I have lived all over the state and I hate to admit how accurate it is in its generalities.
Too funny.

Where is Montclair? Can't see it--maybe it's just late!

Trenton = Corruption is Dead On.

As for Bergen County, it stopped being Conservative over a decade ago and was hardly a bastion of Christie voters in 2009 - http://elections.nytimes.com/2009/results/new-jersey.html?hp

Hoboken area should be called "good luck finding parking"

very good

if we want to play into all of the negative stereotypes about our state then this map is just terrific.

It's not funny the way the New Yorker cover "New Yorkistan" was. I think this guy has a brilliant future hatemongering alongside James O'Keefe.

The key here is to look at it with a sense of humor.. and on that note..that is pretty funny..

That is hysterical!

Hilarious

Funny and shared it with friends who have since moved...they loved it

Good stuff - but I bet he gets fired.

Lets see he works for the state (DEP) he states he made it on Monday (at work?)
On a computer with graphics which he would have had ---

Not saying this is all true but you know there will be taxpayer funds spent investigating this possibility - it actualy adds another layer to the story. Looks like Montville sits on the "whites" and "NY lake property owner" boundry's!

Hilarious!!!! And a little bit of truth to all of it!

This is stupid and insulting to so many people and Patch should be ashamed of themselves for adding it to their Home page. This kid has nothing better to do than come up with this idiotic garbage. And I am just as stupid for reading it, and no I did not enjoy it or laugh.

To all the people with brooms up their butt, lighten up! Take life to seriously and it passes you by. Laugh a little, it will make you feel better.

This is hilarious!! I hope we can all put our gripes aside and take a second out of our day to have a little laugh at our own expense.

Some people really have no sense of humor. I actually feel bad for them.

Was going to reply to you directly, but then read Vanessa's post. I agree with her.....Well maybe it would be a good idea to remove the broom. Halloween is over.

The NJ map is great. He left a few areas out like the Bay Head area but overall there is a lot of truth there. I would love to see it superimposed with the latest NJ Assembly and Congress districts maps.

"almost Alabama" I love it

How come Tony Soprano's house is not shown? Great map, fuggedaboutit!

Where can I get a 3'x5' full-color poster of this? It's wonderful!

And the humorless people complaining really do need to get a grip.

Funny and clever, but Northeast Jersey is definitely not Conservative or Christie Country. Bergen County is one of the most liberal counties in the state and the Democrats are entrenched.

LuAnn, the interwebz iz no place for you.. Go home...

Well, it doesn't directly offend *me*, because I'm proud and delighted to be a resident of "The Melting Pot." Of course finer-grained divisions would make it more accurate: Montclair certainly belongs in The Melting Pot too, but the towns around it not so much. And the "Friendly White People" in the towns to the west are not necessarily all that friendly to *non*-white people.

Previous commenters are right about Bergen County, but only its southern half or so (which, not coincidentally, could also be labelled "Jews," having had for some time a higher percentage of us than NYC). "Christie Country" probably applies very well to the northern parts of the region so designated (as well as to many of the "Executives Living in Mansions," plus the author's hometown of Westfield (at least when I lived there in 1993-97)). Or even to the right of Christie -- remember, northern Bergen and Passaic, plus the "Vast Wilderness of Rednecks" in Sussex and Warren, is where longtime U.S. Rep. Marge Roukema, a classic "moderate Republican," lost a primary to wingnut (by NJ if not national standards) Scott Garrett, and they've been reelecting him ever since.

Loved it....We usually have a good sense of humor about ourselves. Those who don't like it....Relax...the guy was having some fun.

If this is what a RUTGERS education gives you then tou wasted a whole lot of your parents money.

if you're going to call out stereotypes then why not highlight the different types of italians all over the state. isn't that what we're known for? guidos, big hair, mafia and corruption? where's that "funny" map? I don't see why this map is any better or "funnier".

cute, although hoboken hasn't had hipsters in 20 years. now it's baby strollers.

Love it. Proud to have been raised a "Hill Person."

Very accurate no complaints here.

Glad to see that a State of NJ employee is spending his time creating idiotic maps and not doing his real job. Lots of people looking for work out there and morons like this are employed. Pathetic.

Mike - read the other comments. The author stated he created the map on his own time using his own resources. If you're bitter about your situation don't insult others because they try to have a little fun off the company dime.

How can you people make jokes when the Mets just lost Jose Reyes and Angel Pagan?

Funny? No. Sophomoric? Idiotic? Mean spirited? Oh, definitely.

I'm sorry to see that people have such a negative view of our state.

Wow, xtreme. Love how you single me out when several others posted negative comments about this map. And if you think it's appropriate for a someone who represents a state agency to label areas with "sad black people" and "poor minorities" and "Jews" then you have as much to learn as Mr. Steinfeld does.

And for the record I have a job, but I know MANY young and old persons who are not currently employed. Not bitter, just pointing out the facts.

hysterical

Mike - just to reiterate what others have already said. I commented on your post because you assumed that this was done on taxpayer dime while this employee was at work while others are out of jobs. I made no mention of what you said about the content. I pointed out your assumption was wrong because you failed to read what others already posted. You're opinions of the content are that of yours and yours alone and I will not comment on them directly because you can say what you want. It's America bro...lighten up, have a beer and relax.

WOW!!! I can't believe how many people are actually offended by this! Folks, this is satire, which is supposed to be silly, sophomoric, negative, etc. However, as with any good satire, there's a little bit of truth all most of it, and if you don't recognize that, you haven't really seen much of the state. Do you know how bad Camden's crime rate is? (it probably is worse than Detroit). Have you not been to LBI lately and seen all the big gaudy homes that have replaced the quaint cottages? Are you unaware of the large Indian population in the Edison areas? Do you not know about all the McMansion communities in the Freehold area? Have you not noticed the developments springing up amongst the farmland of Hunterton County? Have you never been to any of the communities along the AC Expressway that are nested in the wilderness of the Pine Barrens? Have you ever visited the southwestern part of the state (ie; Alabama north)? People need to lighten up!!!

Would you rather be referred to as an exit number or a place where friendly white people live or the other parts Mr.Steinfeld has mentioned. Clever spin on NJ. Is it really funny? Not to me but clever. Thanks for posting this.

Waaaaait-a-minute... So you mean to tell me that New Jersey goes beyond Bergen, Hudson, Passaic and Essex counties?? :)

I found this map funny. However, I missed the area around Montclair, which should be labeled 'Left Jerserians'. Maybe we need a new map for the different car driving styles around here.

I grew up in the 'Farms and Military Bases' area the part trapped between 'Happy white families' and 'Pretty Much Alabama'.

Well twenty years ago there were very few farms left there. There were lots of subdivision and the McMansions were springing up.

so where are the funny descriptions of passaic, paterson, newark, camden, trenton,irvington, etc.- was he afraid of the backlash?

I wanted to vote on the map, but the choices didn't include, "Yawn."

How many of you idiots wrote your comments on work time? And that's okay..but you'll accuse this poor kid of doing wrong. Leave this friggin guy alone...and go get yourselves a sense of humor, you dolts! NJ is known for diverse rude people, corruption, and huge differences in wealth and poverty status. LIVE WITH IT OR MOVE THE HELL OUT!!

Chunk.. I'm offended that you're offended. Gosh!!

All of you people need to come down. It's called having a sense of humor which most of you obviously don't have. You know what type of person you are so who really cares what he labeled your "area". Get over it and laugh a little bit, although most of it is true.

The map was a great idea and pretty accurate. I would love to see similar maps of other states especially Florida, Pennsylvania and South Carolina, the states NJ people move to when they are finally able to escape NJ

If you’re a 22-year old Rutgers grad from Westfield, you probably think stereotyping is funny because you’re probably too young, too sheltered, and too naive to have seen the ugly side of such. If you’re older and of color or struggled you may not be able to dismiss this so easily as a Joisey “ha, ha.” We can all laugh at ourselves, but when someone other than ourselves is laughing at us, it’s somehow not that funny.

The Heartland gets the Waltons and NJ gets Jersey Shore and the Real Housewives. This map is hysterical and pretty on target.

PS If you can't laugh at other people you should know they are laughing at you.

These comments are funnier than the map. It's pretty spot on though.

There are positive things about our state too.
New Jersey has excellent TV reception.

A great David Letterman line from a monologue about a year ago - "In a recent poll, 75% of NJ residents were happy to be living in their State....the other 25% are still missing!"

Taylor Ham. The SINGLE greatest contribution by NJ to civilization. Unfortunately no one out side of Jersey knows what the the hell it is and seemingly no diner knows how to prepare it correctly anymore. Someone please buy the Short Stop and restore it to it's former glory.

99% ignorant but 100% hilarious. That kid is totally going to lose his job.

What a disgrace. If this is what we have working for the state of NJ, then God help us all.
I wonder if he has ever heard of a man named Edison, and other notables who have lived and worked in NJ?

My taxes pay for this crap? Your doing a great job Christie!

This was so funny! And remember all us jerseyans....we can take ANYTHING!

that is so funny! people who don't find it funny don't have a sense of humor. i think there is more people could add to the map. a lot of people do what this guy did.

So true Carol. Who hasn't referred to parts of the state by the demographic that typically lives there. I once moved from "well-to-do conservatives" demographic to the "vast wilderness of rednecks and retired hippies" demo before moving back so I know it's true. I would change the name of one though to "Vast Wasteland of Rednecks and Rejected/Dejected New Yorkers".

Dammit I live in Christie Country.

Excellent, can't wait for the updated version. Love to see maps of other states.

Wait... Jon Corzine represented your State NUMEROUS times and you're complaining about THIS guy? You're so Jersey you don't even KNOW you're Jersey!

I wonder if he would have been so glib if he grew up in Newark, NJ?
I know funny and this ain't it.

bump into someone by accident at the BJ's in redneck wilderness of rte 23 Butler. You both say "excuse me"

"Lake Hopatcong owned by New Yorkers" That's the problem in a nutshell. They can't vote they just pay lakefront taxes. So town's like Hopatcong get to vote in a very unfair and unbalanced way. The people who really love the Lake have no say on what happens off its shores. When the weed problem and the taxes become unbearable the New Yorkers with leave. We will be left with a marsh and substandard services.

I live in Roselle. That would put me in the "Russians Polacks and Toxic Fumes" part of the state. Since I am indeed a Polish American with a name ending in "ski" the map gets me right. But Roselle actually has more African Americans than Slavs and is closer to Elizabeth and Newark than Rahway and Clark.

I also think that Joe Steinfeld should rename his own section of the state, the one that includes Cranford and Westfield to "Republicans who hated the federal government until Hurrican Irene came along." You really don't want to name your section of the state after the Raritan Valley Line. It doesn't even go directly into New York. Another possible label for towns like Cranford and Clark would be "slightly more upscale Archie Bunkers."

I think the controversy shouldn't be about the offensive language and stereotypes. If you find it funny, then laugh, if not, don't look at it. What is a problem is the fact the he has claimed, on MULTIPLE accounts, that he works for NJDEP while discussing the map. This now associates it with the State of New Jersey. The department takes professionalism very seriously so linking the map with NJDEP is inappropriate. If he did it on his own time, then fine, keep all the media attention at a personal level. Don't make it professional, it doesn't matter if he continues to say it was satirical, serious measures should and will be taken.

Make it a Norman Rockwell so we can buy it at Home Goods for $19-

Someone commented on what maps of other states where ex-NJ people have moved to would look like. It would look a lot funnier/scarier than NJ. Georgia, for example, would have a "Really Bad Drivers" section and a "Far Below Average IQ Section."

The Eastern half of of Pennsylvania would be "People Driving Really Slowly in the Left Lane;" The Western half of Pennsylvania- "Hey look, we have push-button phone now!!!."

Most of Delaware would be "Morbidly Obese Rednecks Eating Crawfish." Much of Upstate NY would be "Married My Sister and Proud of It." Rhode Island would be "Up Yorrs- You Retaaaahd"

Say, wait a minute, New Jersey is looking better and better.

And we wonder why our kid’s dialogue the way they do, we wonder why bullying exists & is @ an all time high. It’s because they emulate us…grown-ups, in every facet. We set the bar for what’s acceptable and what’s not. An attribute of bullying is pointing out & teasing people for not having a lot. What these comments prove is what most low income & people that’s non-white feel anyway on how they are perceived. The author of the map chose to use “sad black” people, the author knew better not to call Jews in Highland Park by their stereotypical anti-Semitic name, the author knew better not to call the Russians by their stereotypical name. There was no negative stigma used towards white people (rednecks & hippies call themselves that), I could understand using the phrase poor communities but the fact remains that most of these adults commented here actually support this map on this web site. This just shows why the campaign on bullying will be a long hard fight.

(Continue) Just because you are not rich does not mean that you are sad. I teach my 11 yr old daughter not to joke about people’s short-comings or their different lifestyles. No one needs to have a map to point out that they live in a poor neighborhood & never the less for the author to provide their feelings (sadness) for them. If the author wants to make a map, why doesn’t he make a map of his life? I didn’t read on the map that the executives are the destroyers of our economy. The bottom line is there is nothing funny about making fun of people who have inherently been poor for several reasons & this says al lot about so called diversity in Montclair. One more thing I would like to point out is the name calling from some of the comments, simply because if you don’t agree with the map then” you don’t have a funny bone in your body and one woman pointed out that you must have a broomstick stuck up your rectum if you don’t find it funny. By the way, a 22 yr old man is not considered a kid; it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to make jokes like this. I think this is just your inner racism coming out for all people that find this funny. I went door to door for NJPIRG & NJEF for 5 yrs (1990-1995.) I would’ve of never described these towns so broadly and I canvassed from Sussex County to Cape May.
“GROW UP AMERICA, either you evolve or you disappear.”

I admit I found the map funny and to a certain extent had some level of truth to it. Of course I live in the number one rated small town in NJ. It is a wonder to me that residents of NJ accept things like "Jersey Shore" and the "Real House Wives" and are upset with this map. BTW Dawn, I read your posts and blogs on the Daily Wretched. You can be pretty offensive yourself.

I found this map hysterical and think he should have them printed and framed and sold. He'd be an overnight millionaire! Better than the Pet Rock! If you don't like it, don't look at it, and certainly don't post about it. Some of these posts make people sound so pathetic, it's sad. It's FRIDAY peeps, lighten up!

That's not a map of New Jersey you idiots. This is: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_awNaqOXoE5w/SScIZk6lugI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/dWYDxlAvsyw/s400/C2D+Dumpster.jpg

I've always said 'The smart people are from New Jersey, thee dumb one still live there.' Just call me "from Roseland, NJ".

Funny as hell! Hater's get over it... stop acting like it's something official. If it were on a t-shirt no one would give a hoot but talk about how much money he made and how they wished they thought of it first. Get over it....

Yes it's funny. But why does the free speech and the joke always have to be on the black people.

"Rednecks" "Indians" "Jews" "Polacks". I think it's fair to say that the joke is equally on everyone.

we know sally dosen't live in the friendly white folk section,but I guess sally just created a feel sorry for yourself section .Its easy to create a map labeling people for example sally r u at a bar right now.

I miss Archie Bunker. Remember how much fun it was to just laugh. What happened? (and we were laughing at Archie)

The Pineys would be offended by this, but luckily they don't know what computers are...

and for all those who are offended: GET OVER IT. It's FUNNY. Enough with the false offended, politically corrected bullsh!T. If you don't like it, read elsewhere. I'm so sick of the coddling, the sense that you have a right to have your feelings protected. You don't. If your insulted, go get a sense of humor or shut the hell up.

I know you were in a bar,you are still the drunk Rutgers student in your own words .I know your not in the friendly white section .Any University could be considered a drunk area ,but only a drunk student would fit the bill ,and you drive around trenton because you have family and friends thier correct? or is that where you cop from since you're into FBI stats .And since you rely on wikipedia,for facts shows that ur still a drunk rutgers student .Oh yeah warren real mature ,wrestling is not real .

Wasn't this map from like last week??? In today's world that's ancient history. Move on people....

As Howard Stern says, "I'm not prejudiced, I hate everyone!"

There are so many other things that need our attention and energy, starting with dismantling the NJEA and electing Michelle Bachmann in '12.

Generalization. Misrepresentation. Wrong impression of NJ.

As a former Garden Stater, I'd say it's on point. Funny and satirical. But on point.

I find second hand cigar smoke more offensive than this map.

Anyone who has driven and worked throughout New Jersey and seen the communities from the vantage point of mostly WAWA and QUICKCHECK coffee stops (as well as a particular off-brand coffee stop in Leonardo) knows EXACTLY where Joe is coming from. For better or worse, that IS how NJ comes off by first impressions. Take it for what it is.

What I find offensive is people without a sense of humor. Laughter is food for the soul.

The stuck up ppl complaining about the map r just dumb & angry that they weren't smart enough to make it themselves. Every1 Thats offended just needs 2get laid, maybe that will help!