| Wednesday, February 09, 2005 |
| Mean streets of Baltimore |
The New York Times today has an article about the homicide rates in Baltimore. So proud of this fact:
After trending downward from a record 353 in 1993, homicides in Baltimore have ticked back up since 2002. They hit 278 last year, putting Baltimore in line for the title of deadliest big city in the nation, with a homicide rate three times greater than Los Angeles and five times greater than New York So, deadly, and yet, the overall crime rate is dropping. Why? Because the drug gangs are simply killing each other off. As my friend and neighbor, Peter, says in the article:
Baltimore is actually a very safe city if you are not involved in the drug trade," Health Commissioner Peter Beilenson said......This is the smallest big city I've ever lived in," Dr. Beilenson said. "Violence is very personal, because everyone knows everyone else or is a relative. If you shoot someone, the retribution will be fast and sure. Sadly, I've grown immune to the sounds of "urban woodpeckers" (i.e. automatic gunfire), that I can hear a few blocks away from my house on a summer evening with the windows open. I feel perfectly safe in my neighborhood, and have never had a cause for concern (although I use alarm systems, gates, and common sense). But just 3 blocks west of my house? It could be Iraq.
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posted by Broadsheet @ 8:56 AM   |
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| 2 Editorial Opinions: |
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After trending downward since 1993, thefts of crappy car-covers are up in 2005! Ahem.
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"Baltimore is actually a very safe city if you are not involved in the drug trade"
I disagree with that, having been a victim of someone who just wanted money for drugs. And the random crime here is pretty common, muggings, theft, carjacking, etc.
Lovely...now *I'm* feeling so proud!!
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After trending downward since 1993, thefts of crappy car-covers are up in 2005! Ahem.