Is Memphis really a crime capital? (Jackson, Bartlett: section 8, lease, crime rate)

[caliguy92832]

I was reading this article on the internet and it was saying the Memphis metro area has the highest violent and property crime rate of anywhere in the US. My parents live out that way in Jackson, TN. About a week ago they went to Memphis to visit Elvis Presleys house. They told me of there impressions of Memphis. They said it looked dirty with alot of bad neighborhoods. Alot of black people also. One time they said they saw a school bus loading with children and there was police in the back and front guarding it.

[mjtinmemphis]

Jackson Tn. use to have the reputation of being the murder capital of Tennessee. Esthetically speaking Jackson isn't any better off then Memphis. Yes there are alot of Black people in Memphis.

To answer your question there is alot of crime in Memphis. Alot of it can be blamed on the breakdown of the family, drug and alchohol abuse gangs and the lack of jobs.

[Pearlbob]

If your parents only saw the area around Graceland or the interstate system, then yes, they probably have a negative view on the city. If they were to travel into many other areas, they would see there are also very nice areas as well, very safe, historic neighborhoods, very wealthy new neighborhoods too.

Yes there is a lot of crime here, but the Graceland area is one of the worst.

I'm not sure what the insinuation with having "a lot of black people" has to do with the problems of Memphis, but anything relative to what I think that means needs to be stopped here.

[Brad Martin]

I keep hearing the same thing.

I am concerned since I am moving there for work in a couple of months. What about the Bartlett area? I will be working on Kirby Whitten Road and didnt know what kind of neighborhood to expect. Anyone familiar with this part of town?

[Pearlbob]

Bartlett is a fine suburb, an established town.

[Huckleberry3911948]

i got lots of family in this area and go back frequently. this is not disneyland folks. fasten your seatbelt.

[simcity]

I've been living in the Memphis for almost 8 years (pretty much dead center of the 240 loop) and I've never seen or been a victim of crime. My neighbors of 7 years have never had a single incident either. Well, there was one questionable incident when the power in the city of Memphis went out for a week (big wind storm) and someone stole my neighbor’s generator out of their yard. This wasn’t a break-in and the circumstances were unusual.

I think it’s all about where you choose to live and who you associate with. Supposedly there are gangs in Memphis but I’m oblivious to them as I don’t buy/sell drugs or look for trouble. I see affluent women walking/jogging alone at night, I often leave my door unlocked when I go for a bike ride or jog, I've accidentally left my garage door wide open numerous times overnight with the keys still in the ignition, and I rarely turn the security system on unless I’m going out of town. I can’t imagine this area being more peaceful and tranquil, seems perfect to me and I have no desire to move away anytime soon.

Memphis has been great and the people here are remarkably friendly. Chances are, the only place you'll probably see/hear crime is in the media.

Also, I have tenants in various areas of Memphis, and after all these years the worst incident reported was a broken car window from a pellet or bb gun (nothing was stolen, no one was hurt, they don't even know when it happened). Then again, these houses lease for $1050 to $1350 per month so they are in relatively good areas that are virtually free of crime. I imagine that the section 8 housing in North or South Memphis has plenty of eye witness crime, but as far as I've seen, it doesn't spill over into the safer neighborhoods.

[pushkinswife]

Originally Posted by caliguy92832

I was reading this article on the internet and it was saying the Memphis metro area has the highest violent and property crime rate of anywhere in the US. My parents live out that way in Jackson, TN. About a week ago they went to Memphis to visit Elvis Presleys house. They told me of there impressions of Memphis. They said it looked dirty with alot of bad neighborhoods. Alot of black people also. One time they said they saw a school bus loading with children and there was police in the back and front guarding it.

I am going to assume that you immediately following "dirty with alot of bad neighborhoods" with "alot of black people too" to assume nothing. But the "too" sort of sends the point home doesn't it? This is the year 2008 and if "alot of black" people makes Memphis sketchy then apparently your parents live in some type of bubble. The very fact that you said "alot of black people too" makes me think you really don't think "black people" could read this post. Its like, black people are an "otherness" like your parents saw an alien or something. Futhermore, you are entitled to your opinion, jaded as it is. And they live in Jackson, TN correct? Well maybe they were just making a comment on the very thing they see back at home because there are "alot of black people" in Jackson, TN.

[simcity]

Being black doesn’t make a neighborhood bad. I live directly across from a black woman and her yard is always immaculate and her house is well maintained. I sure as heck don’t feel threatened or uncomfortable by her or her friends and relatives that frequently visit her. She's a medical doctor, is certainly contributing to society, and is a welcome asset to our neighborhood and Memphis in general.

[pushkinswife]

So sad you have to "breakdown" your positive experience with a "black" person. So sad....No, I am not targeting you. Just sad and trivial that nowadays people STILL have this misconception that "blacks" somehow cause a place not to be safe, worth-living, etc. So sad you have to explain. I had an older gentlemen tell me once on an elevator "You are different, you are not like the others" I was living in a high rise at the time. I asked him what he meant. He said, "You know, those kids they are moving in" I said, "the 4th floor?" He said yeah. I said, "I just moved to the 4th floor." Along with 5 other pre-meds....He said "Well i never met them just heard.." I cut him off "...that alot of blacks were moving to the 4th floor?" I got off the elevator.... Memphis, my home, my heart but we have a long way to go.