Arrivederci, Newark. The home state of Frank Sinatra, Tony Soprano, Frankie Valli and Samuel Alito is losing its Italian consulate, leaving a state whose Italian roots run deep in the American consciousness without an official tie to Italy. The Newark consulate is a casualty of economic troubles 4,200 miles away — an Italian economy in recession, a government that needs money and the Euro Zone crisis.

The office tucked in a downtown high-rise is slated to close in March. A smaller vice consulate offering limited services will remain open in Trenton. The news has raised the ire of Italians here in New Jersey, which has the fourth highest number of Italian-Americans of any state and the second highest number of Italian immigrants.

Read more

Source: http://world.time.com/