Richmond or Brick?
Oct 30, 2006 in Ejecta by Sterling | No Comments
I saw in this morning's Times-Dispatch the celebratory headline that Richmond's standing in annual crime ratings has improved:
City ranks as safer in crime survey. According to the Morgan Quitno Press, we've gone from the fifth most dangerous city in America to the 15th. Progress is progress, I suppose. On the other end of the survey, Brick Township, NJ once again has seized the title of safest city in America.
Well, I've lived in Richmond for three years now. I lived in Brick Township from 1972 to 1974, and I also lived in Silverton, right next to Brick, from 1994 to 1996. I am very familiar with Brick. The town used to be known as "Bricktown", and before that "Bricksburg", both of which have at least a touch of flair - but today it's just plain "Brick". It is a colossally uninteresting place - the name alone gives away the game.
Brick is not actually the safest city in America, because it's not a city. It's just a sprawling township that has occupied all of its land with low-density residential housing and strip malls. Compared to other townships in the area (such as Wall, Berkeley or Lacey) Brick is kind of a dump. I moved to Richmond to escape the poor alternatives of suburban vs. urban living in New Jersey - sprawl is no way to live.
Richmond may get a black eye in crime ratings, but it's a great place to live. Brick does incredibly well in crime ratings, but the mere thought of ever living there again makes my head hurt.
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Tagged Brick Township NJ, Morgan Quitno, Richmond VA
