Take it easy!
When my Dad and his sister immigrated from Italy in the 1930s, he lived in Newark with his uncle and half a dozen or more cousins. Then he moved to the City to work for Lionel.
I still have dozens, if not hundreds, of relatives in the Newark area.
For my Dad’s relatives who remained in the Newark area, I remember the accent on top of their Italian accent being as I described.
Ok, ok, you’re forgiven.
My dad was raised in Newark during the Depression along with his 9 other siblings. Newark was a beautiful city at one time. I myself, grew up there was it was still a thriving metropolis.
Tourists who fly into Newark airport only see oil fields and Port Newark. Outsiders don’t know the true beauty of NJ. And hey, I don’t have to pump my own gas!!
I’m glad you’re seeing it more clearly now, Westbrook...or else we’d have to get Uncle Vito and Cousin Vinnie on the phone to uh... “persuade” you to see it our way! ;) LOL