Which large American City has the largest number of mentally ill downtown? (living in, dangerous)

[Weekend Traveler]

In another posting, I talk about the terrible experience I had with homeless and mentally ill men approaching me constantly when I was walking around downtown Atlanta. It made me think about the other large cities I had visited and my impression of their downtown areas.

I would have to vote for Atlanta as having the worst downtown among the large American Cities. It looks quite impressive from the highway with all the large buildings but on the street level there seemed to be countless hipsters, gangsters and homeless.

Which large American City has the largest number of mentally ill, and other crazy or dangerous people downtown?

[415_810]

Originally Posted by Weekend Traveler

In another posting, I talk about the terrible experience I had with homeless and mentally ill men approaching me constantly when I was walking around downtown Atlanta. It made me think about the other large cities I had visited and my impression of their downtown areas.

I would have to vote for Atlanta as having the worst downtown among the large American Cities. It looks quite impressive from the highway with all the large buildings but on the street level there seemed to be countless hipsters, gangsters and homeless.

Which large American City has the largest number of mentally ill, and other crazy or dangerous people downtown?

When it comes to homeless, the crazies and mentally ills, San Francisco takes the cake. People come to SF and leave in shock.

[desert sun]

Albuquerque while not large has lots of homeless downtown,most people from out of town are surprised at the amount of homeless and mentally ill roaming the downtown streets here,the gangsters like to cruise around downtown checking out the business girls I guess,there is not much to downtown here except a few businesses,banks,bars and strip clubs.

[WILWRadio]

Most of the people that are employed in downtown KC fall into this category.

[Coolhand68]

From my experience I have to go with San Francisco and NYC. Boston is a close third. The Boston Common and Chinatown are infested with homeless, and many of them of suffer from mental illness.

[Weekend Traveler]

The real big cities like SF, Chicago or NYC have so many people on the street that you just blend in. I think the homeless and mentally ill nuts have a bigger effect in a town like Atlanta where there are fewer people on the street.

[grapico]

san fran and dc. the funniest ones i have seen are in chicago though (where they might throw snowballs at you) or san fran, when they disguise as a bush...

[john_starks]

New Orleans anyone?

[Bobilee]

Most of ours in Philly are concentrated in a large marble building in the middle of Market & Broad Sts. Here is a photo of the Institute for the Criminally Insane, one of the oldest and largest in the country. It's one of the finest examples of Victorian institutional architecture in the US.

[DeaconJ]

Originally Posted by Weekend Traveler

In another posting, I talk about the terrible experience I had with homeless and mentally ill men approaching me constantly when I was walking around downtown Atlanta. It made me think about the other large cities I had visited and my impression of their downtown areas.

I would have to vote for Atlanta as having the worst downtown among the large American Cities. It looks quite impressive from the highway with all the large buildings but on the street level there seemed to be countless hipsters, gangsters and homeless.

Which large American City has the largest number of mentally ill, and other crazy or dangerous people downtown?

So is the thread topic "worst American downtown" or "city with the most mentally ill"?

I have to question how you determined the mental state of passersby on the sidewalk...and you made it very clear in Atlanta section thread that you felt uncomfortable with all the black people Downtown.

Originally Posted by Weekend Traveler

I was shocked by all the very angry looking Black Men who hung around who looked like they had watched to many Gangster Rap Videos on BET.

I just want to make it clear that no one is able to make such judgements about strangers on the streets - i.e. someone dressed raggedy isn't automatically homeless, and 3 or more black men walking in a group doesn't make them gangsters.

There are tons of people walking around Downtown Atlanta...and thousands of people living in Downtown Atlanta. I was there twice this past weekend - once during the day and once at night - and there was gobs of foot traffic and lively activity both times. I really am wondering if you've been here at all. Did you take any photos? Most people do when they visit a new city.