New York v London (Paris, Ira: condo, crime rates, neighborhood)

[big happy]

Sorry daaver I typed link in wrong, got it now. Wow thats fantastic have you seen some of the photos on there? Your a star ! I think you may have given me something to do for the entire christmas holiday !!!!

[Hustla718]

Originally Posted by big happy

Hustler 718, in lght of the information that you have provided would you say that the crack epidemic is truly over? If so could you give me an idea of the main differences in lower income areas of NYC now compared to the height of the epidemic. As someone that will be travelling to NYC soon I read this thread with some concern as most media opinion is of how safe NYC is these days. Im not the sort of person that likes to avoid areas and would like to see areas that are multicultural as I believe that they are rich in both history and culture however if there are areas that are a definate no go could you pre warn me where they are and what common sense measures that I could take to help my personal safety. Thanks very much in advance

The crack epidemic is over. Thank god. The drug simply went out of style. People were more educated on the effects. This is why crime across the nation fell. In NYC better police work also helped the crime rate get a bit lower then in other cities. However low income areas will always be trouble spots in every city. In NYC there are blocks and corners still as bad as the worst in Camden, Gary or any high crime city on the FBI chart. We just have nice areas to offset that.

However crime comes in waves. Crime is now on the rise in NYC and across the country. NYC hides this fact by fudging numbers. Murders are up, and so should the rest of the crimes. In lower income areas, the change is so dramatic it shows.

As we speak, the low income communities of NYC are at conflict with the NYPD. The Bloods and the Crips of NYC and Newark have threatened to kill a police officer. This is due to an unarmed man being shot 50 times by police in Jamaica Queens. Similar political situation to the Diallo shooting in the Soundview section of the Bronx.

HOWEVER. If you visit Times Square, Midtown, SoHo, ect. The areas tourist frequent below 96th Street you should have no problems. Always be aware, becuase the possibility is always there. There are muggings and purse snatches in the middle of Times Square, you just have to keep aware. You shouldn't have a problem in these areas for the most part.

[big happy]

Thanks Hustler718! Could you tell me whether bloods and crips in NYC are in anyway linked to the original and more renowned LA gangs or are they simply copy cat gangs? I find it very obvious that crime in NYC is much higher than London, I was wondering whether you think that low income areas in London could ever get as bad as low income areas of NYC in terms of crime and violence or do you think because the gun laws are different it could never be as bad? Also how do you think that 'ghettos' in NYC will develop in the next ten-fifteen years, can you see them improving or getting worse? Thanks

[Hustla718]

Originally Posted by big happy

Thanks Hustler718! Could you tell me whether bloods and crips in NYC are in anyway linked to the original and more renowned LA gangs or are they simply copy cat gangs? I find it very obvious that crime in NYC is much higher than London, I was wondering whether you think that low income areas in London could ever get as bad as low income areas of NYC in terms of crime and violence or do you think because the gun laws are different it could never be as bad? Also how do you think that 'ghettos' in NYC will develop in the next ten-fifteen years, can you see them improving or getting worse? Thanks

The Bloods in NYC are separate from the Bloods in L.A. The Bloods in NYC were formed to defend against the Latin Kings and Netas, Puerto Rican gangs in NYC. The gang formed in Rikers Island and exploded out across the city. One of the first major sets was the Sex, Money, Murda set in the Soundview section of the Bronx. You can now find members of this set as far as Philly and Camden. Harlem, Mott Haven, and Brownsville are other communities known for heavy Blood activity. You can find members all over the city.

The Crips in NYC are based off L.A. Crips. they are not a copycat gang, more like an extension. They have had a quickly growing presence in NYC recently and are also at war with the Bloods. In some dominantly Blood areas like Soundview, Mott Haven, Harlem and Brownsville, Crips have managed to be the dominant group on some blocks and public housing developments. This has lead to an increase in gang killings in these areas.

NYC also has Latin Kings, probably one of the oldest modern street gangs in NYC. Originally based out of Chicago and New Haven, the ALKQN is directly linked to both cities. Chicago, New Haven, and NYC are the original Latin King cities. Sets which are directly connected to them exist in Newark, Gary, Camden, Boston, Philly, Hartford, and many other cities. The gang is dominantly Puerto Rican. In NYC you can find a lot of Latin Kings in the Bronx, Bushwick, East Harlem, and other low income Puerto Rican communities.

Neta is a gang based out of Puerto Rico. It made it's appearance in the USA through the NYC prison system. The streets of NYC soon after. You must be Puerto Rican to join this gang.

Newer gangs have also showed up. DDP also known as Dominicans Don't Play is based out of Washington Heights. It has now spread across the Bronx and Harlem. You must be Dominican to join this gang.

The Mexicans have L.A. based gangs here in NYC. Many in the Corona/East Elmhurst areas. Also East Harlem.

El Salvadorians have MS-13 which has showed it's face in the East Bronx and Queens.

Older gangs (1960's, 70's, 80's) include the Decepticons, Vice Lords, Chingalings, Black Spades, and many other gangs. Most of these no longer exist or have evolved into newer gangs. Gangs have existed in NYC since the beginning. The city has always been home to immigrants.

I'm sure there are screwed up areas in London as well. However, the mentality in NYC and other inner city US has been devastated by crack. There is no respect for life. The problems still exist the way the have for many years in these areas. Poverty, which leads to drug activity, and eventually a homicide. Also many killings are over stupidity like stares and bumping. So many guns out there. Fights can easily escalate into a shootout in these low income hoods. That is why there are so many killings.

As for development. Some low income areas have gotton better. However those areas are no longer low income. Look at Hell's Kitchen. That place was once VERY rough, and far from wealthy. There still trouble spots, like the Hell's Kitchen PJ's, but the overall area has really changed. Some areas are the same, like the South Bronx, Bushwick, East NY, Brownsville, ect. These areas still deal with the same things, day in and day out. Others are getting worse. Like Corona and East Elmhurst in Queens for example.

Until the poverty problem is solved, these problems will not go away.

[big happy]

wow hustler718!! Thankyou for such a detailed and interesting reply to my post. With such encyclopedic knowledge it would be good to know what you do for a living? I wouldnt mind guessing something to do with NYPD? In England we only really hear about gangs in LA these days but we are aware of past NYC gangs, to me it seems the situation is just as deep rooted in both cities and certainly more so than London. I was wondering that with increased technology such as mobile phones, the internet etc whether gangs are now much more sophisticated and organised and whether gangs move from city to city to evade the police and increase profitability? This would worry me as I could see it leading to much more violence with an example being 'out of town' gang members trying to muscle in on established members operations in a particular area.

The shooting in Jamaica, Queens was covered by the British media a couple days ago and is indeed a very sad and worrying story, as far as I am aware the guy was set to get married the next day. How sad.
The main concern here is the possibility that tensions and anger in the public could lead to riots similar to those witnessed in Watts, Los Angeles in 1992. As someone who has a more indepth knowledge on feelings in the city do you think that this could be a possibility and how do you think the city would react both from a civilian and government point of view?

Going back to the differences between London and New York I think it would be a good idea for people interested in this thread to post photos of both cities poorer areas in order for people to be aware of the contrasts (or lack of contrasts) that exist. I will try to look for some.

[big happy]

Thanks for video links hustler718, you cant get much more realistic than that, I hope the city can help people that live in poverty and deal with crime and violence on a day to day basis. I am now even more convinced that NYC is more dangerous than London. If NYC is supposed to be one of America's safer cities it makes me wonder how bad the most dangerous cities are. Is it true that St Louis has recently been named most dangerous?

[daaver]

Yes, St. Louis finally beat out Camden to take the top "honor..."

MOST DANGEROUS 25

1. St. Louis
2. Detroit
3. Flint, Mich.
4. Compton, Calif.
5. Camden, N.J.
6. Birmingham, Ala.
7. Cleveland
8. Oakland, Calif.
9. Youngstown, Ohio
10. Gary, Ind.
11. Richmond, Calif.
12. Baltimore
13. Memphis, Tenn.
14. Trenton, N.J.
15. Richmond, Va.
16. Kansas City, Mo.
17. Atlanta
18. Cincinnati
19. Washington
20. North Charleston, S.C.
21. Reading, Pa.
22. Newark, N.J.
23. Little Rock, Ark.
24. San Bernardino, Calif.
25. Orlando, Fla.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/...n2135998.shtml

[Need_affordable_home]

I have been to London as a tourist and from the looks of it, I would never live there and if you insist on living, buy in a suburb outside London. I could hear police sirens in the night while trying to sleep in the hotel. Lots of crime going on all the time! The traffic is terrible and its full of tourists. Everything is so expensive I didnt even buy souvineers! I dont know how bad NYC is, although I heard Manhattan is allright but its a city for the very wealthy, youll need over a million for a large 1 bedroom or small 2 bedroom condo! Even studios cost over half a million!

[Viralmd]

Originally Posted by Need_affordable_home

I have been to London as a tourist and from the looks of it, I would never live there and if you insist on living, buy in a suburb outside London. I could hear police sirens in the night while trying to sleep in the hotel. Lots of crime going on all the time! The traffic is terrible and its full of tourists. Everything is so expensive I didnt even buy souvineers! I dont know how bad NYC is, although I heard Manhattan is allright but its a city for the very wealthy, youll need over a million for a large 1 bedroom or small 2 bedroom condo! Even studios cost over half a million!

Sorry, but your ideas for costs of condos are WAY off...REally. I have a 2 BR/2BR coop, nowhere NEAR what you're talking about. And I've only lived in this apartment for three years.

[Need_affordable_home]

You must not be in a good neighboorhood then. All the good areas cost over half a million.


Price: $579,000
1 bed, 1 bath, 800 square feet.

Price: $749,000
1 bed, 1 bath, 950 square feet.


Price: $1,450,000
2 bed, 2 bath, 1700 square feet.


Other parts of NYC is cheaper. Manhattan is the most expensive. If my costs are way off, please correct me and explain who and why would people pay an average cost of $900 a square foot(used to be 1020 at the peak)