Vic Buccos

Portraits of New Jersey is an ongoing Jersey Vindicator series by photojournalist Andres Kudacki, who speaks with residents about what they love — and what frustrates them — about life in the Garden State. He pairs each conversation with a photograph.

New Jersey overall: “What I like about New Jersey is it has so much to offer. You can do everything here, and of course what it has to offer is the proximity to New York. But that’s also what can improve. We’re so close to New York, but we’re missing some of the stuff that New York has. But that’s why I love it. I get to go home to a nice, quiet town, but when I go out, 15 minutes from the city, it’s a nice night out.”

The roads in New Jersey: “The roads here — they gotta pave every single road in New Jersey, every single road, they gotta redo it.”

Entertainment: “When I think entertainment, I think New York City. I don’t think New Jersey, unfortunately. No, no, I don’t think New Jersey. I think New York City.”

Hobbies: “I’m into cars, photography.”

Racetracks: “The racetrack in New Jersey — they’re closing down all our racetracks. They closed Englishtown. There’s only one, New Jersey Motorsports Park, two hours away. I wish they’d open more racetracks.”

Car Races: “It’s every so often, they’re few and far between. Not as much as they used to be. There should be more.”

Housing: “Housing is good where I live, yes. But many people are not as fortunate. Fortunately, where I live, I’m very grateful. Nice house, nice school.”