Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Michael Patrick Rutter on January 5, 2010 at 12:28pm

We adore JP (and have lived there for almost 7 years). The recent increase in criminal activity could be a random statistical blip or a trend. In either case, I no longer feel safe in my own neighborhood ... or even walking a short distance to or from the T. As we are thinking of starting a family soon, being safe is an absolute priority. We are seriously considering selling (even if we take a loss) and moving in the next few months. Am I simply being paranoid?

Permalink Reply by Eric on January 5, 2010 at 1:31pm

Short answer: Yes, obviously what you feel is what you feel but I think you're being a bit alarmist, statistically we have experienced increases in some areas of crime in E-13 from 2008 to 2009, but have decreased in other areas.

See: http://www.bpdnews.com/Jan-4-2010.pdf

Long answer:

What does "being safe" mean to you? Why after living here for 7 years do you now, as of this moment, feel "unsafe"? I've lived in two different parts of JP for over 5 years and don't really feel any different now than I did before. I am frustrated by an obvious increase in street muggings from last year when other districts are not experiencing them, but otherwise, things are the same. Is it possible that you are just becoming more aware of what crimes do occur in our neck of the woods? Did you always pay attention to crime reports as you do now? Increased access to information could be causing your increased sense of "danger." If you didn't know about it before, you never thought it could happen.

It seems to me that from some of your posts you are linking incidents together that to you, increase your feeling of being less safe, whether it be the recent Bromley-Heath shooting or the Tedeschi's holdup.

However....

I'm sure you remember last year (or perhaps it was '07) that a guy was shot and killed in broad daylight on the basketball court near Stony Brook or the fight that led to a murder on the corner of the Jamaicaway and Perkins or some of the other shootings that have happened at Bromley-Heath or the Academy Homes, or even the elderly woman who was killed in her home in central JP.

It is an unfortunate reality that JP has random and non-random acts of violence such as these. The frequency of that hasn't really changed that much over the years.

As for property damage, if your car gets broken into in Boston proper, it's pretty easy to find someone else you know that has experienced the same thing. That also happens and will continue to happen.

As for the muggings, sure, the numbers are up. I'm not sure how those statistics breakdown throughout the entire E-13 area, but we have seen what appears to be an increased number in our area, which as I said before frustrates me. I think that the increased number of robberies needs to be addressed by the city and police department and more importantly, the actual results of these increased efforts need to be communicated to us.

And....while I do appreciate advice of how to less make yourself a target is helpful, I think to a degree that there has been an unfortunate side effect of that advice that would lead some to feel "unsafe." To me, at least, there can be somewhat of a tone that the victim was "responsible" (albeit to a small degree) for being a robbery victim. Sometimes, no matter what you do, you are going to be a victim of crime and that's the randomness of life. Were you using a phone, did you go to the right side of the street, did you have anything valuable looking? Who knows, okay? Stuff happens. The anxiety of not being able to control that affects many of us and in different ways.

Permalink Reply by Michael Patrick Rutter on January 6, 2010 at 5:41pm

I appreciate the thoughtful reply --- and in some sense, this is exactly the kind of reassurance that I needed.

If we do move, I want to make the decision on my own terms (not due to a few isolated incidents).

And BTW, we are truly neighbors ... as we live right near the Stonybrook stop as well.

Permalink Reply by Michael Patrick Rutter on January 6, 2010 at 5:47pm

All very good points. I am far more hyper-aware now because of sites like this (and because of the rapid news cycle in general) --- and likely that has led to my current feeling/frustrations.

Permalink Reply by John Booker on January 7, 2010 at 2:20am

I just wanted to second the fact that just because crimes are reported/brought to your attention doesn't necessarily mean things are more dangerous (although it certainly could be the case). Everything's relative, for a truly informative crime map/statistics breakdown, we should have the change that you'll get mugged near Stony Brook compared to the chance it'll happen elsewhere. Or the change that you'll loose that 100 dollars on the stock market! Money in your wallet while napping outside stony brook might just be the safest place to keep it ;).

Ditto for physical safety. Walking on any sidewalk is still probably healthier for you than driving on the Boston roads. It's just that shootings are easier to be afraid of than bad drivers.

Permalink Reply by Joseph Porcelli (Chief Neighbor) on January 7, 2010 at 11:49am

Thanks for sharing this perspective John!

Permalink Reply by Joseph Porcelli (Chief Neighbor) on January 5, 2010 at 12:45pm

Thanks for posting.