quote:
Originally posted by Audi Junkie:
NJ has the least recreation facilities and open space per capita of any state. We feel it, 30 minutes from the border, in the form of tourisim. This means OUR facilities and open space in PA is over-crowded with commuter "tourists" (mostly without enough money to go on a real vacation). Everyone from NJ including large Boy Scout Troupes, hunters and rafters all seem to find insufficient space and facilities in their HOME state, so they come to use ours. I know, my wife used to book all the NJ people into the State Park Groupe Camps. Trust me, their own government and planning comissions did nothing to accomodate their residents, although they collect vast sums of taxes from the great income that was reported here. That burden goes to the PA taxpayers and residents. What happens when I try to go to the (Federal Property) beach in NJ? I would be harrased into buying a beach badge. I would also be ticketed an even arrested if I went to THEIR local park and carried on like they do here. Our facilities are free and open, seems fair.
As someone who buys a season long PA fishing license/trout stamp AND spends a fair amount of money each year in "your" state, I take exception to your position. Me and a couple fishing pals spend a 2-3 extended weekends each year at a B&B and campgrounds in central PA. I also drive an hour or more on day trips to fish various streams in PA. We support the local businesses and with the purchase of licenses/stamps help support "your" Fish and Boat Commission. We are sportsmen who treat others as well as the natural resources with respect and care.
If you want to complain about we Jerseyans using your recreational facilities then maybe you should petition your state to stop advertising the wonders of vacationing and "playing" in PA. I wonder how all the local businesses would like it if everyone from NJ stopped dropping their hard earned $$ on the counter. Oh I bet Hershey Park could survive on only resident PA customers?
Now I'll counter your gripe with one of my own. The obvious insufficient supply of jobs in PA contributes to the overcrowding of OUR NJ roadways. During my daily commute I see scores of cars with PA tags driving with little or no regard for local speed limits and traffic laws. They have such a long drive and are bent on making it as fast as possible that speed limits and common courtesy simply don't apply. A three lane switch from left lane to exit ramp, inches off your front bumper with no turn signal, is the routine method a PA driver uses to exit the Rt. 80 Interstate. Obviously, all PA drivers must be crazed, sleep deprived, ill-tempered maniacs. Additionally, because of their governments lack of standards with regard to vehicle safety and environmental concern, their vehicles are by and large all smoke billowing, 15 year old pickups with no mufflers, bald tires and cracked windshields. These folk don't have money to maintain their vehicles in safe operating condition but they did manage to find enough money for a CB, two 10 foot whip antennas and 20 NASCAR stickers. We feel the hit in the form of traffic and additional stress placed on our emergency services.
Lets make a trade...all of us Jerseyans will agree to never use PA's recreational facilities/resources again and you folks will agree that NJ jobs are off limits.
Did my rant sound pretty ridiculous to you? That's pretty much how your tirade sounded to me. Don't you just hate it when people choose to paint with such a broad brush?
We may not have the land mass to devote to "open space" and "recreation" that a state the size of PA has but we sure seem to have plenty of well paying jobs that your fellow Pennsylvanians are availing themselves to.
Pennsylvanians are indeed lucky to have state with such abundant natural beauty and resources. We here in NJ are not as lucky but what we do have is pretty darn good. We also seem to have some essentials lacking in YOUR grand state. Perhaps it could work out to be beneficial for both of us.
Oh, BTW..you want "free" beach access? Go to Wildwood.
