I am so sorry to hear that. You deserve better. I always come with respect.

I’m from New Jersey. I’ve been coming to all parts of Vermont for purpose of snowboarding or summer hiking for approx. the last 25-30 years. These days it’s primarily southern and central Vermont. I’m a low-budget, dirtbag who needs to think about every penny spent. I promise I come each time with respect for the locals and the imperative to support small local businesses whenever possible. In these last 2 winters (21-22 and 22-23) the notable changes have been swift and overwhelming. Those around me at the resorts (specifically Okemo and Mount Snow) seem extremely different than pre-pandemic and more clearly, pre-Vail corporation takeover. There is a clear uptick in the amount of uber-wealthy tourists (who are also absolute clueless kooks on the mountain) these last 2 winters who are destroying the vibe and culture I remember for so many years. The way they - act on the mountain; treat employees of local restaurants; treat each other on the roads, etc. is pretty disgusting. The April issue of the publication In These Times has a feature titled “The Vail-ification of the West” detailing how much of the resort areas of Colorado have been rapidly gentrified and taken over by seasonal resident millionaires and billionaires and what it’s done to the local labor force and people of income brackets far beneath the millionaire class. I’m not saying the scenario I’ve witnessed in southern and central Vermont is the same exact deal, but there were some undeniable similarities. I love Vermont and respect the locals, but I can’t lie and say I’m not worried about this state and it’s true locals.

Was this your first time on the Turnpike ?

Sorry to hear that. You deserve much better in VT. Here in Jersey, this was inevitable. And the millionaires around our region of our state as well as as some of our own waiting to sell their own friends out were doing cartwheels in the aftermath of Sandy. Many suffered. Some profited. The many are gone. The some have taken over.

I’m a Jersey Shore local (but I come to VT to snowboard for annually for 25 years and come with respect for the land, the locals, and support of small businesses). The last 2 winters in Southern and Central VT, I’ve been saddened, sickened, disgusted to finally realize what already happened to the Jersey Shore year round communities right after Super Storm Sandy in 2012 is happening to these communities in VT. The town I grew up in is not remotely affordable anymore unless you’re a hedge fund manager. Most homes are either second homes only occupied from May to September, or owned by absent owners who live in the Midwest and profit mightily on using the properties as Air BnB money makers. Long time businesses got priced out with rent hikes. The school district enrollment plummeted because middle class families were driven out of town and/or offered 5 times what a house was worth sight unseen (home then demolished and McMansion built is the theme on every block). From what I see with my own eyes this winter, and the stories I hear in VT, it sure reminds me of my home in the last 10 years. Am I wrong? Please let me know if my perception is off.

I’m with you. The warmth absolutely pushes me to darkness and depression.

We haven’t had an actual consistent winter in about 5 seasons at least. 20-21 had its moments but overall we are seeing the climate chaos/catastrophe taking over. Looks like we’re in for some legit winter weather, air temp wise late this week coming. But still not enough to make this a “winter”.
Highly concerned next for the ‘23 tropical season. Jersey is due for something bad. And the infrastructure and overdevelopment of the Jersey Shore is going to pay dearly.

And again, just to be clear here… in my other comments I am not trying to say that ALL Uber and Lyft drivers are horrible humans. Majority of them are honest hard working folks trying to make ends meet in our brutal corrupted economic system in this country. And they also are victims of this horrible heartless gig economy where only the millionaires and billionaires who run the industry prosper. Doordash and the like are just as awful to the workers.

The entire ride share industry needs to be abolished. I’m not holding my breath on that ever happening.

You are mostly correct. These companies do run year round and in the fall-winter-spring (pre-MDW) usually bring people to airports, weddings, concerts, Giants-Jets-Yankees-Mets, etc games). The staff doubles from MDW to LDW. But, These “seasonal drivers” have been driving for these companies for years upon years. It’s actually very hard to get this summer job because many of the companies have longtime veteran working staffs. You’ll find a lot of the summer drivers are teachers from the local Jersey Shore school districts simply working a side-hustle to support their own children. These are mature adults who have so much to lose if they were to pull some of the things that some Uber and Lyft drivers do (not saying all Uber and Lyft drivers are bad). Bottom line: when you use a taxi van company you are getting accountability, safety, and local knowledge. And oh yeah… no price gouging or random “surges” the ride share tech Bros pull off.

I can only speak of using a taxi van company at the Jersey Shore -specifically coastal Monmouth and Ocean counties. The local taxi companies are comprised of employees that are local, that know the areas quite well. They are held responsible by company owners that have actual phone numbers with actual dispatchers you can call at anytime if there is a problem. These are companies that are endorsed by local police departments and borough councils. They build relationships with the towns. Regular customers of these companies get to know the drivers’ faces and have the choice to use another van or even other company with many options. Most taxi vans accommodate larger groups. In terms of traffic safety, it makes much more sense for your group of 10 people to use a company with 12 and 15-passenger vans than the classic “stuff 10 people in a Honda Accord” stunt. I can go on and on here about how and why using a taxi van company makes so much more sense than Lyft and Uber, but I’m assuming you get the point. Safer. Safer. Far more sensical.

I hear ya. You’re doing everything possible and sensical to stay safe. At the same time, how deplorable is this ride-sharing industry that one would have to go through all these precautions for a ride? Hopefully many take the same approach you do when having no other options, but using Uber or Lyft.

The whole concept of “ride-sharing” these tech platforms is one of the most deplorable, problematic ideas/realities capitalism has ever hit us with. It’s awful for all involved in the process except for the billionaire tech Bros who own these companies. Years ago, it was common knowledge to never ever get into a vehicle with a stranger. Now folks not only get into a vehicle with a stranger, they give the stranger a location device as to where they are, and where they live and are staying. It’s insanity. The stories at the Jersey Shore in the summer about college bar hoppers having incidents with Uber and Lyft drivers get worse every year. (As well there are honest good hearted drivers being assaulted by passengers). I know in some parts of NJ calling a taxi or taxi van business is not easy. At least at the Shore area, there are countless taxi van companies that have fleets of vehicles with experienced locals who have worked for these companies for years.

not.a.chance.

About the only positive thing I’ve ever seen or heard about regarding the state of Arizona…

Get there while Americans are still welcome, let alone not tagged with the status of refugee or asylum seeker (topics for a different Reddit post I know).

Within 40 years, NJ will:

1. Have a new coastline with the current going underwater for good.
2. A region with the climate of North Carolina.

Bingo. The general public sucks.

Have you ever seen the way these folks are treated by the general public? This is a 2-way street.

If the a-holes from New Jersey that I always sense Vermont locals are “stand-offish” toward. As a life-long Jersey Shore resident who is in Vermont every winter I don’t blame the locals one bit. It is embarrassing being in VT with Jersey license plates. Collectively we Jerseyans are ignorant, impatient, and disrespectful to Vermonters. I apologize Vermont. I promise to not act like Jersey when in your amazing state.

Federici’s… Freehold Boro

Rosie’s… Point Pleasant Beach