New Jersey: The Promised Land--Crime & Danger

In 2008, the second most dangerous city in the world was Camden. In the past few years, it has been as high as #1 and as low as #5. I am proud of this fact. We are one of the wealthiest states in the nation. We are one of the most densely populated nations in the state. We have a lot of things to hang our hat on.

It is clear we are also one of the most dangerous.

Camden normally tops the list. Route 21, which runs from Newark to Passaic is often called the stolen car highway. In Paterson, Joe Clark famously ran Eastside high school with a megaphone and baseball bat. Jersey City just had a wild shootout last night.

New Jersey is dangerous. We're like the badboy at the bar. The girl knows he's no good for her, but she can't take her eyes off of him. She thinks she can change him. But she can't.

You don't mess with New Jersey.

Compare this to Maryland (#20). THE WIRE did a good job of building up Baltimore as this dangerous, crime ridden city. Where does it fall on the list of dangerous cities? TWELFTH. Please, a Camden crook would laugh at Omar... and then steal his money. There's no way a Camden criminal would let a (SPOOOILLLERRRSSSS) kid take him out. In fact, if I remember correctly, a bunch of the dealers in THE WIRE often had to go to NJ...Baltimore has the water front... all those cool restaurants that Tess Monaghan goes to. Camden... they have an aquarium. WITH SHARKS.

And please, the rest of Maryland? Pretty safe. Pretty plain. You don't hear Stevie Nicks singing a song called "Glen Ridge."

New Jersey, the bad boy of the nation. Another sign that we are the promised land. We encompass everything.