Edited sentence: Because the city changed so rapidly between the late 1960's and the early 1980's, and even residents of Newark's suburbs avoid going to the city very often anymore, Newark has gained the reputation as being something of a national joke in terms of what not to make a city become.In general, people joke that the only reason to be in Newark is its beautiful airport and other than that the city has nothing to offer and, to be safe, it is best to avoid the city at all costs.It has also historically been a mafioso hotbed, and is the birthplace of fictional mafia don, Tony Soprano.It is widely considered throughout the United States to be the most ghetto and undesirable city in the nation.Little has succeeded, and Newark is probably considered more of a joke by the average American now than ever before.Newark is also one of the most polluted cities and areas in the nation, due to its large number of factories.Thanks mostly to crime in Newark, Essex county--in spite of the fact that it is one of the wealthiest counties in the nation--has more violent crimes per capita and per area than any other county in the nation.The city is also known for having over 200 active gangs, being a popular spot for suburanites from New Jersey to purchase drugs (including most famously singer Whitney Houston), and for having more car thefts each year than New York City and Las Angeles combined, despite having a fraction of either of their land area or population.The riots, racial tension, school strikes, and poverty are the least of what has contributed to this national image.To combat all this bad publicity and the negative international stereotypes and fears of Newark, efforts have been made by several New Jersey governors recently to bring tourism and money into the poverty-stricken city