I use the term "area" loosely. I don't have data about the crime in specific area that I live in, but, the data for the country says a lot...
as per the last census (2007), ES has 5.74 million inhabitants. Last year, statistics said there were 10 murders per day, on average. That means there were well over 3,000 murders in 2008. This year, the numbers are still in dispute, but, it is said to be between 12 and 13 - that's DAILY.
Las week, there was an article in the newspaper about how much we pay for security and, although it did not mention specific dollar amounts, it really got me thinking...because, the writer mentioned how we don't even think about this as an extraordinary expense anymore. And, he's right.
He talked about how all new housing developments are enclosed communities (like mine), with an armed guard at each door (like mine, montly cost per house is $15), with designated entrances and exits (like mine), with houses with bars on every window (like mine) and with prohibitions to set up businesses in them so as to avoid traffic of unknown persons (not in mine, but, I've seen neighborhoods with signs stating that businesses are forbidden, and, I've also heard about communities where you need to have 2 written recommendations from homeowners to be allowed to buy or rent!).
Now, if your house is NOT in a gated community, it is most probably surrounded by a BIG wall, complete with electrified razor wire AND an armed guard.
We pay for all this, yet, we don't really "see" it... that is, we are so used to it by now, we don't consider it extraordinary.
We also pay more for transportation because public transportation is dangerous. (over 320 bus drivers have been killed for refusing to pay "rent" to the gangs- that's what they call it, it's money the bus owners or bus drivers must pay the gang to be able to operate on "their" streets) That, of course, doesn't mean the people riding the bus won't get mugged, it just means they won't get killed (as long as they "willingly" surrender their possessions) and the bus won't get burnt.
Not that you are immune if you ride a car, though, both my niece and my best friend were robbed at gunpoint while waiting for the traffic lights to turn green at different points of the city! Niece had to give them her watch and earrings, friend had to give them her cellphone... Oh, and there HAVE been people killed just for freaking out and NOT surrendering their cellphones!
Ever heard of an "express kidnapping"? They take you on a tour of different ATM's so you may withdraw money from your accounts for them... NICE!
Years ago, before ATM's, they'd target family groups and, they would drive to the bank so you could cash a check while they held your family in the car... so, my Mom taught me to write down all my checks, but, never the balance...to this day, I balance my checkbook at home, in a notebook, rather than in the checkbook!
I also signed up for the debit card that only lets you withdraw $150 in cash every 24 hours...
I've been thinking about all this a lot lately, and, I've come to the conclusion that I live as a hostage!!!
The cost of living in a high crime area
August 24th, 2009 at 10:53 pm
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I really don't know what to say for people who live in fear like that. I'm very sorry to hear that.
August 25th, 2009 at 04:27 pm 1251214034
I think it's all relative. Many wouldn't live in a city like I do, due to the *high crime.* (Which is ridiculous considering your story). Though I have lived all my life in 2 very different cities - they are both VERY similar. Small farming towns with HUGE population growth in a short amount of time. Which does breed a lot of crime.
Thing is, most of it is property crime. We really don't have a lot of voilent crime. City is 500k people, with suburbs it is about 2 million. I looked up statistics out of curiosity. 50 murders in 2006 (I believe this was just for the city itself - and the city is probably where most the murders occured). But let's face it, 90% of the murders are domestic voilence anyway. Chance of being randomly murdered are slim. (Chance of vehicle theft, on the other hand, is sky high here).
In both cities, police force was very good. As long as we have the resources to keep the police, I am fine and feel secure. Much of the crime you described also happens in my backyard, but only rarely. (A few people in the area robbed by gunpoint; one at a stoplight). But heck, my parents were robbed at gunpoint in their smalltown Kansas hometown, in the 1970s. (My great-grandma was raped in a small KAnsas town, 1920s; bore a child in her teens). IT can happen anywhere. (On the flip side don't know any victims of any violent crimes or gun crimes here, having lived here 32 years).
Anyway, we have had some small spike of crime in our area last summer and the police REALLY nipped it in the bud. For that, I Feel secure. OThers refer to the area as a "ghetto" and are scared they will be shot in their homes (dramatic, much?). I can only think of one murder in 8 years, in our vicinity. I have a friend who lived here a few years, and moved back to Canada. IT is quite clear she thinks I am delusional - her old neighbors have told her the place has turned ghetto and she worries about my safety. (I just roll my eyes!!!) We've discussed it much because she may move back to the area. I told her nothing has changed, but her old neighbors/friends scared her out of moving back!
On the flip side, I traveled to Japan in 2007 and it was very surreal. IT was absolutely amazing to me how safe such a highly populated area (Tokyo) was. They pointed out how they had no access to guns, and had strict laws, so that the place was very safe. (Us crazy Americans with our guns!) I thought a lot about if I would prefer that lifestyle or if I prefer our freedoms in America. I think I prefer our freedoms. If someone close to me died from a gun crime though, I could definitely see preferring a place like Tokyo.
You are most definitely a hostage. For all my neighbors' fears, they wouldn't last 2 minutes in your shoes. What a perspective!
August 25th, 2009 at 04:41 pm 1251214872
I am not thrilled with the location, but my boss has been here 30 years without incident. I am sure there is a bit of a false sense of security. But this is probably another reason I roll my eyes at the idea that my home is in a "ghetto." At my home I don't see prostitutes, drug deals, and transients!
August 25th, 2009 at 04:47 pm 1251215275
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One thing that always goes through my mind when I see thriller movies is: what use is a lock on a GLASS DOOR????
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August 28th, 2009 at 07:41 am 1251441671
http://www.laprensagrafica.com/opinion/caricatura/55759-car...
This was yesterday's cartoon. The title is: The Minister's math (meaning the Minister of Public Safety) and, the teacher is asking the class> "Anyone care to help Manuelito with this rule of three?" (referring to their inability (or unwillingness?) to give the public the data of average of daily murders!
September 9th, 2009 at 06:14 pm 1252516467
When we got back home (USA), I was newly thankful for the simple act of being able to step out my front door and go for a walk or a bike ride without fear of being mugged or kidnapped. We do tend to take safety for granted, just as we take living as a "hostage" for granted when it becomes part of the daily fabric of our lives.