Take that, New York. See you later, Pennsylvania. New Jersey is home to the safest city in America -- and many of the most dangerous ones, too. Finally something to be proud of besides astronomical property taxes, political corruption and "The Sopranos."
But let's celebrate the good news first: Finally, thanks to the good people of Brick Township, New Jersey, we New Jerseyans can rebut the many, many bad jokes about our state. It may surprise people in other parts of the country to learn that there is more to the Garden State than Turnpike exits, chemical factories and Tony Soprano.
When I reached him this morning, Brick Mayor Daniel Kelly said he was pleased as punch by the designation by Morgan Quitno Press. "We take our safety very seriously," he said.
Dover and Edison Township, which like Brick are populated with New York commuters, ranked 14th and 23rd, respectively. They are all nice places to live. New Jersey has other nice areas but that's for another rant at another time.
UPDATE: Data released Sunday showed Brick as the third-safest city, behind Mission Viejo, Calif., and Clarkstown, N.Y., according to the Associated Press. Conversely, Camden was the fifth most dangerous city behind Detroit, St. Louis, Flint, Mich. and Oakland, Calif. Experts including the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the American Society of Criminologists denounced the statistics as being misleading.
But my pride in Brick was offset by my disappointment that the state didn't get recognition from publisher Morgan Quitno Press for its dangerous places. How come Camden ranked only fifth, losing top honors to St. Louis? Newark was 22nd, and our state capital Trenton was 14th.
How on earth can any list of dangerous cities not include Philadelphia?
The city of brotherly love ranks first among the country's biggest cities for the number of homicides so far this year with 84 -- ahead of New York, Chicago and Houston, according to the Philadelphia Daily News. Philadelphia did snag fifth-place honors from Morgan Quitno in the category of most dangerous cities with populations of 500,000 or more.
Interestingly, neither New York nor Los Angeles made the cut. North Dakota has been the safest state for nine out of the past 10 years. Nevada continues to be the most dangerous for three years, according to Morgan Quitno.
I am sure that throngs of tourists are now going to check out Bismark to find out why North Dakotans are so friendly. That will make it easier for me to get a reservation in Las Vegas.
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Reader Comments (Page 8 of 8)
6-15-2007 @ 7:58AM
kyle said...
i been to new york, new jersey, philly, atl, compton, all those places you would call a ghetto or a hood. i live in texas ands people there think places like dalls and houston are bad... NOTHING compares to detroit michigan in my opinion. theres not a more scarier place in the whole united states, say whatever you want, ive been all around the world. i would definitley know.
11-19-2007 @ 8:59AM
Caramelover7293 said...
I agree with #5!!! As a member of the MINORITY GROUP, I'd say New York IS where everybody wants to be. Nobody gives a crap about New Jersey??? AND US MINORITIES DIDN'T DESTROY ANYTHING, WE BRING SOME DIVERSITY and PIZAZZ INTO THIS BORING COUNTRY!!!! (but #20 does have a point somewhat)
11-19-2007 @ 11:48PM
Lizette said...
A piece of advice to all the panel,get a life, do something productive with all your lifes sponsor a minority kid, walk a dog at your local shelter, feed a homeless person. The moral of this story is shut up stop complaining and pointing fingers and start with your own back yard by doing something good for the world you live in you can make a difference and begin to change the negative... talk is sooooooo cheap and doesnt really work ask yourself what have any of you achieved. nothing
11-20-2007 @ 6:04PM
Gary said...
I don't care what any poll or survey says. I love New Jersey, and the people there, and the people from there. A disproportionate number of kindnesses in my 50+ years of living came from people who claimed New Jersey as their home.
11-21-2007 @ 9:16PM
dbeerman1875 said...
i any of you people can read and i quote '' it says new jersey is home of the safest city '' it dont say anywhere that new jersey is the safest state retards get hooked on phonics it works
11-22-2007 @ 10:39AM
fred sanders said...
I live by Sandy Hook,
most of the New Yorkers are familiar with it cause they come down each summer to our beaches. They fill up by noon. The view up here by the light house is beautiful.
I am suprised since I grew up here that the over crowding has not lead to more violence my home town is over run with illegals, but I lost 4 bosses shot in the head by a 16 year old in Atco.
It is like any where else the more boring the safer it is.
11-22-2007 @ 10:35AM
cerner1 said...
nj is the arm pit of america people really dont know about nj but come here and get a big suprise the night they opened the devils opened for business thir was a murder 7 blocks away wake up america
11-22-2007 @ 2:04AM
cerner1 said...
philadelphia was just re named killadelphia with 327 murders under thir belt and thats sayin some my nephew is jersey trooper and says philly1 nj 2
11-22-2007 @ 2:14AM
cerner1 said...
gary i need a shovel its getting deep nj is the most corrupt and crooked state in the union and most liberal and the highest tax and high crimes u must be out of ur mind i was born in newark u cant sell me any thing all the politicians going to jail its so crooked mostly democrats and they deserve it wake up .
11-22-2007 @ 2:19AM
cerner1 said...
gary is just dreaming
11-23-2007 @ 4:17PM
Holly said...
I love the Jersey Shore... I live in BRICK FOR 20 Years and it was the best... granted it was boring at times but for the most part it was truly the best times of my life. and I now live in Raritan NJ... It sucks here the people are rude and they think they are the best... As for kids being rude and smoking pot and all that other crap people where saying in Brick...kids are rude EVERYWHERE and kids smoke pot and do other drugs EVERYWHERE!!!! not just in brick.. so get a life! If i had to pick I would most definetly have to say BY FAR that Brick is the best place to live and it is the safest. Up north is most definetly less safe! All together New Jersey Is a great Place to live!!!