Safest cities

[Suburban Rhythm]

St. Louis and Detroit...just slightly MORE dangerous than Compton?

That would be great as a tourism slogan!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061030/ap_on_re_us/city_crime_list_glance

[st.cronin]

That explains the low World Series ratings.

[Lathum]

YEAH BRICK!!!!

used to live and work there untill we moved to Cinci. I am friends with alot of the Brick police and they are a great and dedicated group who do an outstanding job!

[ice4277]

Detroit and Flint, the 2nd and 3rd most dangerous, are about 70 miles apart. Troy, the 5th safest, lies along the I-75 corridor between the two.

[panerd]

Must be talking about the actual city of St. Louis, while the county makes up about 1 million of the residents compared to maybe 250,000 in the city. I wonder what happens to the ranking when you add the serious crimes rate of about 0% in the county to the city's.

[primelord]

Must be talking about the actual city of St. Louis, while the county makes up about 1 million of the residents compared to maybe 250,000 in the city. I wonder what happens to the ranking when you add the serious crimes rate of about 0% in the county to the city's.

That is really beside the point. It's likely every major city's crime rate would benefit from including the surrounding suburbs in the numbers. It doesn't change the fact that there are apparently spots in St. Louis city that are literally the most dangerous places in the country.

This is really a very unfortunate poll for St. Louis. It's been in the top 5 for awhile now, but number 1 is certainly not good for tourism. It's a shame too because the areas that likely account for the vast majority of the viloent crimes are on the northern part of the city, which is not where tourists would be. In general the downtown area is quite safe.

[Wolfpack]

Must be talking about the actual city of St. Louis, while the county makes up about 1 million of the residents compared to maybe 250,000 in the city. I wonder what happens to the ranking when you add the serious crimes rate of about 0% in the county to the city's.

I believe it just is St. Louis city that is considered.

What cracked me up was the fact that the mayor of Camden, NJ (two-time defending champion in this category) celebrated not being #1 anymore, pointing out that there was a renewal of hope. Is she new to the office? Nope. Been there since 2000. So, that would mean she was there for the final slide to the bottom which occured several years into her administration.

[highfiveoh]

Hey, excuse me? What it is, bro'! We're from out of town.

[lordscarlet]

That is really beside the point. It's likely every major city's crime rate would benefit from including the surrounding suburbs in the numbers. It doesn't change the fact that there are apparently spots in St. Louis city that are literally the most dangerous places in the country.

This is really a very unfortunate poll for St. Louis. It's been in the top 5 for awhile now, but number 1 is certainly not good for tourism. It's a shame too because the areas that likely account for the vast majority of the viloent crimes are on the northern part of the city, which is not where tourists would be. In general the downtown area is quite safe.

You can say that for any town. In DC, for instance, Southeast is going to account or most of the crime. In the areas of NW and SW that have heavy tourism, it would be much lower.

[primelord]

You can say that for any town. In DC, for instance, Southeast is going to account or most of the crime. In the areas of NW and SW that have heavy tourism, it would be much lower.

I am aware of that. My point was when Joe and Sue Smith in Wyoming decide they want to take a trip somewhere and they read this they are going to say to themselves "We aren't going to St. Louis it is the most dangerous city in America!!!" I realize every city has areas that are higher than crime than others and that the tourist places in those cities are generally safe. It is in the best interest of the city to keep the places that generate dollars safe.

In the end this will have a negative impact on tourism though. Despite the fact that it really has no impact on tourists' safety. That's why it is unfortunate.

[Pyser]

YEAH BRICK!!!!

used to live and work there untill we moved to Cinci. I am friends with alot of the Brick police and they are a great and dedicated group who do an outstanding job!

woot! ditto. lived there 6 years. never locked the car or house doors.

[lordscarlet]

I am aware of that. My point was when Joe and Sue Smith in Wyoming decide they want to take a trip somewhere and they read this they are going to say to themselves "We aren't going to St. Louis it is the most dangerous city in America!!!" I realize every city has areas that are higher than crime than others and that the tourist places in those cities are generally safe. It is in the best interest of the city to keep the places that generate dollars safe.

In the end this will have a negative impact on tourism though. Despite the fact that it really has no impact on tourists' safety. That's why it is unfortunate.

You think because DC, Baltimore, Atlanta or Cleveland are "only" in the top 20 that it doesn't hurt them as well? The facts are the facts, and they are presented this way for all cities.

[Hawglaw]

Actually, if you factor in the metro area, St. Louis does not even make the list (Top 25). Detroit, however, is number 1.

http://www.morganquitno.com/cit07pop.htm#METRO

[Eaglesfan27]

YEAH BRICK!!!!

used to live and work there untill we moved to Cinci. I am friends with alot of the Brick police and they are a great and dedicated group who do an outstanding job!


The only problem with Brick is an unusually high incidence of Autism there. So high that it was written up in a medical journal and is quite unlikely to have been just been a statistical anomaly. Quite a few etiologies were examined but nothing was ever established. That would worry me about living in Brick (or nearby) should I ever convince my wife to move back to NJ.

[wade moore]

You think because DC, Baltimore, Atlanta or Cleveland are "only" in the top 20 that it doesn't hurt them as well? The facts are the facts, and they are presented this way for all cities.

I still think #1 has a far bigger impact than even #5.

And, I think it DID have a negative impact on Baltimore when these numbers came out last year, and will again this year.

DC I think is a special exception because of the sheer significance/level of tourist locations. If it wasn't the government center of the US with so much history, I think this would hurt them a ton more than it does.

[wade moore]

The only problem with Brick is an unusually high incidence of Autism there. So high that it was written up in a medical journal and is quite unlikely to have been just been a statistical anomaly. Quite a few etiologies were examined but nothing was ever established. That would worry me about living in Brick (or nearby) should I ever convince my wife to move back to NJ.

That is scary.

Threadjack alert:

I have become increasingly interested in Autism as my fiancee is in her second year of teaching kindergarten and has experienced this first hand now.

Many things around it (diagnosis, cause, "prevention", treatment) have become increasingly scary to me.

So are scientists hoping, in theory, that this town could lead towards determining a potential "cause" for Autism?

[lordscarlet]

I still think #1 has a far bigger impact than even #5.

And, I think it DID have a negative impact on Baltimore when these numbers came out last year, and will again this year.

DC I think is a special exception because of the sheer significance/level of tourist locations. If it wasn't the government center of the US with so much history, I think this would hurt them a ton more than it does.

Baltimore being Baltimore has a negative impact on it. ;)

This is why I included other cities. :)

Seriously, though. I don't even think that I like these statistics being posted. I understand they have value, but it will only cause cities on either end of the spectrum to move further in those directions. People won't move to Detroit because it's unsafe, and theoretically won't have any new, non-criminal residents. Although, I can see the "safe" places getting worse because too many people move there.

[Eaglesfan27]

That is scary.

Threadjack alert:

I have become increasingly interested in Autism as my fiancee is in her second year of teaching kindergarten and has experienced this first hand now.

Many things around it (diagnosis, cause, "prevention", treatment) have become increasingly scary to me.

So are scientists hoping, in theory, that this town could lead towards determining a potential "cause" for Autism?


Well, I'm referring to a study that is at least 8 or 9 years old. Actually, I just looked it up and it is from 1998. There was a 1 in 149 point incidence in Brick that were diagnosed with Autism spectrum (includes Aspergers, Rett's, etc.) that year which is MUCH higher than the rest of the nation. They examined background radiation levels, vaccines used in the area, water contamination levels, mercury levels, power lines and electromagnetic fields, etc. Unfortunately, to this point no conclusive etiology has come out of those studies.

Edit to add: I think I've mentioned before, but until this past year this was my main focus of study when I was faculty at a medical school which is why I thought of the study when Brick was mentioned. I've read that study along with every other autism study many times and was actually starting my own Autism study just before Katrina hit and destroyed that project (and my funding.)

[primelord]

You think because DC, Baltimore, Atlanta or Cleveland are "only" in the top 20 that it doesn't hurt them as well? The facts are the facts, and they are presented this way for all cities.

No I think it hurts them as well. I do think there is a difference in people's minds between the #1 most dangerous city and the #12, but I do think it hurts all of them. I wasn't saying this is specifically unfortunate for St. Louis and not for anyone else. I am only focusing on St. Louis because I live here.

The whole article is unfortunate for all the "unsafe" cities listed because it will hurt all of them when in reality the people it is driving away are likely no safer in the tourist areas of other big cities that are not on the list.

[Craptacular]

Hey, excuse me? What it is, bro'! We're from out of town.

No shit.

[sooner333]

I am from America's 48th safest city!

[highfiveoh]

No shit.

Thanks you! :D

[Noop]

Hmm Miami, Miami Gardens, Miami Beach and Hollywood. I would say most of the crimes stem from Miami Gardens(which is like a whole bunch of cities) Because those other areas are where the people from Miami Gardens go to club and party. So the crime spills over to those locations.

[KJDelaney]

Very nice.

My family and I just moved to Round Rock, Tx.

[M GO BLUE!!!]

It would be interesting if criminals were smarter and realize the cities listed as "safest" probably have better things to steal.

In a way it would be funny every year for a city ranked in the top five safest to brace for the oncoming crime wave... :D

[pennywisesb]

I can't believe my hometown of Santa Maria, CA made the list at 178. Its not even that big of a city.....