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I looked around the archives of the NY Times and I found some of the events that occurred to be shocking. It looked like the city had gone to hell. At one point it said that 75 people were murdered over the course of a single week, there were several incidents of innocent children killed by stray bullets, and more than your fair share of people killing each other over the most trivial and frivolous of things, such as a quarter or someone making a rude comment. I've been the city multiple times in the last 13 years and it was no where near as scary as it seemed in the Summer of 1990. It might even have been worse than the summer of '77.
The city has really come a long way in 21 years. I can't even imagine what it must been like to try to live in New York back then. Was it really, "unlivable" as Time Magazine says?
After reading it, it seems like it could've been written today. Different decade--same problems. An evaporating middle class, overpriced real estate, a lack of jobs, crime ridden neighborhoods, under performing schools, NYers relocating because of all of the above, and the list goes on. It's all covered in this issue and it seems like it's the same problems rehashed.
After reading it, it seems like it could've been written today. Different decade--same problems. An evaporating middle class, overpriced real estate, a lack of jobs, crime ridden neighborhoods, under performing schools, NYers relocating because of all of the above, and the list goes on. It's all covered in this issue and it seems like it's the same problems rehashed.
Come to think of it, there are a lot of similar problems, though there's MUCH less murders.
The peak of the crack epidemic? Geez, little did I know as a 3 year old (or any 3 year old for that matter, heh) that the Upper Manhattan I was born and being raised in was such a warzone.
Wasn't former Mayor Rudy G responsible for cleaning up a lot and reducing crime in the mid 90's?
Yes he was. And today nyc economically is in better shape then most cities because of bloomberg. I do not agree with many of bloomberg social stances but when it comes to money he knows what hes doing.
This is a complicated topic with no single answer.
MANY factors play a part: poverty, gentrification, segregation, drug policies, economic standing, law enforcement policies, public attitude, prison policy, medical, some even say abortion.
NYC was livable in 1990. Don't let the over brown violence in the media fool you. To give you some perspective: NYC's murder rate is many times higher than Tokyo's; Rio's is still many times higher then NYC. All three are completely livable.
This is not to say that crime was not a major issue in 1990. It was, more so then today. At the same time though there are still communities affected by high rates of violence. Another big factor are the types of crimes and populations effected. Violent crime much more disproportionally effects non-Hispanic Blacks than non-Hispanic Whites. The poor, primarily in high concentrations (ghettos and public housing). Men, teenagers and young adults are still the primary victims.
There is a lot to it. Crime declines versus the past are often incomparable and used as political platforms or financial incentive in the real estate sector. Again this does not mean crime has not gone down but it's a lot more selective then it's ever been and the underlying social problems remain proving it's existence.
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i still felt safer in
