How safe do Madisonites feel? (Milwaukee, Union: apartment, renter, neighborhood)

[JackieR]

This is one of the main reasons we chose to relocate to the Madison area. We currently live in Southern MD, about 40 minutes south of Washington, D.C. (still considered to be at least ONE of the murder capitals of the nation!). The crime trickles down right into our area, and grows as the area grows. Not only that, we also have some of the worst, most rude, aggressive, inconsiderate drivers anywhere. I cannot tell you how much I want to get away from here and live in an area where people are considerate towards each other. I have lived many places, being an ex-military wife, and Madison just sounds perfect, especially compared to where we live now. We have visited there, and my husband has visited more than me, since he is from Minneapolis, and we both agree this is where we want to settle and raise our 2 children.

[madtowngirl]

I came from a relatively small town to go to the UW. I live right downtown, and I still feel relatively safe all the time. I do make sure I have someone walking with me after it gets dark, mostly because of the few stories I have heard of (like the Zimmerman case). That said, if you are concerned about safety, there are plenty of areas that crimes rarely occur, and campus dorms would be one of the top places on that list. If you live downtown like me, things can be a little scary after dark, but rarely do break-ins happen when the apartment door is locked. We had a drunk college student break into the main door to my apartment a few weeks ago, but he didn't come into my apartment because it was locked.
If you just use common sense safety measures and are aware of what is around you, I think you will find it is quite safe here in comparison to many other cities.

[JackieR]

Well, I have to tell you all, coming from the Washington, D.C. metro area (we'll be moving out in August), Madison is a utopia! D.C. area still ranks at least one of the top five most violent places in the U.S. Multiple daily murders.
I am a transplant here, thanks to my ex-husband who's in the navy. My current (and last!) husband is originally from Minneapolis, and is a biologist, so after almost ten years stuck here, we are finally moving to a great area for all of us.
One thing you should always remember, Kemachs, is to just use basic common sense when you are out alone, no matter where you live. My 18 yr old daughter is leaving to attend art school in NYC, and is set on renting an apartment with roommates. She is a petite, young blonde girl in the middle of Manhattan, who will be walking and taking the subway back and forth to school, work, and anywhere else she needs to get to. I am worried sick about her, but she refuses to be scared out of living where she wants to live and go to school. I respect that, but my only hope is that she uses enough common sense to help keep herself safe, as you should. NYC is A LOT more dangerous than Madison, but the use of common sense applies there just as much as anywhere.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by Chelito23

We just need to explain to the OP that Madison is not some fairy tale place that is crime free...

Yes, yes it is! Madison is a magical fairytail land. I've realized this since leaving. Any walk up and down State Street when the students are in town confrims this. Sure, it has more crime than Manitowoc or LaCrosse, but it actually has some big city ammenties and at least a few interesting restaurants.

Full disclosure: I was born in Madison (Madison General Reprazent!), lived there as a kid, went somewhere else for High School, then moved back in the early 90s to go to the UW and moved back again for a summer internship in grad school (total of 13 years Madison residence). My Grandmother, Aunt, Great Uncle, Best Friend, and several other friends still live there. I've been in Chicago for many years now, but know Madison quite well.

[mad420]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

Yes, yes it is! Madison is a magical fairytail land. I've realized this since leaving. Any walk up and down State Street when the students are in town confrims this. Sure, it has more crime than Manitowoc or LaCrosse, but it actually has some big city ammenties and at least a few interesting restaurants.

Full disclosure: I was born in Madison (Madison General Reprazent!), lived there as a kid, went somewhere else for High School, then moved back in the early 90s to go to the UW and moved back again for a summer internship in grad school (total of 13 years Madison residence). My Grandmother, Aunt, Great Uncle, Best Friend, and several other friends still live there. I've been in Chicago for many years now, but know Madison quite well.

Wow I'm convinced the "fairy tale" in your head is a figment of your imagination! Are you unaware of the rash of assaults in the last few years on innocent victims around the State St. downtown area? Numerous people had been beaten down for kicks and some mugged. We have had several murders, some of which are unsolved as well as numerous rapes, some vicious, where the perp is still at large. I think your fond memories have nothing to do with the fact that anyone can become a victim at any time.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by mad420

Wow I'm convinced the "fairy tale" in your head is a figment of your imagination! Are you unaware of the rash of assaults in the last few years on innocent victims around the State St. downtown area? Numerous people had been beaten down for kicks and some mugged. We have had several murders, some of which are unsolved as well as numerous rapes, some vicious, where the perp is still at large. I think your fond memories have nothing to do with the fact that anyone can become a victim at any time.

Part of the "fairy tale" is that Madison is largely detached from reality. Of course there is crime there. It's a city of over 200,000 people with a major university sitting in a metro area of about a half million. But, as Drover pointed out, Madison has a VERY LOW crime rate for a city OF ITS SIZE. You just can't dispute the stats.

When I last lived in Madison a friend of mine was attacked in the vestibule of her building, and she thwarted the attack with a plunger. Somone was shot on State Street once. And the old "Latin Club" had semi-regular knife fights. "Jocko's Rocket Ship" was in full swing as a front for a cocaine operation. I knew a girl that was harassed over the phone and chased to the back door of her house on Doty Street. The Mifflin Street Block Party erupted into an arsonous riot, and you could count on your bike to be stolen if you routinely stored it outdoors. And then there's the crime my friends and I were personally responsible for (i.e. underage drinking and light drug use). So yes, there is crime. But you're more likely to be a victim of these things JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE U.S.A.!

If you're moving to Madison from a town like Hortonville, Grafton, or Rhinelander, Madison will probably be a crime adjustment for you. You will have to lock your doors, stick to major streets after dark, and keep an eye on your stuff. But your chances of getting murdered in a dark alley are pretty much nil.

[mad420]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

Part of the "fairy tale" is that Madison is largely detached from reality. Of course there is crime there. It's a city of over 200,000 people with a major university sitting in a metro area of about a half million. But, as Drover pointed out, Madison has a VERY LOW crime rate for a city OF ITS SIZE. You just can't dispute the stats.

When I last lived in Madison a friend of mine was attacked in the vestibule of her building, and she thwarted the attack with a plunger. Somone was shot on State Street once. And the old "Latin Club" had semi-regular knife fights. "Jocko's Rocket Ship" was in full swing as a front for a cocaine operation. I knew a girl that was harassed over the phone and chased to the back door of her house on Doty Street. The Mifflin Street Block Party erupted into an arsonous riot, and you could count on your bike to be stolen if you routinely stored it outdoors. And then there's the crime my friends and I were personally responsible for (i.e. underage drinking and light drug use). So yes, there is crime. But you're more likely to be a victim of these things JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE U.S.A.!

If you're moving to Madison from a town like Hortonville, Grafton, or Rhinelander, Madison will probably be a crime adjustment for you. You will have to lock your doors, stick to major streets after dark, and keep an eye on your stuff. But your chances of getting murdered in a dark alley are pretty much nil.

I'm not disputing that, but seriously you came on and said it makes you laugh when we discuss crime in our city when a poster is trying to get a feel for a neighborhood. I would want to be warned that a certain area wasn't the best so I could make an informed decision. I don't care about stats...I know we're not Chicago and a nice innocent guy did just get his life snuffed out by some nutcase and was found dead in an alley.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by mad420

I'm not disputing that, but seriously you came on and said it makes you laugh when we discuss crime in our city when a poster is trying to get a feel for a neighborhood. I would want to be warned that a certain area wasn't the best so I could make an informed decision. I don't care about stats...I know we're not Chicago and a nice innocent guy did just get his life snuffed out by some nutcase and was found dead in an alley.

It's not that you're not Chicago in terms of crime... It's that you're not Des Moines! Crime is not a badge of honor. You should be proud of your awesome crime oasis of Madison, and tout this fact to outsiders. I still think telling people to avoid the North Side because of crime is downright looney. You might say, "avoid this block" or "avoid this apartment complex" or "avoid the ghosts in Mendota Mental Health", but that doesn't make the entire side of town bad (if you can call that a "side of town").

By the way, my parents lived in Sherman Terrace in the 1960s when it was somewhat new, and I routinely drive by it with them because of their memories of it. It looks a litte bit like the apartment buidlings on Badger Road and Allied Drive on the outside (light brick, same height, etc.), but is definitely not nearly as bad.

[mad420]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

It's not that you're not Chicago in terms of crime... It's that you're not Des Moines! Crime is not a badge of honor. You should be proud of your awesome crime oasis of Madison, and tout this fact to outsiders. I still think telling people to avoid the North Side because of crime is downright looney. You might say, "avoid this block" or "avoid this apartment complex" or "avoid the ghosts in Mendota Mental Health", but that doesn't make the entire side of town bad (if you can call that a "side of town").

By the way, my parents lived in Sherman Terrace in the 1960s when it was somewhat new, and I routinely drive by it with them because of their memories of it. It looks a litte bit like the apartment buidlings on Badger Road and Allied Drive on the outside (light brick, same height, etc.), but is definitely not nearly as bad.

I never said the entire north side is a crime ridden ghetto! You have it all wrong when you insinuate I think crime is a badge of honor. Please quit putting words in my mouth!

Hello the North side is a side of THIS TOWN duh

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by mad420

Hello the North side is a side of THIS TOWN duh

The "North Side" in Madison is such a small area because of the geography of the city. That's what I was refering to. Since the Isthmus runs north and East, the "East Side" is really the northeast side, and the "North Side" is just that little chunk that hugs lake Mendota up to "Cherokee" and the airport. It certainly not as significant as the West Side or East Side, and isn't really full-fledged "side of town", in my opinion.

By the way, did you know that there are engineers in the office of the City Engineer who are conspiring to break up the Isthmus to create "Lake Mononadota". Be afraid... Very afraid...

I don't have time to keep bickering back and forth with you. Good bye!