the Garden State - in Metuchen, I believe.
(No, Florio has nothing to do with the phone system as far as I know.)
/sarc
I think the Hoboken chicken is somehow involved.
Best election-night party ever was Giuliani’s in 1993. The place was full of Hasidim, who were mightily p’d by Dinkins, and when the Florio loss news came across the TV (NJ has their governor election on the day we have the mayoral), the place filled with joyous shouts of “Goodbye, Flim-Flam! Goodbye!”