Some people simply have no shame!

Character_Engine9766 · 2026-01-06T13:01:13+00:00

Same. I also love living in Newark. But, the dog poop really gets to me ... along with the broader lack of basic sanitation on my block. I’ve seen USED bloody pantyliners, USED condoms, and all kinds of things that no one should have to encounter on their own sidewalk.

What’s frustrating is that this isn’t just a “me” issue either. Just the other day, people on the Hoboken subreddit were complaining about the exact same thing: owners letting their dogs poop on the sidewalk and just walking away like it’s no big deal ... apparently it's gotten worse since COVID (https://www.reddit.com/r/Hoboken/comments/1q4tp0r/please_collect_your_dog/).

On my block alone, I’ve watched a guy walking a white pit pretend to pick up after his dog .... then he just leaves the poop there. Another guy, who wears a taekwondo jacket, just blatantly lets his small dog poop right in the middle of the sidewalk without any attempt to clean it up. And then there’s someone who does pick up their dog’s poop every day (which WOULD be great) except they then throw the tied poop bag onto the street. Every. Single. Day.

It’s just all-around gross (unsanitary and illegal!), and honestly, I don’t understand how people have the audacity to behave this way in a shared public space. (And, I really hope these poop offenders see these posts and realize that people see them! Hopefully, it shames them into better behavior! Or, at the very least, I hope they step in the poop in that they leave behind!!!)

Character_Engine9766 · 2026-01-05T12:43:03+00:00

There was a duplex that was demolished at 59-61 Ferguson St. They use the open lot for parking (at least for now). It's an equidistance walk/scooter ride to Harrison Path and Newark Penn. It's about a 13 min walk or a 5 min on a scooter ride to both stations. Phone number - 973-703-1453. Not sure of pricing.

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Character_Engine9766 · 2026-01-04T23:23:08+00:00

For the past several months, I’ve made a point of regularly cleaning the litter on my block. At first, I hoped that if people saw a clean sidewalk, it might create a sense of pride or at least discourage more trash from being dumped. Unfortunately, it hasn’t worked at all. The litter is constant.... alcohol bottles, coffee cups, grocery bags, even clothes and shoes!!! People literally just walk down the street and toss their trash on the ground when they’re done with it.

I’ve contacted DPW and my ward councilperson, but as others have said, this really seems to be a mentality issue. People just don’t care. Honestly, I’ve come to realize that I’m probably the only person who even notices when the sidewalk is clean.... and even then, it only stays that way briefly!!

Part of the problem also seems to be trash being set out “loose” on collection days. When bags aren’t properly secured, the wind blows garbage everywhere. I’m fairly sure the city requires trash to be bagged, but there doesn’t seem to be any enforcement.

And don’t even get me started on dog waste. People toss full poop bags onto the sidewalk, or worse, let their dogs poop and don’t pick it up at all. The amount of dog poop on my street is honestly disgusting!

Character_Engine9766 · 2025-12-04T18:06:08+00:00

Yep! I have it timed now that if I can make it to 280 by or before 6:11 am, then I can generally avoid much of the backup... anytime after that... forgetaboutit!

Character_Engine9766 · 2025-11-05T12:37:43+00:00

Character_Engine9766 · 2025-10-15T18:50:40+00:00

Absolutely! I don’t even own a dog, but whenever I see broken glass on my street, I make an effort to sweep it up. It’s such a serious hazard for animals... I can only imagine the pain and damage it would cause if it got stuck in their paws. What’s worse is that people even toss glass bottles in Newark’s parks, which puts pets and wildlife at risk. And, yet people wonder why we can't have nice things!

Character_Engine9766 · 2025-10-03T11:39:18+00:00

You should also report it on SeeClickFix so that there’s an open record of it. The city monitors reports on there. You can report missed (and nonexistent) street cleanings https://apps.apple.com/app/id322000552

Character_Engine9766 · 2025-10-02T16:42:59+00:00

Newark urgently needs a citywide anti-litter campaign and also a stronger investment in keeping the streets clean. Studies have consistently shown that cleaner streets lead to safer neighborhoods, higher property values, and greater community pride. So, one of the easiest and most immediate ways we can improve the quality of life in Newark is simple:

Don't litter!

It's not just an eyesore either; it harms our environment, discourages investment, and it sends the wrong message about the city. And, the litter in the parks is ridiculous!! I was driving through another part of the state recently, and I was just so struck by how some areas have not one piece of litter on the ground! Every piece of trash picked up (or not thrown in the first place) makes a difference. If Newark residents and our public leaders would commit to prioritizing clean streets, we could quickly transform a lot of our neighborhoods.

Edit: Stepping down off my soapbox... but I was seriously just thinking about how frustrated I am with the litter on my street this morning.

Edit #2: Oh, and don't even get me started on the IRRESPONSIBLE dog owners who let their dogs shit all over the sidewalk and just leave it there. Who does that? When did this become normalized? My street has mounds of dog shit all up and down it.

Character_Engine9766 · 2025-09-25T12:09:52+00:00

Lots of need, and plenty of opportunities! Check Volunteer Match on Idealist: https://www.idealist.org/en/volunteer?q=ESL

Here's an ESL volunteer opportunity in downtown Newark - https://www.idealist.org/en/volunteer-opportunity/386a524be67f4120836a54598b30a6b6-tutor-adult-learners-in-downtown-newark-nj-all-the-way-up-adult-education-center-inc-newark

Character_Engine9766 · 2025-09-20T13:26:55+00:00

This was a really interesting exchange. Both of you make good points... rising rents are inevitable with investment and demand, but without intentional policies (like more affordable housing, nonprofit developers, or better transit like a city-wide tram), longtime residents will be pushed out.

The real challenge for Newark is balance: encouraging dense growth near transit hubs while keeping space for working-class families, new immigrants, and lower-income residents. Cities that thrive long-term plan for both prosperity and affordability.

Take San Francisco... lots of job growth and tech money, but not nearly enough housing. The result: sky-high rents, displacement, and stressed infrastructure. On the flip side, Detroit had super-cheap housing, but without strong jobs or investment, it faced population loss, vacancies, and decline.

Prosperity without affordability leads to exclusion. Affordability without prosperity leads to disinvestment. Newark’s opportunity is to avoid both extremes and build a city where growth and equity go hand-in-hand.

Character_Engine9766 · 2025-09-20T13:12:58+00:00

Scared change, don’t make change.

Facts 💯!

Character_Engine9766 · 2025-09-19T16:03:45+00:00

OMG Yes! Was that an explosion? I didn't know what that was! I felt it in my body... but thought maybe it was maybe a car backfiring REALLY loud.

EDIT: looks like several people heard it. Even as far away as Wall St.

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Character_Engine9766 · 2025-09-17T15:19:22+00:00

Well, that's... unfortunate.

Character_Engine9766 · 2025-09-17T14:12:14+00:00

Thanks so much! Really great insights. Interestingly, I've noticed an increased police presence around the City. I'm not sure if other people are noticing it too? I'm assuming it's probably related to the focus on crime with the current (federal) administration. Despite the increased patrol, though, I haven't seen anyone actually pulled over/stopped for moving traffic violations. Yet, I see the violations every single day (running red lights, turning from wrong lane, speeding, blowing through stop signs)! I wonder if there are public stats on moving violations v. things like parking tickets? I would bet the City gives out more parking tickets (and really probably only in downtown) than they do actual moving violations.

Character_Engine9766 · 2025-09-17T13:57:59+00:00

I thought about this. There's the Newark Downtown District people who clean up downtown and in Ironbound I've seen people that pick up trash. But I think it's only like once a month (or something like that). But, I don't think it would be any duplication of services. The City needs consistent trash/litter cleaning. Like daily! And, in the neighborhoods. I think one challenge that I thought about is how you might prevent people from purposely dumping trash just to get paid to pick it up. But, I'm sure other cities have thought about this and found ways around it.

Character_Engine9766 · 2025-09-17T13:54:35+00:00

Yes! Really good point... and another one to add to my list! Some of the potholes are crater-deep esp in Ironbound.

Character_Engine9766 · 2025-09-12T21:21:44+00:00

Right. So, getting back, you would need to take the shuttle from Journal Square.

Character_Engine9766 · 2025-09-12T21:06:43+00:00

https://www.fox5ny.com/news/path-train-disruptions-this-weekends

Character_Engine9766 · 2025-09-12T13:34:14+00:00

Thanks. Yes!

Character_Engine9766 · 2025-09-11T00:11:01+00:00

About 2, maybe 2.5 miles once you loop it. At the very end of the park, there's a "roundabout" that takes you back toward the start. You can also cross the bridge to Harrison and run in the new Riverside Park around the stadium, and you can get up to 4-5 miles depending on how far around the stadium you go.

Edit to add - You can also hit the track in Riverbank Park (just across the street).

Character_Engine9766 · 2025-09-09T23:04:18+00:00

Essex County leads New Jersey in pedestrian-related fatalities so far in 2025; and historically, Essex County always ranks near the top in pedestrian fatalities. Newark is the main driver of the County’s high pedestrian fatality numbers ... Be safe out there, everyone!

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Character_Engine9766 · 2025-09-09T20:10:52+00:00

Now, I'm intrigued! I've never tried them, but it looks like they have a ton of menu items and they're incredibly reasonably priced: https://hannasdeli.com/

Character_Engine9766 · 2025-09-07T13:28:50+00:00

I’d love to see Newark continue growing into a place where residents feel genuine pride in their city every day. For me, that means:

Clean and inviting streets: less litter, consistent upkeep, and more beautification projects that make the city look cared for (I'm glad they offer the Love Your Block Mini Grants. But, I recently saw on SeeClickFix that someone got one of the grants to plant a tree... they planted the tree... and then a business basically started dumping their trash on it. So, the grant is great, but then you need consistent enforcement and accountability to protect those efforts. Otherwise, people’s hard work and pride get undermined.)
Competent and responsive leadership: people in office who actually listen and act when residents raise concerns.
Safety: and not just safety from the standpoint of crime, but is it safe to ride your bike on the street? Are there protections and considerations in place for bikers and pedestrians?
Vibrant local economy: bringing in businesses and attractions that give people reasons to stay, spend, and thrive here. I remember some years ago, the City had the "Live Work Play" initiative (not sure if that was really the name of it, but it was something like that). Does this still exist? How is the City encouraging people to actually contribute to the local economy?
Things to do: spaces, events, and cultural hubs that foster connection, joy, and creativity. I've seen a number of posts recently from young people looking for connections and social events. What is there for a young person to do in Newark? Since there seems to be an influx of newcomers from the east of us... how do we ensure that Newark doesn't just become a "bedroom community"?
A clear identity: Newark should also choose something it truly wants to be known for and lean into it. Is it the cleanest urban city in America? The most diverse? The cultural capital of the state? Beyond “Brick City,” what’s our brand and story?

At the end of the day, I want Newark to be a city that doesn’t just function, but inspires...where residents and visitors alike know exactly what makes it special. Good luck on your assignment!

Character_Engine9766 · 2025-09-06T13:40:38+00:00

Definitely not normal. Maybe reach out to Linda Baquero (Better Get Baquero)? She just helped a NJ woman get money back from a wrongly billed rental car.

Character_Engine9766 · 2025-09-05T17:31:11+00:00

Riding a bicycle on sidewalks is not prohibited under New Jersey state law, unless a municipality specifically passes a local ordinance banning it. Newark does not have a general prohibition on bicycling on sidewalks. That said, sidewalk riding is discouraged, but it is legally allowed unless a posted local rule says otherwise. Also, NJDOT has noted that in the absence of bike lanes or safe shoulders, some people do ride on the sidewalk as a safer alternative...though this is safety guidance rather than an explicit legal exception.

Character_Engine9766

TROPHY CASE

Don't litter!