Is Jersey Dirty?

Governor Christie owned the headlines in state wide papers and made the news on a national level as well. The Record and The Star-Ledger printed front page stories of Christie putting an end to NJ’s cap and trade program that was put in force in 2007.  The goal of cap and trade was to use the proceeds to promote clean energy projects in the state.  This led me to wonder, is Jersey dirty or is it just what we are led to believe. When in doubt theres always Google. If you search Google News and type in pollution in New Jersey you’ll get some interesting national headlines from the news archives dating as far back as the 60. For instance, “Air Pollution Cited in Deaths of 170-260”, “New Pollution Crisis Possible Unless Measures Taken Soon”, and “U.S. Sues NJ and NY Over Port Pollution”. Obviously our home state has a reputation for being dirty since its industrial era. However, the state has made progress cleaning up landfills such as in the Meadowlands. So why is it so hard to find info on NJ’s environmental progress? Maybe because it would be hard to believe, with headlines such as today’s. It also should be noted that Jersey is the most toxic state in the U.S., we lead the union in superfund sites. Maybe thats the explanation for that mysterious smell in the air?

– Ralphie

Who are we – the Real Housewives or Sopranos?

What do we know about New Jersey from TV-shows? Does The Real Housewives of New Jersey show the real life of Jerseyians? Does the series Jersey Shore describe the styles, qualities, and values of the life-style of the common Jersey youth? How about The Sopranos? Do we really live in a highly corrupted “Soprano State”? Rachel Maddow in her show made a joke that the number of arrested NJ public officials during 2001-2009 is as long as “a way of life.” She told viewers that if corruption is something incredible  for American politics, for New Jersey politics it’s …???[she couldn’t find the word to describe the level of corruption in New Jersey] and called New Jersey “a state of culture of corruption.” What associations come to mind when you think of the Garden State? Who are New Jerseyians?

– Lana

Christie as Jersey’s ‘favorite son’ ?

The Jersey Journal printed an interesting opinion piece in today’s paper. Theres talk of the New Jersey delegation selecting Governor Christie as New Jersey’s “Favorite Son” at next year’s Republican Convention. A “Favorite Son” is a man favored for nomination as a presidential candidate by his own state delegates at a national political convention. Christie is obviously not going to run for the presidency but NJ’s GOP seems eager to put some of the spotlight at the convention on the Governor. It should be noted that according to the article the idea sparked after a Florida newspaper suggested a few governors can be given the title of “Favorite Son” by their state delegates. Is this for real or just hype by the media?

– Ralphie

Let’s Talk About N.J.

In the media, NJ is often portrayed as…..well, where do I start?  From the accents, to the “mob-ties,” to the crooked cops and politicians, New Jersey has made quite a name for itself in the public.  Media / TV / Movies have a habit of showing NJ in one way, granted it’s humorous, still some might feel it is the opposite of what real New Jerseyans are like.

-Kris