"Again, Columbus has no ghettos period."
I assume by "ghetto" we're talking about low-income, predominantly minority neighborhoods, with high crime (especially violence, drug traffic, prostitution.)
If that's the case, you are just plain patently false. Wanna go sometime?
Granted, there's nothing on the scale of the South Side. Columbus "ghetto" is usually an apartment complex or a set of streets in a neighborhood that are easily defensible and have been taken over by gangs. And yes, I mean real fucking guns and colors and trap spot gangs. I mean 14yo takes out 14yo over turf. I mean kids moving the bandana off their heat as I drive by to let me know they see me and don't know me.
I am starting to feel like the nonchalance about the problem here is becoming the problem. The gangs are literally out of control - the cops stopped telling the media when they think a crime is gang related because they're afraid publicity is fueling the fire.
Again, I'm not comparing anything in Columbus to Chicago violence, but failing to acknowlege that there are "ghettos" is only going to make it worse. And whats the point of ignoring it? Does it make someone cooler if they can say they've seen it worse somewhere else, and that whatever is happening here is bush league? "Silly Columbus, you don't have ghettos or gangs, only REAL cities have that, and I would know, cuz I know real city shit..." Bullshit, a life is a life, a neighborhood is a neighborhood.
There is indeed "ghetto" in Columbus, and unless those of us that live outside it start speaking up, it's only going to get worse and spread out.
HUGE DISCLAIMER - I've already been riled up by a food cart making an ignorant post that compared the SNBA to the Short North Posse today, and I drove by a group of kids this evening that made it a point to show me their colors and heat, so I'm on a rant and I accept that. This is not intended just @columbusite, as I've heard what I quoted from him from a massive number of people. I just think it's a pretty dangerous misconception to have or spread, and I had to vent it out.