[Clemenza]

Hudson County has been the "doormat to the world" since the Paddies came over in Black '47. If you spend time along Berganline, and are patient among the locals, you may have a good time, eat some great food (ummm, Tostones), and pick up a nice chiquita de Colombia for yerself.

Besides, EVERY REGION OF THE COUNTRY that is experiencing economic growth is beset by the effects of illegal immigration. THere are signs in Spanish where my sister lives in South Carolina. At least Spanish is an easy language, the nabe I lived in in Brooklyn had signs in Arabic!

Essex, Union, and Hudson are the urban counties of the state. IMHO, the immigrants have actually IMPROVED much of Newark, Jersey City, Bloomfield, etc. Do you really think that Linden (until recently the redoubt of english-speaking whites and blacks) were really great places to live before the current wave of immigration?

I've lived most of my life in the northeast, with dad hailing from Newark and ma from Jersey City. I know the state very well. In my nearly 30 years, the bad areas (East Orange, Irvington, Paterson) are the same as when I was a child, and the good areas remain good areas. As a matter of fact, even some formerly bad areas (parts of New Brunswick, Jersey City, even Newark) have actually improved.

[Huck]

bad areas (East Orange, Irvington, Paterson) are the same as when I was a child, and the good areas remain good areas.

That's my impression, too.

[NativeNewYorker]

And Hoboken is now more upscale than Brooklyn Heights!

[Calpernia]

>>>As a matter of fact, even some formerly bad areas (parts of New Brunswick, Jersey City, even Newark) have actually improved.

I think you can add Camden to the improving list now too. I'm not sure if you got to see what they have been doing to the waterfront since you left.

[BombHollywood]

Clemenza, you are talking to a life-long resident of Union Co. I once lived in Linden for 7 years, Elizabeth for 25!!! Unequivocally yes Linden was far better 20 years ago, before the immigration flood. Besides, most of the immigration I see in Linden has always tended toward Polish/Slavish. For decades Linden was 1 and 2 family homes, blue-collar, a nice place to live. Now I see lots of Apartments going up near the center of town and I'm sure things will take a turn for the worst---just like what happened to cities like Elizabeth and Paterson a generation ago--lots of big city problems, welfare, crime, domestic violence, etc. the kind of things that rarely ever happened in the past.

[RepubMommy]

Hudson County has been the "doormat to the world" since the Paddies came over in Black '47. If you spend time along Berganline, and are patient among the locals, you may have a good time, eat some great food (ummm, Tostones), and pick up a nice chiquita de Colombia for yerself

Berganline Avenue til this day, has some of the best shopping venues.