Do you know the Bradenton Area Well? Help PLEASE (deed, live)

[Suncoast Guy]

Originally Posted by TMAN24

Can't argue that, Bradenton will always be Bradenton,
I have not lived in Bradenton the actual city for some 14 years, I did spend the summer of 03 in Mill Creek which is a planned community east of 75 almost in LakeWood Ranch.
I went to Richard Milburn academy in 02

If you haven't actually lived in Florida for 14 years, then you really don't have any right to judge us for what we are reporting. After 14 years, a lot of things change. More robberies, more crime, more gang activity have consumed the area. The town is not the way it was, the safe areas are getting more and more activity by the day. Even in 2002 & 2003, there wasn't as many problems as there are now. You have to be here to truly know what is going on. Ladywithafan, gypsychic, myself are here, and we see it, hear it, and know truly what is going on. Somebody in Ohio or even somebody in Tampa couldn't really know what is going on because they aren't here. That would be like me going to a Tennessee forum and talking about a city I've never been in. I wouldn't know I was talking about, because I don't know that town. You seem to know Bradenton, but you don't know what is truly going on because your not here. So please don't call us morons or anything else because we are stating the facts on what is going on. We do know what is going on.

[ButterflyGirl58]

Originally Posted by Suncoast Guy

We're not talking about Sarasota, Palmetto and Ft. Myers, we are talking about Bradenton and we are talking about NOW, not 5-10-20 years ago, which is the same type of response we are getting from TMAN24. Things change, and it isn't changing for the good right now. Stuff is increasing, just like any other town. I'm not sure what amuses you about crime and stuff. Just remember that stuff does change, for the good and for the bad.

As I read through this thread I found many posts comparing Bradenton to surrounding cities. What I attempted to do was to show by statistics that Bradenton is not nearly as bad CRIME-wise as some of its neighbors. It seems that many were steering people towards Sarasota, but statistically Sarasota has a much higher crime rate than Bradenton.

Crime does not amuse me at all. What amuses me is the near hysteria like postings about gangs and crime in Bradenton when the facts (statistics) don't bear that out at all. And as I said, I have lived here for over 40 years and am VERY familiar with the area. I have been a social worker here and have been in all the so-called "hoods" and bad areas in town. I have worked with gang members and wannabes. But Bradenton is not a scary place to live in my opinion. There are places, like any city that I wouldn't go at night. But I can't think of any place I wouldn't go (or haven't gone) in the daytime.

It is easy to focus on the negative things about any town. To the original poster: If you are looking for a small town feel, gorgeous beaches, sunny weather year-round, Bradenton, is a good bet.

[Ladywithafan]

Originally Posted by ButterflyGirl58

As I read through this thread I found many posts comparing Bradenton to surrounding cities. What I attempted to do was to show by statistics that Bradenton is not nearly as bad CRIME-wise as some of its neighbors. It seems that many were steering people towards Sarasota, but statistically Sarasota has a much higher crime rate than Bradenton.
Statistically speaking, the american family is composed of 2.5 children; in reality, I'm still trying to figure out which .5 of my two children I haven't put a diaper on yet....

Crime does not amuse me at all. What amuses me is the near hysteria like postings about gangs and crime in Bradenton when the facts (statistics) don't bear that out at all. And as I said, I have lived here for over 40 years and am VERY familiar with the area. I have been a social worker here and have been in all the so-called "hoods" and bad areas in town. I have worked with gang members and wannabes. But Bradenton is not a scary place to live in my opinion. There are places, like any city that I wouldn't go at night. But I can't think of any place I wouldn't go (or haven't gone) in the daytime.
Sorry to sound "hysterical"....but in the past few months, our crime has seemed to gravitate towards the west, northwest and island of Anna Maria....not the ghetto/hood areas with the gang members & wannabes....i.e. dead girl on Holmes Beach last year, shooting at the shipping store in Holmes Beach, shooting at Peaches in the plaza at 75th and Cortez, the woman killed in her house during the summer in the neighborhood behind McDonald's off Manatee Ave, and Sunday's shooting/suicide right on 78th street...no, I guess Bradenton is not really that scary....



It is easy to focus on the negative things about any town. To the original poster: If you are looking for a small town feel, gorgeous beaches, sunny weather year-round, Bradenton, is a good bet.

Yes, so true, it is easy to focus on the negative aspects of any town....we do have gorgeous beaches, sunny weather like anywhere in florida year round, is Bradenton a good bet? Come on down and see for yourself.....Forget the statistics...the math doesn't always add up.

[Big House]

Originally Posted by ButterflyGirl58

I've lived in Bradenton since 1974 and I've been amused and horrified at what I've been reading here. I hope the people who are interested in this area take a look for themselves because it is not the horrible crime-ridden gang sanctuary some have made it out to be. Yes, we have gangs as do many cities. Yes we had a murder/suicide yesterday which turned out to be an ex-boyfriend deal. Happens everywhere unfortunately.

I looked on city-data to get the latest crime statistics. The most recent ones are from 2006. The U.S average crime index is 320.9. Sarasota's is 608.6. Bradenton's was 442.0. Palmetto -816.4. Ft. Myers was 722.8 and Venice's was 195.9.

If you want to look up specific crimes it is all on the specific city page.

Obviously Venice's is the lowest. But comparing Sarasota, Bradenton and Ft. Myers which are all very close in size, Bradenton actually has the lowest crime index for the most recent statistics.

Population:
Sarasota - 52,488
Bradenton - 53,431
Venice - 21,015
Ft. Myers - 64,258

Please look up real statistics and not just anecdotal evidence when you are planning to change your whole life. As you've seen we all have different perspectives. I live on the west side of Bradenton which has always been considered the "good" side. I sleep with my windows open when it's cool enough. I know my neighbors. We look out for each other. My family all lives here within a few miles of each other. I went to high school here as did my siblings. My children went to high school here and are now in college. They have not joined any gangs.

<<<still shaking head in amusement>>>

Actually, I was not stating anything negative about Bradenton. There are opposing views here though, and I was pointing out that crime can be a matter of perspective and relative proximity.

[Suncoast Guy]

Originally Posted by ButterflyGirl58

As I read through this thread I found many posts comparing Bradenton to surrounding cities. What I attempted to do was to show by statistics that Bradenton is not nearly as bad CRIME-wise as some of its neighbors. It seems that many were steering people towards Sarasota, but statistically Sarasota has a much higher crime rate than Bradenton.

Crime does not amuse me at all. What amuses me is the near hysteria like postings about gangs and crime in Bradenton when the facts (statistics) don't bear that out at all. And as I said, I have lived here for over 40 years and am VERY familiar with the area. I have been a social worker here and have been in all the so-called "hoods" and bad areas in town. I have worked with gang members and wannabes. But Bradenton is not a scary place to live in my opinion. There are places, like any city that I wouldn't go at night. But I can't think of any place I wouldn't go (or haven't gone) in the daytime.

It is easy to focus on the negative things about any town. To the original poster: If you are looking for a small town feel, gorgeous beaches, sunny weather year-round, Bradenton, is a good bet.

You also have to remember that Orlando, Ft. Myers, Tampa are all bigger cities than Bradenton with a bigger population, so just because they "have more crime" than Bradenton doesn't mean that they have more crime than Bradenton. Bradenton has a lot of crime for a time of it's size. If we were a town with hundreds of thousands of people, then our crime rate would be low. But since our town (the city itself) only contains 54,000 (more or less), then the crime rate is high for the town.

Yes, Bradenton has gorgeous beaches, mostly sunny weather all year around, but the small town feeling ain't here no more! Sorry!

[TMAN24]

Originally Posted by Suncoast Guy

You also have to remember that Orlando, Ft. Myers, Tampa are all bigger cities than Bradenton with a bigger population, so just because they "have more crime" than Bradenton doesn't mean that they have more crime than Bradenton. Bradenton has a lot of crime for a time of it's size. If we were a town with hundreds of thousands of people, then our crime rate would be low. But since our town (the city itself) only contains 54,000 (more or less), then the crime rate is high for the town.

Yes, Bradenton has gorgeous beaches, mostly sunny weather all year around, but the small town feeling ain't here no more! Sorry!

Dude!! Common now, give it a rest, you're almost like in this denial state.


We showed you that population of Fort . Myers and Bradenton,
Both cities are about the same size,
but Ft. mYERS has like twice the amount of crime.

[TMAN24]

Also check this out.


This latest poll has F.M actually having 4,000 less people then Bradenton.
Yet Ft.Myers has twice the number of murders, aggravated assault, car theft, and robberies.

Bradenton
City Population: 52,304
Murder: 7
Forcible Rape: 29
Robbery: 162
Aggravated Assault: 257
Burglary: 894
Larceny or Theft: 2,073
Car Theft: 353
Arson:

Fort.Myers
City Population: 50,874
Murder: 12
Forcible Rape: 29
Robbery: 275
Aggravated Assault: 649
Burglary: 667
Larceny or Theft: 2,130
Car Theft: 613
Arson: 20


Data Source: Fort Myers Crime Statistics (FL) - CityRating.com

[Suncoast Guy]

Originally Posted by TMAN24

Also check this out.


This latest poll has F.M actually having 4,000 less people then Bradenton.
Yet Ft.Myers has twice the number of murders, aggravated assault, car theft, and robberies.

Bradenton
City Population: 52,304
Murder: 7
Forcible Rape: 29
Robbery: 162
Aggravated Assault: 257
Burglary: 894
Larceny or Theft: 2,073
Car Theft: 353
Arson:

Fort.Myers
City Population: 50,874
Murder: 12
Forcible Rape: 29
Robbery: 275
Aggravated Assault: 649
Burglary: 667
Larceny or Theft: 2,130
Car Theft: 613
Arson: 20


Data Source: Fort Myers Crime Statistics (FL) - CityRating.com

Originally Posted by TMAN24

Dude!! Common now, give it a rest, you're almost like in this denial state.


We showed you that population of Fort . Myers and Bradenton,
Both cities are about the same size,
but Ft. mYERS has like twice the amount of crime.

BRADENTON IS NOT FT. MYERS!! It doesn't matter what Ft. Myers crime rate is! Bradenton has it's problems, so you can keep telling me that it doesn't, even though your not here, but I telling you- I read the newspapers here in town, I watch the news on television, Bradenton is no St. Mary city. The problems are here, even the sheriff has admitted it. Crime is decreasing, but it's still there. There was recently a robbery at the Bealls Department Store in Bradenton, a GNC store was robbed recently, not to mention what isn't reported. Also, the gang shooting death of Stacy Williams early in 2007, Pamela LaRose was shot in 2008 in a "good" part of the city, and drug use is from what I heard up in this town. I guess if you don't want to see it, you won't, but I don't really know why you are continuing this debate because you don't live here.

[Ladywithafan]

Originally Posted by TMAN24

Dude!! Common now, give it a rest, you're almost like in this denial state.


We showed you that population of Fort . Myers and Bradenton,
Both cities are about the same size,
but Ft. mYERS has like twice the amount of crime.

And your point is???Ft. Myers is the next Bradenton?

[TMAN24]

Originally Posted by Ladywithafan

And your point is???Ft. Myers is the next Bradenton?

Do you really not know what my point is?
People are saying how bad Bradenton is,
I am saying it isn't really that bad,
I compared it to a city in it's region that has less population then Bradenton but yet has twice the crime,
I guess what I am saying is people in Bradenton are pretty idiotic and narrow minded, Moderator cut: comment
I am speaking your language and all, but it isn't sticking, the proof is in the pudding,

BRADENTON IS NOT A PLACE WITH CRIME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

you people in here are a bunch of scared Moderator cut: .. who have never been out of Bradenton,


Ft. Myers is not even that crime ridden yet it has twice the crime Bradenton does, and you guys think you have issues in your crummy little town...


You all need to **** and be thankful u live there.