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.

Housing – What’s Good
“What I like about it is that we are close to New York and there’s more than one thing we can do. We can always go to New York and New Yorkers can come into New Jersey. I like the view as well—seeing the skyline of New York.”

Housing – What’s Not Good
“What I don’t like is that it’s so small that it’s starting to get condensed. It’s starting to get overpopulated to where they’re starting to make people move out of the city and find other places more affordable to live.”

Entertainment
“We have the American Dream Mall, one of the world’s biggest malls. Inside it’s sort of like a Disney World, but smaller, in a mall. There’s Legoland, all types of pools, and a waterpark inside.

Beaches
“I don’t like to go to the beach in New Jersey or New York. I definitely prefer other places.”

Food
“I like the food in New Jersey. There’s always somewhere to eat over here.”

Urban Environment
“What I don’t like is that everything is concrete. It should be more organic, where it doesn’t have to be cement-everything on top of each other.”

Union City – Community and Safety
“I live in Union City. It’s a big Latino community. People from all over come to Union City because they feel safe there. The politicians there embrace you—they don’t make you feel rejected. You’re integrated. They’re not going to discriminate against you or try to kick you out.”

Union City – Personal History
“I’ve lived in Union City all my life, really. We’re so close to Jersey City and Hoboken that it feels almost the same.”