Regarding Bergen Communities United (BCU) you can visit the web site here:

http://bergencommunitiesunited.com/

The group is very active and includes numerous Community Development Corporations, Block Associations, and Faith Based Organizations. MCDC is also a very active member of BCU. Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of every month at 270 Fairmont Housing on Fairmont Avenue. Meetings are open to the public and they are always looking for active residents or business owners to participate.

In a nut shell BCU brings together all these groups to coordinate and communicate. The BCU Neighborhood Plan identifies all the activites of the community groups and established Action Teams to basically fill in gaps as identified by the residents. The meetings are a great resource to meet residents and hear about issues and opportunities in the neighborhood.

My wife and I have lived on Glenwood btw Bergen and JFK for nearly 3 years and before then lived on Montgomery btw Bergen and JFK. We consider this area very safe and only once had a minor incident with a homeless man who was quite out of sorts in front of the Old Bergen Church. He actually just yelled something incoherent while we passed by so it was quite minor. We often walk home in the evening and sometimes late night from the PATH with no incidents.

If you are interested, the JC Police holds monthly police captains meetings basically on the third Wednesday of every month at 6PM at the Old Bergen Church. It's a good chance to meet some of the neighbors, the police officers and captain and learn about safety issues in and around the neighborhood. It's also a good time to say something if you see something.

There are a lot of positive signs. Some new restaurants on Bergen and McGuinely Sq., close proximity to the PATH and Lincoln Park, and Ballys is opening in August a few blocks away.

Good luck with the condo and welcome to the neighborhood.