The Future of Lakewood

[TimT]

https://thelakewoodscoop.com/news/its-happening-affordable-chasunahs-becoming-a-reality-in-lakewood/

Something isn’t working when average low to middle income families are spending north of 45k each side to make the chasuna, before and after shabbosim, and ancillary expenses. And that’s considered to be a really modest standard. For a family of 10 kids that is a staggering amount.

This initiative is more like a drop in the bucket since much of the expense is for items other than the wedding hall. My wife said a couple of her friends were trying to imagine what Lakewood will look like when the boom of middle aged couples becomes older retirees who have maxed out their savings on their last kids who just got married in their old age, and probably taken out Helocs or other loans to boot. Are we going to have a flood of indigent elderly who spent beyond their means on their kids all the years, or will people wake up at some point and prioritize retirement and make simchas that they can afford? I don’t know the answer either. Pretty scary.

People were really hoping that Covid would’ve changed it but alas, what’s Covid ?

[yuneeq]

This initiative is more like a drop in the bucket since much of the expense is for items other than the wedding hall.

Did you read the full article? They are offering more than just the hall.

[jye]

Did you read the full article? They are offering more than just the hall.

"Our goal is to use this as a platform
to launch other cost-efficient
initiatives, such as for gowns,
Sheitlach, Shabbos Sheva Brachos,
jewelry and more. We want to bring
down all costs across the board."
Translation: maybe this will inspire other projects. Don’t chuck that HELOC application. You will be needing it.

[aygart]

I can tell you that the easiest hall to get a date in is bais faiga

[thaber]

I’m actually grateful to Viggy Bleich for showing up to the scene of my accident about 9 years ago. He calmed me down and spoke with the cops and proved them that I wasn’t at fault. But he was the only one to show up…

+1, 16 years ago. And 15 years ago my shvigger got into an accident in my car leaving NPGS parking lot, I was in the city and called Viggy to go calm her down, he ttanferred a trunk full of groceries, calmed her down, and took care of the car. No complaints.

[drosenberg88429]

"Our goal is to use this as a platform
to launch other cost-efficient
initiatives, such as for gowns,
Sheitlach, Shabbos Sheva Brachos,
jewelry and more. We want to bring
down all costs across the board."
Translation: maybe this will inspire other projects. Don’t chick that HELOC application. You will be needing it.

I mean, there were always gown genachs, sheitels cost what they do but you can get for reasonable prices if you don't need high end, jewelery is as much or as little as you want to spend, and SBS and aufruf can be reasonable. All of these are optional expenses. The initiative should be to lower communal standards and pressure, not to subsidize these extravagant expenditures. The same success we had with takanah chasunas (to a degree) should be attempted across the rest of the marriage expenses.

[yuneeq]

"Our goal is to use this as a platform
to launch other cost-efficient
initiatives, such as for gowns,
Sheitlach, Shabbos Sheva Brachos,
jewelry and more. We want to bring
down all costs across the board."
Translation: maybe this will inspire other projects. Don’t chick that HELOC application. You will be needing it.

You trust that they will build a wedding hall with built-in chef, photographers, and more, but have a hard time believing they will go further than that?

There's already orgs that help with pretty much all of the above, particularly one that I believe may be behind this project.

[jye]

You trust that they will build a wedding hall with built-in chef, photographers, and more, but have a hard time believing they will go further than that?

There's already orgs that help with pretty much all of the above, particularly one that I believe may be behind this project.

What’s not to trust?
https://matzav.com/groundbreaking-mr-kalman-wolchok-announces-undertaking-to-build-multiple-subsidized-wedding-halls-in-lakewood-for-rabbeim/

[yuneeq]

+1, 16 years ago. And 15 years ago my shvigger got into an accident in my car leaving NPGS parking lot, I was in the city and called Viggy to go calm her down, he ttanferred a trunk full of groceries, calmed her down, and took care of the car. No complaints.

When you call a tow truck it's a completely different story. The major complaint is when various unsolicited tow trucks pounce an accident scene like swarming flies, fighting with each other, harassing and pressuring the affected parties to tow their car.

[Yakov15]

https://thelakewoodscoop.com/news/its-happening-affordable-chasunahs-becoming-a-reality-in-lakewood/

Something isn’t working when average low to middle income families are spending north of 45k each side to make the chasuna, before and after shabbosim, and ancillary expenses. And that’s considered to be a really modest standard. For a family of 10 kids that is a staggering amount.

This initiative is more like a drop in the bucket since much of the expense is for items other than the wedding hall. My wife said a couple of her friends were trying to imagine what Lakewood will look like when the boom of middle aged couples becomes older retirees who have maxed out their savings on their last kids who just got married in their old age, and probably taken out Helocs or other loans to boot. Are we going to have a flood of indigent elderly who spent beyond their means on their kids all the years, or will people wake up at some point and prioritize retirement and make simchas that they can afford? I don’t know the answer either. Pretty scary.

Are you aware of how many people “spend down” their retirement savings to be eligible for Medicare etc. ?
It’s weird but they may not be the indigent ones after all.

[S209]

Is it just me or has RUOC taken a sharp turn lately (at least superficially) towards being less anti-Semitic?

[Euclid]

Is it just me or has RUOC taken a sharp turn lately (at least superficially) towards being less anti-Semitic?

Yes I've read that somewhere that Richard is becoming more pro. Wonder if someone paid him off

[Euclid]

Heard from my wife that women are frightened from this and are saying that they're too scared to eat in a place where there's guns. (Whether logical or not...)

 https://thelakewoodscoop.com/news/check-this-out-kava-cafe-in-howell-announces-it-welcomes-concealed-carry-holders/

[MarkS]

Do other restaurants

Heard from my wife that women are frightened from this and are saying that they're too scared to eat in a place where there's guns. (Whether logical or not...)

 https://thelakewoodscoop.com/news/check-this-out-kava-cafe-in-howell-announces-it-welcomes-concealed-carry-holders/

As if concealed carry is not allowed in other restaurants/parks/shuls/stores.

This is no different than a sign saying we accept Amex.

[AsherO]

Do other restaurants As if concealed carry is not allowed in other restaurants/parks/shuls/stores.

This is no different than a sign saying we accept Amex.

The only difference that the Amex in someone’s wallet is much less useful as a weapon.

“We want you to remember Amex is a thing” - Okay, cool.
vs.
“We want you to remember Guns are a thing” - Oh gosh, this place is dangerous…

[MarkS]

My point is this sign doesn't make this restaurant different than any other. 

Imagine a sign saying we welcome people with socks. And people getting upset because socks smell. Ok. Same in other establishments .

[AsherO]

My point is this sign doesnt make this restaurant than any other. 

Imagine a sign saying we welcome people with socks. And people getting upset because sicks smell. Ok. Same in other establishments .

If socks or Amex were as loaded an issue (pun wasn’t originally intended), then it would be an apples to apples comparison.

Objectively speaking you’re right the sign doesn’t change anything. But making a political statement like that will attract customers who are pro-second amendment and deter customers who are uneasy around guns.

[Euclid]

My point is this sign doesnt make this restaurant than any other. 

Imagine a sign saying we welcome people with socks. And people getting upset because sicks smell. Ok. Same in other establishments .

I agree it's not logical, but them putting up that sign (for political reasons?) is driving off a sizable portion of their clientele.

[avromie7]

Heard from my wife that women are frightened from this and are saying that they're too scared to eat in a place where there's guns. (Whether logical or not...)

 https://thelakewoodscoop.com/news/check-this-out-kava-cafe-in-howell-announces-it-welcomes-concealed-carry-holders/

It would make me feel safer

[S209]

I agree it's not logical, but them putting up that sign (for political reasons?) is driving off a sizable portion of their clientele.

I would assume they expect it to increase business