Wow.
This makes me wonder where they are going?
I can relate to this for a variety of reasons, mostly aesthetic.
I think NJ is becoming an ugly state. Too many strip malls, too much
bad architecture and too much retail in general.
There's an interesting thing related to this going on in Eatontown.
Remember the Roller Skating Rink?
Well, there is a big argument going on because a WaWa is slated to go
there instead, and the residents that live behind the site are up in
arms about this.
And they should be.
It's gonna increase traffic in their residential neighborhood. It's a
24 hour business with bright lights etc.
Who wants that in their front yard.
Not only that, but when is somebody going to say enough is enough?
There are way too many convienince stores everywhere. Is the demand
really there, or are we just so fricken lazy, and honestly, stupid, to
not go the extra mile, or half a mile to buy things, and most
convienence store sell crap. Unhealthy crap.
I'm sick of our strip mall mentality.
Plus, NJ drivers are angry, and i'm sick of that too.
These are roads, not race tracks. People in a hurry tailgate, pass
improperly and make the roads a dangerous place. And they call you an
asshole or give you the finger if you don't want to play their
bullshit game.
--- In AsburyPark@yahoogroups.com, "dfsavgny" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> Jerseyans leave at alarming rate
> Outflow is damaging economy
> Wednesday, October 10, 2007
> BY JOE DONOHUE
> Star-Ledger Staff
>
> Residents are leaving New Jersey at three times the rate they were
> just five years ago, a trend that is already doing real damage to the
> state's economy and budget coffers, a new Rutgers University report
shows.
>
> The exodus is so bad, the study says, it could lead to an overall drop
> in the state's population as soon as next year.
>
> "The population outflow is real, is approaching worrisome dimensions,
> and is exerting a small but increasingly negative impact on the New
> Jersey economy," said the study by Rutgers economists James Hughes and
> Joseph Seneca.
>
> Last year alone, the loss of people cost the state economy about $10
> billion in income, and about $680 million in state budget revenue.
>
> While the economists said they are certain the exodus is growing, they
> are less sure of why. Possible reasons include high housing costs and
> the state's generally high cost of living. Society in general also is
> increasingly mobile, they said.
>
> Seneca said state leaders need a broad agenda to reverse the slide.
> The solutions, he said, should include a further reduction in the
> highest-in-the-nation property tax burden, more investments in
> infrastructure, science and technology and new policies to restore
> business confidence.
>
> "These trends are not going to be reversed overnight," Seneca said.
>
> In their study, Seneca and Hughes reviewed Census and Internal Revenue
> Service data between 2002 and 2006. They found the gap between the
> number of people leaving the state and new arrivals has more than
> tripled. In 2002, the gap was 23,759. By last year, it had jumped to
> 72,547.
>
> Only three other states -- California, Louisiana and New York --
> showed bigger losses. Florida, Pennsylvania and North Carolina held
> the most appeal for New Jerseyans, according to the study, which is
> available at www.policy.rutgers.edu.
>
> The trend could lead to an actual reduction in the state's population
> as early as 2008, the study says. Annual population growth fell from
> 79,184 in 2002 to 21,410 last year.
>
> "There has been a sharp deceleration of population growth in New
> Jersey starting in 2002 and persisting since then," the report said.
> "This has been primarily caused by the sharp acceleration in the
> number of New Jerseyans moving to other states."
>
> The slump in the housing market could slow the exodus: "Basically, if
> you can't sell your house, you can't move," the report said.
>
> And in the long run, other states may lose their allure because of
> their own rising expenses and congestion.
>
> William Dressel, executive director of the New Jersey State League of
> Municipalities, said called the study "bad news. It has profound
> implications not only for the state but local governments."
>
> A decline in population not only would hurt the state's economy and
> budget, but could cost New Jersey another congressional seat and
> curtail population-based federal aid, he said.
>
> Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce (R-Morris) said it is no
> coincidence the exodus swelled during a period in which Democrats
> raised state taxes more per capita than any other state. The average
> property tax bill jumped 29 percent to $6,170, also a national high.
>
> "People just can't handle it anymore. You can't simply tax your way
> out of a problem," said DeCroce, who called for deeper budget cuts at
> all levels of government.
>
> Philip Kirschner, president of New Jersey Business and Industry
> Association, said the exodus of more than 231,000 people over five
> years is alarming and signals the need for new state policies.
>
> "When people vote with their feet, I think you have to take that very
> seriously and see what we can try to do to limit that," he said.
>
> While economists ponder the impact on future state budgets, Corzine
> administration officials said yesterday New Jersey revenues were up
> slightly during the first three months of the current state budget
> year while several other states are having budget troubles.
>
> The state collected $6.59 billion between July and September -- $93.3
> million above projections, according to acting state treasurer
> Michellene Davis. Last year at this time, the state collected $6
> billion during the quarter, about $1 million below projections.
> Despite the encouraging first-quarter news, the state must collect
> more than $25 billion during the remaining nine months to meet
> year-end goals.
>
> "While we are pleased that collections are tracking close to targets,
> we also know that it's early, and the revenue picture doesn't come
> into real focus until later in the fiscal year," Davis said.
>
> Even without a major revenue slump, state officials are projecting a
> $2.5 billion shortfall next year. Yesterday, Gov. Jon Corzine said it
> could be even higher.
>
> "It sort of depends what the economic conditions are, and they're
> pretty broadly in dispute among a lot of the prognosticators," he
> said. "Revenues are coming in pretty well, as far as I know, at this
> stage."
>
> While the full scope of the state's budget problem remains unclear, a
> report released this week by Strategas, a New York firm that advises
> institutional investors, like pension funds, predicted serious federal
> budget problems in coming months.
>
> "Spending is set to more than double in the current fiscal year, while
> tax revenue growth has come to a halt over the past few months due to
> slower economic growth," it said.
>
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