SperlingViews - Washington_Township_(Gloucester_county), New_jersey

Washington Township, Gloucester County has delusions about its quality of living. Just go down the Black Horse Pike and look at the buildings throughout the community. You will quickly come to the realization that this is not a Premier Community, it is a Dump. This community is run by a bunch of individuals who have absolutely no idea as to what contributes to a good community. Many individuals aspire to a life style of living just a little bit better than living in a row house in South Philly. Because of the very high taxes most people are just one pay check behind loosing their home. Just ride through many of the various developments and you will find abandoned home. I am giving you some sound advice before you buy in Washington Township; brutal property taxes, drug problems in the schools, realize that many who live here can not afford what they have, come to the realization that most who operate the government and schools are part of a political machine only interested in keeping their lucrative jobs and that of their family and friends. [read more...]

As a former citizen of Philadelphia, Washington township is a much more appealing community to raise a family. While it is approximately 25 miles south east of Philadelphia, it has a small town feel. The people are friendly and focused on family and community. The neighborhoods are well maintained, the roads are generally less congested compared to some other south Jersey neighborhoods, the schools provide a solid education, city services are good, and the commute to Philadelphia is relatively short 20-35 minutes. Some complaints are the high property taxes, very little industry diversity in the township itself, and limited social activities. Overal if you can afford the taxes, it is a great place to live.[read more...]

DID YOU KNOW THAT UNIONS WERE ONCE A GREAT THING IN THIS COUNTRY. AND SOME UNIONS STILL ARE. MY DISENCHANTMENT IS WITH THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM AND UNIONS IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY AND THE GOLDEN PARACHUTE PACKAGES THEY HAVE MANAGED TO BUILD FOR THEMSELVES THRU EXTORTION---HOLDING THE STUDENTS HOSTAGE----THE THREAT OF STRIKE--- FOR THE HIGHEST PAY PER HOUR WORKED BY ANY INDIVIDUALS IN THE COUNTRY, AND THE BEST BENEFIT PACKAGE OF ANYONE IN THE COUNTRY. BY PREACHING "WE WANT LESS KIDS PER CLASSROOOM, TEACHERS AIDS TO GIVE MORE TEACHER TO PUPIL CONTACT---AND A BETTER EDUCATION FOR YOUR CHILD " , I HAVE SEEN THIS AREAS EDUCATIONAL RANK PLUMMET FROM THE TOP TEN STATE WISE IN THE 50'S AND 60'S WHEN I WAS IN THE SYSTEM TO THE LOWER END NATIONALLY ( 42ND ). WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE! #1: THE FIRST CON--WE WANT AUTONOMY OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS- THUS EACH INDIVIDUAL TOWN OR COMMUNITY CREATES A HUGE CONGLOMERATE--THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO FUND, WHEN LUMPED ALTOGETHER -WE HAVE APPROX. 653 INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS OVER APPROX. 21 COUNTY'S. EACH DISTRICT HAS A SUPERINTENDENT WITH HIS STAFF AND THE AVERAGE FOR THIS STATEWIDE IS ABOUT $1,000,000.00 PER SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF. ( 653 MILLION COST TO THE SYSTEM ) THE DISTRICTS INTERVIEW AND ENTICE CANDIDATES TO FILL THESE POSITIONS WITH SHORT , HIGH PAID CONTRACTS, THAT HAVE "GOLDEN" BENIFITS AND ALSO LARGE PAYOUTS FOR EARLY TERMINATION AND OR RETIREMENT. THE AVERAGE COST TO THE TAXPAYER FOR EARLY TERMINATION AND OR RETIREMENT ( NOT INCLUDING THEIR STATE PENSION ) AVERAGES $550,000.00 DOLLARS PER CONTRACT ( USUALLY THREE YEARS ) TIMES 653 SCHOOL DISTRICTS "COSTS THE NJ TAXPAYER " ANOTHER $120,000,000.00 MILLION FOR A TOTAL OF 773 MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY. JUST GETTING STARTED- I'LL BE BACK-- PART TWO WILL FOCUS ON " THE CON OF THE UNDERPAID TEACHERS "[read more...]

I was brought up here. My family has a lovely home, but Washington Township is crowded with unfriendly people who care mostly about what others HAVE in a material sense then who they are as people. There isn't a sense of warmth here. To the other extreme there's the Birches section of the township...which is like of south central LA....very rough. Also, there is NOTHING TO DO...unless you really like Target that much.[read more...]