Which is Worse: Highland Park or Detroit?

[ckhthankgod]

Wow, I didn't know that Highland Park was that bad. Why do you guys and girls think that is the case? How is Hamtramck?

[Shrewsbury Road]

Due to the size of Highland Park Compared to Detroit I'd have to say Detroit is worse as far as blight and crime although we know this because it's supposedly America's murder capital.

[Vicman]

So, how many years ago did that happen? When? What were their names? Street intersections? Places?

As for police departments lying - How? What cases have been documented? Why do you think suburban Michigan police departments are lying? Have any lawsuits been filed?

You said it was common to acknowledge rapes in Ypsilanti. What news articles? CNN? Do you have any sources that document this?

I must add that Detroit needs to be twisted in its arm until it does something to save itself. So does HP. The bashing should be made in a way to attack, stain, and malign the politicians who do nothing. The attacks should embarrass, discredit, and sadden the politicians who ignore their own city.

Originally Posted by Tonyo313

On the other hand, I HAVE been attacked, beaten up, spat on, and had things stolen from me in the suburbs. Your white media does not report that sort of thing, though.

A crime committed in the downtown area is likely to be sensational, and thus be on the news. Aside from the occassional attack on a tourist or such, for the most part, downtown is quite safe. It's impossible to say which suburbs it might be safer than and which it is not, because municipal police departments (including your darling Rudy Giuliani) LIE when reporting to demonstrate improvement and encourage investment. That's not to say you cannot track some trends, but police departments to play numbers game.

A good example is Ypsilanti and the Eastern Michigan campus. While attending graduate school there back in the early 90's, it was common knowledge that women were routinely raped there, but this did not come to light until that poor young woman was raped and murdered (no point in saying "Brutally raped and murdered, because I don't know any other kind of rape and murder situations) there last year. I am willing to bet Ann Arbor does some of the same.

And what IS crime? Some reports use rape, murder and armed robbery only, but some communities have really high domestic violence rates without much in the way of rape or murder. Does this mean that they don't have crime? Hardly. The brutalized woman is no better off just because the attacker is her legal husband. Same for rape.

If you spend your energy looking for a violent Detroit or Highland Park, that is what you will get. If you work toward improving both the community and the image, both will happen.

Ending Detroit's (and HP's) negatives (both image and real challenges) begins with each of us as individuals.

Tony O - Founder SEMVest/Detropolis

[oohlalamargiec]

my sister was MURDERED Brutally in Highland Park July 19th, 2009. What was she doing? she was trying to find drugs to satisfy her addiction, does that make it ok? Is it ok that A Mother, A Daughter, a Sisters life was senselessly taken, someone who wouldnt harm a flee! Someone barely 5ft tall and never a more gentle sole????? Go ahead more to Highland Park, Mi were the savages live

[Cliffie]

Originally Posted by dmetro

Although I've lived in Metro Detroit my entire life, I've never lived anywhere other than Oakland County, and although I've been to Detroit many times for outreach projects with Blight Busters and sporting events, I've never known a lot about "the hood". So, just out of curiosity, as a question for people with experience, which city is worse in terms of crime, poverty and overall quality of life? I know that they're both depressed, but I've only seen Highland Park from I-75, so I have no way of comparing them. Your comments are appreciated, just please don't make any racial remarks.

I find you get uniformly sad scenes unreeling in front of your eyes in Highland Park, and very mixed results in Detroit, with some beautiful neighborhoods, some sort of down at the heel, and some pretty cratered wreckage.

Tell me, what is Blight Busters? That sounds like EXACTLY what the whole metro area could use!

Due to the size of Highland Park Compared to Detroit I'd have to say Detroit is worse as far as blight and crime although we know this because it's supposedly America's murder capital.

Shrewsbury Road, I want to repeat that Detroit won the Murder Capital Of the World crown in 1977, and has never won it again since. Washington, DC has worn the crown at least 2 different years since then, but NOBODY is terrified of DC they way they are of Detroit. Nobody here yet -- or anywhere else -- has given me even a half-hearted explanation of why that should be.

[and the]

Which is Worse: Highland Park or Detroit?

That's a question for the ages...like which is worse, shot or stabbed?

[Cliffie]

Originally Posted by ckhthankgod

How is Hamtramck?

It's infested with rat-a-lopes! It's even the trademark of one of the local taverns... If you wear the proper ankle guards, though, you should be OK.

I am sad to see the current condition of Highland Park, but I know decent people who live there and 3 of my friends work there daily without fear. It's not THAT bad, just run-down. They arrested Benjamin Atkins ages ago, so that threat is gone.

And I hate to tell youse, but there is plenty of crime in the white suburbs and other prettified places, too.