You are right about the 89% of New York’s workforce coming from New Jersey. It should be 89% of the NEW GROWTH coming from New Jersey. It was a quote from Jeffrey M. Zupan, a senior fellow at the Regional Plan Association, a nonprofit advocacy group that focuses on open space, economic policy, transportation and housing which appeared in the Star Ledger and which you can read on our messageboard at – .Does NJ Need Another Rail Tunnel to New York

Here is the full quote…

the tunnels will spur investment in Manhattan, creating an estimated 44,000 jobs. Many of those employees will come from New Jersey, Zupan says, citing studies that show 89 percent of new growth in the city draws workers from the west.

I will correct the statement. The point still stands though, we don’t need the tunnel Manhattan does. While it creates temporary construction jobs for New Jersey, it is estimated to create 44,000 high paying permanent jobs in Manhattan. New Jersey should worry about attracting businesses to New Jersey’s cities and build our transportation networks to get OUR residents to OUR cities and stop catering to New York and Philadelphia.

I agree wholeheartedly with you. As a life-long New Jerseyan and loyalist, the ways in we get dumped on annoy the hell out of me. I get tired of going to other states and hearing stupid New Jersey jokes from people who jump on “poor comedy bandwagons.”

If I may, this is a Facebook post of mine from last Memorial Day weekend which, I feel, demonstrates my love for the state:

We’re New Jerseyans — and We’ve Got Our Shore

Outside my window right now is a downright “New Jersey Miracle.”

Sunshine — and plenty of it.

The weather reports (at least some of the early ones I saw) had predicted possible rain and thunderstorms for this Memorial Day weekend, thereby (pun intended) raining on the Garden State’s official “First NJ Shore Weekend of the Summer” parade, but they had to know it wouldn’t go down.

Unless you are a New Jerseyan, have lived here, or are friends with a resident loyalist like me, you may not relate to this post. You see, when you’re from New Jersey, you get kicked — a lot. You get wisecracks from comedians — amateur and pro — who aren’t as funny as they think, and stomped on by folks from other states who, lots of times, have no idea what you’re like or all about.

Well, I’ll tell you what, whoever you are: I respect you. I respect your opinion, your comedic efforts, where you’re from — whether it be the plains, mountains, southeast, out west, wherever — everything about you. And, you know what, you can tell whatever Turnpike joke you wish, or spew venom about New Jersey traffic and smog, and I do care…but I don’t.

Because today, this weekend, this summer, and for as long as I’m here, I, and the rest of my NJ compatriots, have the Jersey shore. All 127 miles of it on the Atlantic, and rougly 60 more along the Delaware Bay.

We have other things as well. More farmland and mountains than you’d believe; the largest parcel of open land east of the Mississippi in the Pine Barrens; the oldest log cabin home in the western hemisphere, and the oldest road in the country; the glitz of Atlantic City, home of the first boardwalk; the nation’s oldest seashore resort in Cape May; Revolutionary and Civil War history, and more.

Yeah, I know, you probably have a lot of this as well, but you may not have the beach. If, however,you’re fortunate like me, you know it’s the place where you can walk for miles and not even know it. The place to head in the summer for amusements, swimming, sailing, surfing, the best dining — and maybe for falling in love.

But most of all, the beach is that special spot, in any season, where you can go for contemplation.

This is my 16,934th day on earth, and the shore was here long before me, and it will be here long after I’m gone. Life goes on with its ups and downs, and the waves keep crashing at the shoreline.

So this day — this blue sky, a few puffy white clouds, 83 degree, sunny day — is truly a Jersey shore day, and the sand is beckoning.

It’s good to know I have it near me…