There’s change and then there’s Lakewood change
The neighborhood I was born to and grew up in until early middle school was predominantly Italian
It now has a very eclectic mix, and I love going back there to see all the different aspects that it has evolved into
Change is inevitable, and often times it’s good, but what’s happening in Lakewood (and, by a consequence ,the surrounding communities ) is not normal
It's an interesting question.
Here in JC, we have different streets named in honor of different ethnic groups.
For example, Manila Ave and Christopher Columbus Drive.
However, my guess is...there's probably more people who grew up in the Midwest rather than Manila on that street now. Columbus...maybe the most at a single digit percentage and I doubt any Italian speakers.
And I am sure many of the local old timers would agree with those around Lakewood...they don't like the change even if their property quintupled in value, or more.
I would argue things are better here anyway, but I have heard people who grew up here say the opposite. They cannot afford to live here. The new restaurants and businesses are not tailored to them and out of budget. The newcomers look at them askew, or complain about things they have always done. Their children couldn't afford to come back after college (that one may be NJ wide).
I don't have the answer to that but I can say I don't like being regarded as an interloper...I've lived here more than anywhere else in my life now but I'll always be an outsider to some, and I am not someone whose dress or appearance would mark me as anything outside of the mainstream.
