Wikitravel Gives Bad Review of Little Rock (Bryant, London: high crime, to live)

[Timtheman]

I promise to stop after this. I just want to point out that I didn't start this thread on crime in Little Rock and it had gone on for some time before I chimed in. What I tried to offer was some data to help get a sense of things. Truly, I'm sorry if I've been too insistent or aggravated folks. No offense intended. I actually like the market area in Little Rock and the Clinton Museum and the Airport is a breeze to use. Still. I'd more than watch my back most places in the City limits day or night.

[Stormcrow73]

Originally Posted by Timtheman

I promise to stop after this. I just want to point out that I didn't start this thread on crime in Little Rock and it had gone on for some time before I chimed in. What I tried to offer was some data to help get a sense of things. Truly, I'm sorry if I've been too insistent or aggravated folks. No offense intended. I actually like the market area in Little Rock and the Clinton Museum and the Airport is a breeze to use. Still. I'd more than watch my back most places in the City limits day or night.

As a bi-located individual, I'm sure you've been in LR enough to come to the realization that at this time, unlike much of the more recent history of LR, the crime has become very localized. This is not excusing it. But it is to point out that the city is working on it's problems and has improved the situation a GREAT deal in the past 15 years. You need to think about LR currently like New York about 10 years ago, just coming out of a bad period of neglect. It will, however, take us longer to fix many of the problem we have. We don't have the plentiful job base that NYC has to provide good jobs to help get good people out of poverty so the areas they currently have to live in can be fairly gentrified without overuse of eminent domain (which is very close to political suicide in Arkansas). As a city, LR also lacks the vast financial resources of NYC to quickly and nimbly staff up a huge police force to get those crime rates down like was done there. We are a bit hamstrung in several areas. However, I think a more fair assessment of this city is one that is working on many of it's issues, possibly not as aggresively as it could, but in light of our resources, still doing a fine job of reinventing itself.

As for me and my opinion, call me back in 5 years and if things have not continued on an improving trajectory then I'll be right there with you calling for heads of our city leadership. But for now, I'm satisfied with what I see. I don't think any of us are burying our heads in the sand but most of us know what Little Rock used to be and we see what it is now and are grateful for the progress we've seen.

Just to add, perhaps we need folks like you to look around and say, "Hey, this is great, why don't we do this too?" We Arkansans can be a defensive lot but most of us aren't so obtuse as to not take suggestions from someone with a different perspective. You just gotta learn how to work us right.

[Timtheman]

Stormcrow73,

Thank you for your very kind words and counsel. Your insights help me to get a new and much better perspective. Please know I'm 100% hopeful and looking forward to the on-going progress you report. Thanks again for the background.

You spoke about "political suicide" in AR around "eminent domain." That's really not a bad thing as I've seen it abused big time. What was bizarre in NYC was the crime was totally out of control until they got a couple very strict pro-law-enforcement Mayors in a row that learned the secret to getting a grip on the crime problem is to focus first on quality of life crimes. Actually, to bust people for the low level street stuff and soon you find those same folks were doing the harder crimes too.

It does take a serious police presence. And the days of "vast financial resources of NYC" are way over now. Think Wall Street meltdown. But what I always found amusing is that a town full of extreme liberals has loved these law-and-order Mayors. They just don't admit it!

Not to be controversial, but I suspect the other problem in Little Rock is guns. NYC has very tight laws and penalties. About this matter it is important for those outside New York to understand that New York is NOT all NYC. New York is really two States in one. Upstate NY is very pro-gun and rural and mostly conservative and very many are struggling economically in ways just like rural AR. In fact, they resent "downstate" NY as wealthy, controlling, and abusive and half of them would really like to break off if they could!

I was just at a conference in Upstate New York and the speaker was from rural Texas. He said that as he flew into Upstate New York he couldn't believe the beauty, mountains, lakes, and rural nature of the landscape. He thought everything "New York" was urban and crime-ridden. Anyway, we all have our blind spots and need them pointed out. I thank you and others for helping me along in that regard. I see a little more clearly now due to your patience with me. Thanks.

[Stormcrow73]

Originally Posted by Timtheman

Stormcrow73,

Thank you for your kind words and counsel. Your insights help me to get a new and better perspective. Please know I'm 100% hopeful and looking forward to the on-going progress you report. You spoke about "political suicide" in AR around "eminent domain." That's not a bad thing as I've seen it abused big time. What was bizarre in NYC was the crime was totally out of control until they got a control-freak couple of Mayors that learned the secret to getting a grip on the crime problem is to focus first of quality of life crimes. Actually, to bust people for the low level street stuff and soon you find those same folks were doing the harder crimes to. It does take a serious police presence. And the days of "vast financial resources of NYC" are way over now. Think Wall Street meltdown. What I always found amusing is that a town full of extreme liberals loved these law-and-order Mayors. They just don't admit it. Not to be controversial, but I suspect the other problem in Little Rock is guns. NYC has very tight laws and penalties. It is important for those outside New York to understand that New York is not NYC. New York is really two states in one. Upstate NY is very pro-gun and rural. In fact, they resent "downstate" as controlling and abusive. I was just at a conference in Upstate New York and the speaker was from rural Texas. He said that as he flew in he couldn't believe the beauty and rural nature of the landscape. He thought everything "New York" was urban and crime-ridden. Anyway, we all have out blind spots and need them pointed out. I thank you and others for helping me along in that regard. Thanks.

Kind of along that line, I was thinking about pointing out yesterday that, IMO, an excellent northern city to stack Little Rock up against is Rochester. Similar in size, similar in demographics and also somewhat similar in regards of the general midset of the region surrounding each city. Rochester is a wonderful city in many regards but it also areas of very bad crime. I really like Rochester a lot too. Very friendly folks and some very good beer to be had up there.

[Timtheman]

I think Rochester -- and I was just there -- is a fine comparison. I think Little Rock is further on the way of renewal. Thanks for that perspective.

[sloth777]

Did anyone here actually look at the crime stats? In 2007 Little Rock had 26 murders, per 100,000 people. Denver, whose population is almost triple that of Little Rock, had only 8 murders, per 100,000 people. NYC had only 6 murders per 100,000. It's not the size of the city that counts. It's how many people, per X amount of people are murdered, that matters. And according to Little Rock's stats, I'd be 4 times more likely to get my ass killed in Little Rock than NYC. Which is why, after graduating UALR, I don't go to little Rock. As far as I'm concerned, it should be handed over to the gangs, walled up and the Capital be moved to Bryant, where most of the decent people from Little Rock seem to be moving these days.
IMO.

[strumpeace]

Sloth777,

You should visit Louisville. I hear it's real nice up there.

[RogMar]

Originally Posted by strumpeace

Sloth777,

You should visit Louisville. I hear it's real nice up there.

Oh, yeah!!!

Cause *it's* got the "urban hipster" feel, daddy-o!

[InLondon]

Originally Posted by strumpeace

Sloth777,

You should visit Louisville. I hear it's real nice up there.

I don't get it...

[North Pulaski Player]

Little Rock is unique in that if you could exterminate 12 small blocks from the city, the violent crime rate would literally fall 90%. Unless you are doing something that you shouldn't be doing in the first place, then you will be fine in Little Rock - to be blunt, don't ride around Wright Ave. or Baseline Ave. looking for dope and/or prostitutes...