People say Cincy hasn't changed...but it has. (Cincinnati, Avon: 2009, violent crime)

[jstn]

I often hear people that have moved away from Cincinnati say that when they return years later for a visit, "nothing has changed in twenty years."

They usually mean it as an insult, describing Cincy's lack of progression in development. But truthfully, it has changed....dramatically.

I find Cincinnati to be in a very sad state these days. I remember being a young adult enjoying the fruits of a great river city. When I left a decade ago Cincinnati was mostly a city with nice little, safe, livable neighborhoods, with a few bad spots to avoid. Today, I see it as the opposite, a few nice little, safe, livable neighborhoods, with many bad spots to avoid.

I think what some of the younger posters on this forum (the one's that claim Cincy is not a dangerous city) fail to realize is that Cincinnati was once a very safe medium-sized city. Even as early as the start of this decade in 2000, the city had as low as 15 murders. Today, in 2008, 75. How sad...truly sad. A 400% increase in only 8 years.

Yes, it's still true, that unless you are buying, selling or using drugs, you still have very little chance of being a victim of violent crime. But, what has changed so much in Cincinnati, that violent crime and drugs have permeated the city's core?

Can Cincinnati be saved? Or is it destined to be just another Memphis, Detroit, etc.?

[HuskerDu]

Cincinnati is the next Sioux Falls, South Dakota and don't you forget it... mannnn.

[Cincy-Rise]

jstn, your post is garbage because of one point ... you "just so happen" to use a year that was off the wall (2000 - 15 murders). lol

Why not; 2003, 2005, 2006? Oh ok, I know.

[Cincy-Rise]

Guys, I'd like to point out that the city of Cincinnati has dramatically decreased in crime. By looking at 2005, in just 3 years, we see a huge drop in homicides.

You see, I can twist this to my advantage too.

[hillside]

jstn, why do you feel the city has changed?

[jstn]

Originally Posted by Cincy-Rise

Guys, I'd like to point out that the city of Cincinnati has dramatically decreased in crime. By looking at 2005, in just 3 years, we see a huge drop in homicides.

You see, I can twist this to my advantage too.

No, I see what you mean. But in reality, why are these numbers being used for an advantage. I didn't know I challenged you to a debate. I'm simply stating my opinions based on statistics and personal perception.

Sure, 15 murders was probably an anomaly. But even the year before, 1999 only had 29 murders. That's a two year span of 44 murders. That's 31 less than the single year of 2008. I'm not making those numbers up.

Why did I pick 2000? Well, for one it's when the trend started to change for the worse. Number two, that's about the time frame in which I moved away, so that is what I have to compare it to. Cincy-Rise, what else are you trying to get at?

I have a question for you? Were you even living in cincy at the time frame I am comparing?

[Joe 4520832257]

Originally Posted by jstn

When I left a decade ago Cincinnati was mostly a city with nice little, safe, livable neighborhoods, with a few bad spots to avoid. Today, I see it as the opposite, a few nice little, safe, livable neighborhoods, with many bad spots to avoid.

Being new to the area, I don't have the best perspective. I think you might be slightly exaggerating, but I see where you are coming from. Within city limits, there certainly seems to be as many mediocre/bad neighborhoods as good neighborhoods.

However, even a cursory look at the demographic trends shows an interesting pattern. Inner-city areas that (I'm told) used to be sh*tholes are going through some serious improvement. Areas like OTR, West End, East End, Mt Auburn are all supposedly much better than they have been in the recent past. The criminal element had to go somewhere - and I'm assuming that areas like Price Hill, Avondale, Evanston, and others have all been the recipients.

In the meantime, Cincinnati is now left with lots of neighborhoods "in transition" ... but they are transitioning both up and down. I don't think it's a Detroit type death spiral by any means. However, I would agree that there are a lot of neighborhoods that are currently very mediocre, but I have faith in the improvement of many neighborhoods particularly in the urban core.

[jstn]

Originally Posted by hillside

jstn, why do you feel the city has changed?

Meaning ....

how is it different?

or

what has made the city change?

Sorry, didn't know which direction this question was intended.

[jstn]

Originally Posted by Joe 4520832257

Being new to the area, I don't have the best perspective. I think you might be slightly exaggerating, but I see where you are coming from. Within city limits, there certainly seems to be as many mediocre/bad neighborhoods as good neighborhoods.

However, even a cursory look at the demographic trends shows an interesting pattern. Inner-city areas that (I'm told) used to be sh*tholes are going through some serious improvement. Areas like OTR, West End, East End, Mt Auburn are all supposedly much better than they have been in the recent past. The criminal element had to go somewhere - and I'm assuming that areas like Price Hill, Avondale, Evanston, and others have all been the recipients.

In the meantime, Cincinnati is now left with lots of neighborhoods "in transition" ... but they are transitioning both up and down. I don't think it's a Detroit type death spiral by any means. However, I would agree that there are a lot of neighborhoods that are currently very mediocre, but I have faith in the improvement of many neighborhoods particularly in the urban core.

Actually, you may be on target here. According to the interactive chart for 2008 murders presented on cincinnati.com (Interactive: Deadly Streets | Cincinnati Enquirer | Cincinnati.Com), there were murders in 22 different neighborhoods. Sure, some of these are probably domestic cases, so the overall safety wouldn't necessarily be comprimised...unless you are the wife. But still, that's a lot of neighborhoods being effected.

Then on top of this, you add in the closing of the jail, and possible prisons and you could have a very scary situation in the Queen City.

Before people start ripping me for bashing the Queen City...I'm not, I'm simply asking for perspective on a matter that is important to me and anyone living in the city/ region.

[jlrosen]

if there were murders in 22 neighborhoods that means there where 30 neighborhoods without a murder, not exactly

"When I left a decade ago Cincinnati was mostly a city with nice little, safe, livable neighborhoods, with a few bad spots to avoid. Today, I see it as the opposite, a few nice little, safe, livable neighborhoods, with many bad spots to avoid. "