Haven't been very prolific lately because life and work have just been really, really busy. But I did want to take the time to post an important update.
I started this blog in early 2007 in part because as an uptown parent, I was deeply concerned about the crime stats, particularly trend numbers, in my neighborhood, compared to the rest of the city. 2006 was a HORRIBLE year for the 28th precinct in terms of violent crime -- in a year when most of the city saw improvements, we had a sizable increase in murders and various other categories of violent crime. Frankly, I was fearful that certain loved ones of mine, who are constantly claiming that my decision to raise my kids in Harlem rather than the 'burbs is fundamentally selfish, could be right.
Well, I am feeling much better about things now. 2007 was not only much better than 2006, but actually better than the PRIOR year -- i.e., 2006 wound up being an outlier in terms of trend data. I'm not feeling motivated enough to scan in the current stats, but year-end references to how much better 2007 was for us can be found here and here. Current crime stats for the 28th precinct can be found here, and as of today (February 14, 2008), they show very promising trends for the year so far compared to even 2007.
It's not perfect here, of course. I know of local stores being held up. I know of a mugging that took place almost right in front of my house in the middle of last year. But this is the real world -- things happen everywhere. Sad but true. In the late 90s, a friend of mine was mugged -- pretty seriously roughed up by multiple assailants -- just down a main road from my house in Cambridge, MA, somewhere I wouldn't have hesitated to walk alone at night before OR after the incident. When I lived in Park Slope earlier this decade, a neighborhood not notorious for its crime rates in recent years (we lived on the margins of the neighborhood, but not an especially infamous margin), I remember there being hold-ups in stores, and I also recall that our CAR was SHOT while parked on the street. (Of all things, it happened while we were at the hospital having our first child. So we returned to find that the car had been shot and wondered, of course, what is this terrible place where we are going to be raising a kid?) So I try to take a deep breath and focus on trend data rather than the specific incidents I happen to know about. The numbers are quite encouraging -- enough that I'm back to feeling basically great about giving my kids a chance to live in Manhattan.
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2 comments:
Don't give up on Harlem. It gets better and better every day. And crime happens. I've found Harlem more peaceful than Brooklyn, but I think its all relative. The main thing that's keeping Harlem safer is being vigilant about 311 and 911, no matter how small the situation outside your window is. I've let my corner hooligans know I'm watching them (and I do, like a little old lady). Aint no pimpin happening on my corner. Just be a watchdog and you'll be fine.
Oh, I haven't. I've actually gotten quite gung ho in recent months!
I live on a great street where people REALLY watch out for one another. People keep eyes on the street and do all sorts of kindnesses for one another that you would never find in another part of Manhattan, nor have I seen similar behavior in Brooklyn. And we totally coordinate and call 311 and 911 on one another's behalf. It makes me feel very good about coming home to this place, and I have found that kind of neighborliness to be very much the norm in this part of Harlem.
By the way, harlem mama, I love your blog!
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