Lakewood is HASHEM’s land in the same way that Atlanta or Omaha or Laramie is HASHEM’s land. “LaShem ha’aretz u’melo’o, teivail v’yoshvei bo”. (pardon the bad transliteration). In no sense can one say lashon harah about a plot of ground or any other inanimate object outside of true admas kodesh, I.E. Eretz Yisroel”.
On the other hand it is possible to say lashon harah about the people who live there, but the halachas of lashon harah apply. Repeating common knowledge is not lashon harah.
There are lots of good reasons to live in Lakewood, but there are also difficulties as the OP notes. There is no reason, halachically, hasgafically or otherwise not describe them.