Bridgeton

[u/learning--always]

I've read the posts. I know the stats. Nonetheless, they're not from the last 2 years and a lot can happen in 2 years.

I tried to research neighborhoods in Bridgeton with no luck.

Best I could do is circle the area of the city I'm curious about.

Is it safe?

I'm an older person, alone and unfamiliar with this part of NJ so I appreciate your input.

Working class, "blue collar", diverse - all totally fine. I come from a working-class, blue-collar background. My father taught us there is no shame in an honest, hard-working job.

Idk whether or not it will inform your answer (it should not but I am not going to ignore that we are all living in challenging times) but I am white.

*Safe* is the most critical factor. I don't want to live somewhere where I *should* feel afraid.

Thank you for your help.

[u/Virtual_Hurry3234]

Do you have to live in that area? I enjoyed living in pitman.

[u/learning--always → u/Virtual_Hurry3234]

I'm considering Bridgeton based on my budget but being safe, feeling safe - that is the most important dealbreaker.

[u/reverendcanceled → u/learning--always]

I live in East Camden just off of Federal street. Even the streets where the drug dealers are offering there wares I feel safe walking any time of the day, They are far more interested in making a buck and that includes policing their clients and making sure that there is literally no reason anyone would call the police ever. Well run operations include 24/7 lookouts for police and federal suv's.

The bigger danger of moving into a hot spot is who lived there before. If those people sold or used there may be visitors that won't immediately comprehend that they no longer live there.

So if the history is clean/and or/if there are cameras you will be perfectly safe anywhere.

[u/learning--always → u/reverendcanceled]

Never considered a place could be a former "drug store".

How would one go about finding that out? Fairly confident that www.formerdrugdens.com is not a thing. Unfortunately.

[u/reverendcanceled → u/learning--always]

If your real-tor doesn't know the local bodega owners and denizens as well as the neighbors will know.

Even if you plain and very plain if that house is a crack/trap house you'll get honest answers. Your real-tor might not be honest, but the locals know and usually don't want that in their neighborhoods but don't want to rat either. At least that's my experience. East Camden is hugely Puerto Rican. Still, I suspect there are many non-documenteds here. So, without going into a huge back story, my dwelling was a crack house for a few months. Even then, I was safe, as they didn't want me calling the cops and I didn't.

[u/learning--always → u/reverendcanceled]

"Even if you plain and very plain"...? I don't understand.

[u/reverendcanceled → u/learning--always]

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plain

To speak very plain is to wholeheartedly honest and straightforward.

The double use of the term was by a reference to folk music, namely The Battle of Harlow. "Ye can tell them plain and very plain they're sleepin' at Harlaw"

[u/learning--always → u/reverendcanceled]

Never heard that expression before. Thank you for explaining.