We used to have beautiful blue slate sidewalks in the part of Newark where I grew up. I used to hang with a city cop. “They’re in the suburbs now,” he told me.
That is sad beyond belief. NJ is a beautiful state, really. Lots of nature and trees; I once went to a survivalist class (Tom Brown Jr.) and was very impressed with your state.
And to have the urban areas be desecrated like that; it is truly outrageous.