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The Dispatch wrote
Most say city’s safe
Thursday, December 4, 2008
By Elizabeth Gibson
As the city’s budget crunch squeezes the police department, city officials say Columbus still is one of the safest cities in the U.S. How safe? It depends on whom you ask, and academics disagree about how much a decrease in the number of officers would affect crime rates.
With the city strapped for cash, Mayor Michael B. Coleman’s office has proposed not replacing as many as 57 officers who might retire next year. Such an outcome would be hard to deal with if it continued into 2010 and 2011, said George Speaks, deputy director of public safety.
“But Columbus is still one of the safest metro cities,” he said. “Overall, looking at violent crime, we’re doing very well.”
Comments
- cheap: i highly recommend the Millersport sweet corn festival of course,the cor
- Jimmy Mak: Thanks for the write-up! Just to clarify - this is the third year we've do
- Briana Henry: Well, eventually they plan to add more bands from the region...gotta start
- bucki12: I like the business model, but the internet sales part seems like something
- racheltb: I don't see the Ohio Shrimp Fest on the list. It is truly a good time. h
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Most say Columbus is a safe city
By: Walker
Related Posts:
what I found funny is the title of the article does not agree with the poll at the bottom of it.
The Hot Issue: Do you feel safe in Columbus? 58%NO
Read the comments though. One person won’t even go to Easton. It’s all relative. We live in a major urban area and crime comes with it. Some areas are better than others. Simply things like learning to look around and know your surroundings, not flashing cash or anything expensive and in general not being stupid are big ways to help oneself out.
Unfortunately it’s comments like those found in the poll that are going to make it difficult to keep moving forward in this city.
The Hot Issue: Do you feel safe in Columbus? 58%NO
Rule No 1: DO NOT waste your time with the dispatch polls or comment sections. they will cause you to want to punch and break things as well as throw around heavy objects. avoid. avoid. avoid. at all costs.
Just a smattering of today’s ignorance for a case in point:
:shock: :?: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
:roll:
:) omg! “cereal” rapists!!
:) :) :) :evil:
:) :) :) :?: :?:
:)
:)
:)
:shock: the plague!!
:x :evil: :evil: :) :) :) :)
:) you have friends?
Now I personally feel safe going anywhere in Columbus anytime day or night. Like was said above all it takes is common sense and knowing how to carry yourself in situations. I really have to wonder if I am living in the same city as the people who post this nonsensical crap. I mean really? I even wonder if we’re from the same planet sometimes. :roll:
yeah, I know. I read through most of the comments yesterday to keep amused.
I feel pretty safe. I can’t tell you the number of times I have walked around the west side or East at 2 am and not been worried . But those comments are funny it makes me scared to know people are like that .
:lol: WTF
In six months, the worst problem I’ve had is having various parts of my bike stolen. Crime is everywhere you go, but I would not go so far as to call this town “Little Detroit!”
I always read the Dispatch polls and I ALWAYS regret it. The comments always come from dullards who can’t spell, don’t understand progress, and are so far behind in life that they actually think they’re winning, to quote Uncle Junior from The Sopranos.
I’ve included a rare file photo of the typical respondent to a Dispatch poll (and it’s a wedding day!):
I left my front light on the bike, locked at the Statehouse. It wasn’t touched.
I’ve had good luck, knock on wood, with my bike.
Really? I always picture the average Dispatch commenter being more the stereotypical sheltered suburban housewife who’s opinion is largely shaped by the fear mongering of the tv newsscape with a sprinking of good old fashioned crime news gossip/urban legends.
:) omg! “cereal” rapists!!
How can we forget the Summer of “Toucan” Sam?
I wonder what “safe” means to these people? No contact with any other humans except cashiers and restaurant servers?
Shit happens in the city, but I grew up out in the country, and people got broken into out there as well…and let me tell you, it’s a LOT scarier when something goes bad & the nearest neighbor is 1/2 a mile away, let alone the nearest fire station or police station.
I just wonder if there are actual historical events driving these fears, or just a general sense of dread that something “could” happen. And what could ever overcome that? It’s hard to fight against something that hasn’t happened and is only perceived.
Really? I always picture the average Dispatch commenter being more the stereotypical sheltered suburban housewife who’s opinion is largely shaped by the fear mongering of the tv newsscape with a sprinking of good old fashioned crime news gossip/urban legends.
I’ve always taken them to be a little more on the downscale end of things. Maybe the picture is a little extreme, but lower middle class anyway. The comments generally seem to lack the savvy and knowledge of those further up the (suburban) totem pole. Ignorance is a social ill, and poverty (and relative poverty) tends to breed those. I think it’s more Groveport than Upper Arlington.
Shit happens in the city, but I grew up out in the country, and people got broken into out there as well…and let me tell you, it’s a LOT scarier when something goes bad & the nearest neighbor is 1/2 a mile away, let alone the nearest fire station or police station.
I just wonder if there are actual historical events driving these fears, or just a general sense of dread that something “could” happen. And what could ever overcome that? It’s hard to fight against something that hasn’t happened and is only perceived.
Aside from the nightmares the movie Deliverance gave my 12 year old self, I’m less at ease in the country because I always feel like the social contract just doesn’t apply when there isn’t anyone around. The reduced chance of being caught (no one to hear you scream, plenty of time to clear the crime scene, the total darkness of the country, etc) means there’s less likelihood of facing punishment and that’s a person’s main incentive to follow the social contract.
If I’m camping in Vinton County, what’s to stop some hill-living vagabond from killing me in my sleep for the thrill of it, knowing he probably won’t get caught?
Really? I always picture the average Dispatch commenter being more the stereotypical sheltered suburban housewife who’s opinion is largely shaped by the fear mongering of the tv newsscape with a sprinking of good old fashioned crime news gossip/urban legends.
I’ve always taken them to be a little more on the downscale end of things. Maybe the picture is a little extreme, but lower middle class anyway. The comments generally seem to lack the savvy and knowledge of those further up the (suburban) totem pole. Ignorance is a social ill, and poverty (and relative poverty) tends to breed those. I think it’s more Groveport than Upper Arlington.
Elitist, are we? I don’t have stats on how many people in UA fear people different than themselves versus how many poor people do, but I would think it’s more human nature than a product of lack of priveledge. Yes, there is an amazing amount of ignorance about the risks of crime, but I tend to agree with Walker – it’s urban legend and perhaps sheltered living that causes a lot of the fear, rather than not being upper middle class. My limited experience has been that many of upper classes are quite suspicious of people who aren’t like themselves, like many people of all incomes are. The difference is that these folks have more to protect (maybe resulting in greater fear) and often the power to hold others down…
Oh yeah, I’ve painted a bunch of houses in Upper Arlington, and not only in several instances were we treated like subhumans, but you could tell they were afraid/wary of “outsiders”…i.e., those of lower class. Who knows what we were capable of with our foul breeding??? I mean they pulled crap like you can’t use the door; you have to climb in through the window, you can’t use the bathroom; you have to go in the yard or in a bucket, the owner misplaced her ring so she immediately called the police on us (and found it later)…
I don’t mean to stereotype the affluent older class of Upper Arlington; those are just a few actual experiences…and they hired us to be there! I don’t know how these people actually deal with unsolicited contact with other humans.
So yeah, fear is definitely not exclusive to the lower class.
So yeah, fear is definitely not exclusive to the lower class.
That’s all I’m saying…
I think there is a human tendency to distrust those who are different than ourselves. How we determine different can result in a number of issues – Is race different? Is income level different? Is religion different? Is sports team different?…OK, that oversimpifies, but it’s amazing how passionate people will get even over something like sports teams…
We CAN overcome this tendency, but it’s a matter of being exposed to different situations, and seeing the humanity of “others”. It mostly means meeting others, and going to places that maybe make us uncomfortable…and seeing it’s not so strange after all….
BUT I digress…the topic is crime and fear of crime in Cols, and I think many folks are afraid because they have sheltered lives, of whatever sort. We have family members, of all sorts of education levels, who are freaked out when they come to our neighborhood (the Short North/VV) by things like panhandlers on High and whatever else they perceive as scary. The reality is, where we live is incredibly safe. I have no qualms about walking up to UDF late at night, by myself, to grab something I need. However, as with ANYWHERE, I’m aware of anyone nearby and notice their behavior, and I do not behave like a victim (hell, I’m an Irish/German/Italian mutt, and despite my nice exterior, you don’t want to get my hackles up)….I’d be silly not to be crime aware, especially as a female, but I don’t think it’s worse where I live or Columbus in general. Really.
Really? I always picture the average Dispatch commenter being more the stereotypical sheltered suburban housewife who’s opinion is largely shaped by the fear mongering of the tv newsscape with a sprinking of good old fashioned crime news gossip/urban legends.
I’ve always taken them to be a little more on the downscale end of things. Maybe the picture is a little extreme, but lower middle class anyway. The comments generally seem to lack the savvy and knowledge of those further up the (suburban) totem pole. Ignorance is a social ill, and poverty (and relative poverty) tends to breed those. I think it’s more Groveport than Upper Arlington.
Elitist, are we? I don’t have stats on how many people in UA fear people different than themselves versus how many poor people do, but I would think it’s more human nature than a product of lack of priveledge. Yes, there is an amazing amount of ignorance about the risks of crime, but I tend to agree with Walker – it’s urban legend and perhaps sheltered living that causes a lot of the fear, rather than not being upper middle class. My limited experience has been that many of upper classes are quite suspicious of people who aren’t like themselves, like many people of all incomes are. The difference is that these folks have more to protect (maybe resulting in greater fear) and often the power to hold others down…
Go to that (or any) Dispatch poll and read the comments. Then come back here and tell me those comments are from intelligent, well-educated people. Sorry if disapproving of dumb-assed comments upsets your class consciousness.
Go to that (or any) Dispatch poll and read the comments. Then come back here and tell me those comments are from intelligent, well-educated people. Sorry if disapproving of dumb-assed comments upsets your class consciousness.
I don’t know. Did it say where those dumb-assed comments were from? Are you sure none of them are at whatever income/education level you consider likely to make the comments. Nothing I said declared that a particular class made these comments. Only you….
And I don’t mean to say that ignorance is restricted lower incomes and lower classes. Yes, it can be found in any group of people. However, I think it is obvious that a certain level of educational attainment usually leaves a person with the knowledge and critical thinking skills to be (at least slightly) less ignorant.
I wasn’t trying to start a class war, I just think it should be obvious from reading the poll comments that many of the posters share a common thread and it isn’t that they buy their suits at Brooks Brothers.
Go to that (or any) Dispatch poll and read the comments. Then come back here and tell me those comments are from intelligent, well-educated people. Sorry if disapproving of dumb-assed comments upsets your class consciousness.
I don’t know. Did it say where those dumb-assed comments were from? Are you sure none of them are at whatever income/education level you consider likely to make the comments. Nothing I said declared that a particular class made these comments. Only you….
I only used Groveport and UA to make a clear comparison. It was more about what they represent, don’t take it so literally.