DW had to be in KJ for a day last week, so I was there for a couple of hours.
When I needed to daven Mincha, I went into a Beis Medrash where I had just parked. I was amazed by the fact that I had to search high and low for a צדקה פושקע where I could give some צדקה before mincha. I don't recall ever Davening in a place where there was no פושקע either on the wall near the entrance, or on the bima (and in many places someone goes around with that one during חזרת הש״ץ. After walking out, I realized that there were also no beggars, משולחים, or anyone asking for צדקה. The situation struck me as so unusual, that I decided to inquire. Going out of shul I asked two young men about this. Their response was that there might be a lot of קלעבעדיקע הענט. To which I responded חס ושלום, can't think of yidden like that.
The next day I called up a friend who lives in KJ, and usually calls me for help finding parking in Crown Heights during simchas Beis Hashoaiva to inquire. When I described to him the location, his response was דארטן גיי איך ניט אריין, so he doesn't know anything about it. Does this all boil down to politics/fights? Is it that bad that a shul can't have pushkas for people to easily give tzedoko before Davening?
Otherwise, I must say that the place is amazing. Might even consider moving there if I would have the type of chinuch I would want for my kids 😀.
I wish some KJ locals would post on the Pros and cons of where you live.