Greetings From New Jersey

Hello All,

My name is Christopher Jones and I am an incoming MURP candidate. I will be moving from the great state of New Jersey to sunny SoCal (did I abbreviate that right?) this August. My planning interest include Urban Design and Community Development. Also I am a big time gadget geek so im interested in how the connected devices we use (computers, phones, gps, tablets ect.) can be used to collect and distribute information that can be useful for a planner. At UCLA I would like to, among other things, get involved with PCSE, Bruinplanners.com (obviously) and enter Urban Design competitions...




At welcome day I realized that there were only a small number of people from the east coast so I though I would share some Fun Facts about my marvelous home state that have to do with planning (mostly).

• New Jersey has the highest percent urban population in the U.S. with about 90% of the people living in an urban area.
• New Jersey is the only state where all its counties are classified as metropolitan areas.
• New Jersey has the most dense system of highways and railroads in the U.S - but the traffic isnt as bad as LA
• New Jersey has the most diners in the world and is sometimes referred to as the diner capital of the world.
  
• North Jersey has the most shopping malls in one area in the world with seven major shopping malls in a 25 sq. mile radius. - I personally can get to at least 5 different malls by driving a half hour in either direction
• The first intercollegiate football game was played in New Brunswick, in 1869. Rutgers College played Princeton. Rutgers won. - GO SCARLET KNIGHTS!!!!!!! (btw I went to Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey)
• New Jersey has 108 toxic waste dumps. Which is the most in any one state in the nation. - You can thank us for Superfund legislation
• New Jersey is the only state with jughandles (for u-turns) - allegedly
  
• New Jersey has 566 Municipalities - some of them are like doughnut holes bordered on all sides by a larger municipality
• The standard highway divider was Invented in New Jersey
  

Lastly I would like to clear up some rumors the TV has spread about New Jersey so you are not disappointed when you meet me.

• Its a sub not a hoagie
• I'm from Jersey not Joize
• I know how to pump gas - although I can't remember the last time I did it.
  
• I call the place with the ocean and sand "The Shore"
• I do NOT fist pump

I look forward to meeting you all and I hope this will be a great experience.