NJ ranks consistently on the top 5 of education and they’re currently 12th for infrastructure. It definitely is expensive and I do agree the diners are on the decline though. Where’d you end up?

lacking or decrepit infrastructure

Such as?

I don’t have to think, I live in NJ. Was just curious. Can’t say I agree but your experience is your own

For a place with such ridiculous amounts of suburban sprawl and thus utter car dependency (a phenomenon which I am given to understand a significant cross section of Lemmings have views about), you'd think that wouldn't result in New Jersey also being the nation's leading exporter in inept and belligerent drivers. But they handily retain the number one spot on that list and have done for decades.

My theory is that New Jersey is unintentionally specifically structured to foster incompetence in its drivers. Forbidding motorists from pumping their own gasoline as well as turning left results in them failing to develop several basic yet critical skills required to exist on the roads of civilized nations. This results in New Jersey drivers traveling to other states and routinely becoming baffled by complex traffic concepts such as four way intersections, parking lots, traffic lights with turn arrows, bollards, etc. to such a degree that they will routinely stop dead in the middle of the road and refuse to move until they no longer have right of way, at which juncture they will finally timidly creep out directly into oncoming traffic. This exists in a curious counterpoint to New Jersey native's innately held conviction that it is their god given right to thunder down the middle lane of the turnpike at 100+ MPH while flashing their high beams at everyone in front and throwing half empty water bottles at anyone they have decided is "in their way."

Given that the infestation of New Jersey drivers has taken firm root as far as three or four states away, it's clear that the containment effort of forcing them to pay a toll to leave their state has, alas, failed.

I live in NYC and work in NJ.

Whoa. First person I've heard of doing this. Usually it's the opposite and they commute to the city to chase that bag.

The area near NY is so packed with people it’s crazy.

If you're anywhere near Hiram's hamburgers (Fort Lee), I highly recommend you make the pilgrimage next time you're there (if they're still open). Cast iron grill iirc. Cheese dog and a plain burger with some of those fries will hit the spot. Cash only though last time I checked. I haven't lived near there for over a decade but I still yearn for it hahaha

I feel like if your mark for a shit state is one or more power tripping mayors you’re gonna have a bad time.