Like our own Lady Liberty, Cardi B may have New York cred, but she lives in New Jersey. 

Good morning, New Jersey. 

 

I helped out on our social media desk this week, sharing stories and videos to NJ.com's Facebook page, which is fun. I also got to sift through the comments folks leave beneath, which can be both horrible and hilarious.

 

One thing I know for sure is that any story about life in New Jersey will bring out the haters. Case in point, Pete Genovese's latest update of his list of the 50 best reasons to live in New Jersey. It's an ode to our state's diversity, beauty and quirkiness. But to hear you folks on Facebook tell it, we're living in a nightmarish hellscape from which there is no escape. 

"You can think of 50 [reasons]?" "If you like potholes, high taxes and bad roads, this is your state." "I loved New Jersey so much I moved out." "High taxes, terrible roads and the worst governor ever." "We moved can't think of any." "Zero friggen reasons." 

 

OK, I'm officially calling bull. You all hate it here so much that real estate agents are begging people to sell their homes, and the state's population grew 6%, to 9.3 million, between 2010 and 2020. 

 

I get that it's good schtick to bust on New Jersey, but the sentiment feels as phony as Connecticut pizza. Forget about those headlines asking if you should move to Florida. If you're asking, the answer is yes, please go, it'll leave more room on the beach for us! Just admit it: You love it here. It's OK, this is a safe space! You're in good company.

 

After all, just this week, TV host Dr. Oz announced he's running for the U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania. And while he's on Twitter schmoozing outside Philadelphia, a cursory look at his TikTok shows Oz still loves his New Jersey home as much as those raspberry ketones diet pills he used to push on TV. 

 

Then there's Cardi B, who announced to fans recently that she'd moved into a dream house in New York, adding a 2-acre, $6 million home to her real estate portfolio. The house is in Tenafly. Tenafly is "New York" the way Moorestown is "Philadelphia," which is to say, it's in New Jersey. 

 

Like I always say: We all end up in Jersey sometime, pals.

 

Here's some other good stuff from the hardworkin' folks at NJ.com this week: 

 

BIG CHILL: Acknowledging the general trauma of living through <gestures broadly> life these days, the Roxbury school district is calling a mental health day. The K-12 district will close on Dec. 10. They're not providing child care, though, so not sure how relaxing it'll be for elementary parents. It's the thought that counts?

SOUVENIR: It's usually about once or twice a year old World War II-era munitions turn up in backyards in southern Cape May County, but this is a new twist: Police in Wildwood say a man found something on the beach and brought it back to his house. Maybe don't do that.

 

DOLLAR DAZE: Dollar General is looking to move beyond its niche as the place you go for cheap holiday decor, tin foil pans and generic batteries, by expanding a brand called "Popshelf." Those stores work around a $5 price point and the retailer plans 1,000 new ones in the next few years.

SIGNS OF THE SEASON: You shouldn't be drinking and driving to begin with but if you're planning to indulge a little over the next few weeks, be aware: The annual DWI ticket blitz is set to be begin. Honestly, just drink at home and save yourself the trouble.

ISN'T PORK ROLL ALREADY A SAUSAGE: I am not opposed to the idea of a pork roll shaped and served like a hot dog, a bespoke treat our Jeremy Schneider tried. Nicely grilled and slicked with mustard, maybe a toasted bun, this could be OK. I just wish it didn't look ... like that. 

 

Finally, if you're a fan of the original "West Side Story," make some time for Amy Kuperinsky's review of the Steven Spielberg-helmed update of the Broadway classic. Jersey girl Rachel Zegler stars as Maria, and I do mean stars: Keep your eyes on Zegler, because she's going to be huge. (The movie's only in theaters for now.)

 

That's it for this week, friends. Thank you, as always, for your notes and emails. And if you're enjoying this weekly look at the news, please share Letter from your editor with a friend.  

 

P.S.: Scammers are coming for your gift cards. 

 

P.P.S.: Buying local this holiday season? You know what I'm going to say -- subscriptions to NJ.com make great gifts. 

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