Why is the 6th largest city in Ohio so dangerous (Dayton) (Columbus: real estate, foreclosures)

[willabee]

Originally Posted by nickolaseposter

Dayton should just tear down the inner city and start over.

I am hesitant to dignify this with a response, but here goes.

Dayton, in my opinion, is extremely under-appreciated. Whether this is from lousy city leadership or some other reason I am unsure. It is likely a combination of many factors - more than I can intelligently discuss.

Given it's rich history, cultural heritage, spirit of invention and innovation, old-style architecture, many metro parks, affordibility, blah, etc.. I think you are like many of the " Dayton bashers" on this forum. It's likely you spend too much time in the suburbs listening to whatever crime/drama headlines the local media can drum up, all the while assuming you have a bead on the city of Dayton.

Maybe you should come in for a visit sometime and see what life in Dayton is really like.

[willabee]

Originally Posted by Daytonnatian

^Interesting point, but I can definitely see that being a factor. However, it is kinda rare to hear about drug busts along the highways, though.

Just because very few criminals are caught doesn't mean it's not a major factor. You may wanna ask yourself exactly how the drugs arrive in Dayton. Seems that boats are out and air planes may have a harder time bringing it in. But if you know how to hide it in vehicles and don't give probable cause for a stop you can likely sneak by undetected.

I used to live near Richmond VA in the late 80s. At the time Richmond had one of the highest murder rates in the country due in part to interstate 95 running right through the center of downtown. Miami to New York and lots of places in between. At the time it was very common for folks running drugs from Miami to NYC to stop in Richmond where gun laws were very lax, and dare I say more constitutional. I digress. People would trade drugs for guns and sell the guns further north in Maryland, Deleware, Jersey, and New York. This type of illicit business has a major impact on criminal activity on many levels.

Im not saying that 70/75 are why crime is perceived to be high in Dayton, I am saying it is likely a major contributing factor.

[JefferyT]

Dayton should just tear down the inner city and start over.

...that seems to be the plan.

[tgasper]

Dayton, like every other city, has pockets of concentrated crime and yes, most of it is centered around drugs in low income areas. You go to any city and ask people there what areas to avoid, and you'll get a list. I think the problem is so many Daytonians have never lived anywhere else, so this is all they know, and think it's only this way in Dayton. No true.

Of course, the other part of the equation is what a neighborhood will tolerate from others. Citizens have to be willing to report suspicious behavior, call the police and provide witness statements when they see something happen, press charges if applicable and be willing to attend court hearings. In my experience, the neighborhoods with the most crime are the ones where people aren't willing to cooperate with the Police. The strongest neighborhoods are the ones with the most engaged neighbors.

[tgasper]

Originally Posted by willabee

I am hesitant to dignify this with a response, but here goes.


Maybe you should come in for a visit sometime and see what life in Dayton is really like.

and I have the perfect opportunity for you. On October 2nd, we're holding an Urban Excursion from 7:00-8:30 PM as part of First Friday. It's part scavenger hunt, part Amazing Race - but we'll give hints to find a lot of hidden gems in Dayton that you might not otherwise see.

For details go to www.daytonCREATE.org. The deadline for registration is Monday the 28th. But it's a great chance to see downtown Dayton first hand and form an opinion based on your personal experience rather than what you hear on blogs, TV, radio or in the paper.

[Beavercreek33]

Originally Posted by 215GUY

I moved here from Philly, aka killadephia. Dayton have its bad parts but trust me other places got it alot worse

I moved here from Philly as well. Trust me, perceptions and media over-hype crime in Ohio a lot. There are cities out there much worse than Dayton. Cities that I have been in on business and have felt very unsafe in over areas that maybe considered dangerous in Dayton.

[nickolaseposter]

If you have witnessed FIVE deaths then you need to either crack down on some people OR MOVE. That is not good when crap like that goes on. I wish I could tell you to raise money and start a community effort to lower crime, but I don't know if you would want to do that. If you care about it that much, though, maybe you should try and do something about it rather than just sit and witness stuff all the time.

[nickolaseposter]

The problem with Dayton- a lot of unemployed uneducated people with easy access to drugs which therefore, because of all of these factors, contributes to growth in crime. If you really want to stop crime. Pump up education. Scare druggies by allowing more cops and more local restrictions. And then offer jobs to people in the suburbs with a good heavily guarded free transportation system supported by the suburbs. If we could get that, Dayton's crime would see a quick drop. However... I don't know if Dayton has the money for bringing alot stronger education. I don't know if they have the money to hirer new cops and get new faster technologies. I don't know if the suburbanites would be willing to pay into the "transportation" idea. It would be a big risk, but it would ultimately bring more jobs into the suburbs based on a retail/ residential market and would bring more corporate/ offices downtown. It would lower crime. It would raise education. The city would be more green because of carpooling and bussing. Alot of good things could come out of it. But the problem is, and always will be....money. If I was a billionaire I would personally use it to help the city out, build more churches and private schools, and offer more programs for people to work harder and have community morals. But is it possible???

[JefferyT]

There are cities out there much worse than Dayton. Cities that I have been in on business and have felt very unsafe in over areas that maybe considered dangerous in Dayton.

...for me this would be parts of Balitmore.

[Beavercreek33]

Originally Posted by JefferyT

...for me this would be parts of Balitmore.

Or I could go with even smaller metro areas like Tucson, Arizona.