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I am still working on it, but here are some figures for the past year. I included some adjacent areas as well as Austin and Humboldt Park to contrast with as well.
Total Violent Crime in the Past Year:
Austin:1828 (most in the city)
Belmont Cragin:414
Irving Park:220
Albany Park:211
PORTAGE PARK:207
Dunning:67
Jefferson Park:39
Humboldt Park:877
Robbery in the past Year:
Austin:1001 (most in the city)
Belmont Cragin:221
Irving Park:131
Albany Park:127
PORTAGE PARK:134
Dunning:46
Jefferson Park:28
Humboldt Park:426
Criminal Sexual Assault in the past year:
Austin:107 (most in the city)
Belmont Cragin:34
Irving Park:20
Albany Park:13
PORTAGE PARK:16
Dunning:4
Jefferson Park:3
Humboldt Park:32
Homicide 1st and 2nd degrees:
Austin:30 (most in the city)
Belmont Cragin:4
Irving Park:1
Albany Park:3
PORTAGE PARK:1
Dunning:0
Jefferson Park:1
Humboldt Park:17
Thats all folks for now!
When I have all of my info for the last 20 years I will post. It might take awhile.
source of the above figures:Chicago Police Department 2007
Raw figures are pointless. It's per capita rates that are most illustrative. So with that in mind, let's re-examine your figures based on the most current per-neighborhood census data (2000):
Total Violent Crimes (pretending, for the moment, that a category as broad as "total violent crimes" that lumps everything from mutual fistfights to goonings to shootings/stabbings/murder together in the same category is particularly meaningful):
Being able to compare to city-wide, region-wide and nationwide rates for these figures would supply additional context, but I'm too lazy right now to dig that up. Off the top of my head, I can confidently say that Portage Park is still pretty well below the national average in robbery, sexual assault (even with Chicago's broadened definition of sexual assault) and way below the national average in homicide.
Raw figures are pointless. It's per capita rates that are most illustrative. So with that in mind, let's re-examine your figures based on the most current per-neighborhood census data (2000):
Total Violent Crimes (pretending, for the moment, that a category as broad as "total violent crimes" that lumps everything from mutual fistfights to goonings to shootings/stabbings/murder together in the same category is particularly meaningful):
Being able to compare to city-wide, region-wide and nationwide rates for these figures would supply additional context, but I'm too lazy right now to dig that up. Off the top of my head, I can confidently say that Portage Park is still pretty well below the national average in robbery, sexual assault (even with Chicago's broadened definition of sexual assault) and way below the national average in homicide.
I never said that Portage Park was above the national average and not safe. All I said was there is way more crime there than there was 10-15 years ago.Back then,its crime was comparable to Jefferson Park or Dunning. Albany Park and Irving Park crime has actually decreased in the last 10-15 years. Belmont Cragin has skyrocketed. (Keep in mind Belmont Cragin borders Portage Park) It is only a matter of time when Portage Park becomes comparable to Belmont Cragin. When I have that data I will post it.
I am not attempting to post slander on Portage Park. In fact, a hug amount of my childhood was spent there.All I am saying is far from as safe as the early 90's. This has nothing to do with race,ethnicity,or culture. It is just the truth.
Raw figures are pointless. It's per capita rates that are most illustrative. So with that in mind, let's re-examine your figures based on the most current per-neighborhood census data (2000):
Total Violent Crimes (pretending, for the moment, that a category as broad as "total violent crimes" that lumps everything from mutual fistfights to goonings to shootings/stabbings/murder together in the same category is particularly meaningful):
Being able to compare to city-wide, region-wide and nationwide rates for these figures would supply additional context, but I'm too lazy right now to dig that up. Off the top of my head, I can confidently say that Portage Park is still pretty well below the national average in robbery, sexual assault (even with Chicago's broadened definition of sexual assault) and way below the national average in homicide.
I don't think anyone will confuse any neighborhood with Disneyland, north or south. The ultimate key to safety in Chicago is density AND number of folks out and about. The reason DT and environs is so safe relative to most residential city neighborhoods is that there are always people milling about. You can say the same about most of the lake front neighborhoods. As you reach the less dense residential neighborhoods in the city, crime shoots up for this very reason. People are not milling about, besides gangbangers, and the areas are less dense. As I mentioned, a very large percentage of residents in these "good" areas are ex-suburbanites, who will move back when they have kids of school age and/or get hitched. A good chunk of the rest are newer arrivals from all over the US, but mostly the midwest. Any look at the bars that cater to all the midwest colleges on saturday game days would be a telling indication of that. Take away the suburbanites and out-of-area midwesterners from the mix, and you would be left with very little. The area of the city they are interested in comprises about 1/6 of the city. That leaves 84% of the city essentially off-the-grid for these people. Much of that 84% is on the north side as well. Now, this is a tough thing to prove or disprove by stats. We could go on and on here with more. I could be totally off. However, the fact is, relocaters are interested and familiar with a very small area of the city, all on a thin slice of the city on the lakefront. This has always reminded me of those facades of cities on movie sets, with nothing behind them but wooden supports. The vast majority of Chicago is minority and/or working class ethnic. Much of it is EXTREMELY dangerous, north AND south. Much of it is also racist, on all sides, possibly the most in the USA. The dynamic swath of the city is very narrow and limited, and polar opposite to what one sees in the vast interior. I think we are trying to say that the north side is safer than the south side here, but, actually, we should properly be speaking of the thin pale of lakefront neighborhoods from the loop to Evanston, as opposed to the far greater interior of the city. Finally, most people that are not lifelong city residents have a very dim idea of what the city as a whole is all about. Most never wander outside the narrow sliver they live in. And most never will...........
Last edited by socrates1234; 12-23-2007 at 02:46 PM..
check the police crime report in all the areas you want to move in then go there and see it night and day and remember most Chicago people are rude arrogant, impatient, and hardened by their fierce defensive nature that Chicago is the best place on earth. Some major brainwashing by local media and political allies of the Daley terrorist organization. There are no outside washrooms. No police on the beat walking and never a place to get free drink of water. Most neighborhoods are quiet due to everyone hiding in their homes waiting for the government to tell them what to do next. The only people that show kindness are other people who have as much money as you. The restaurants are expensive and the shopping is very expensive. unless you live with the poor. Then you have to worry about fighting crowds everyday. Traffic is congested mostly always unless you can shop during the week daytime. if you need city services you have to deal with a bureaucracy that surpasses Hitlers Gestapo. Oh yeah please do not park your car on the street you will be ticketed,towed,vandalized,hated by the other guy who parked there yesterday. plowed in by some chivalrous neighbor who loves his new snowblower. or blocked by numerous chairs in the middle of your building just because he shoveled it out. remember the filthy rich and the city and county and state workers run this town. occasionally the FBI does their job but mostly the city is still very corrupt and racial on both sides. And nobody will give you the time of day if you don't fit into their click.
check the police crime report in all the areas you want to move in then go there and see it night and day and remember most Chicago people are rude arrogant, impatient, and hardened by their fierce defensive nature that Chicago is the best place on earth. Some major brainwashing by local media and political allies of the Daley terrorist organization. There are no outside washrooms. No police on the beat walking and never a place to get free drink of water. Most neighborhoods are quiet due to everyone hiding in their homes waiting for the government to tell them what to do next. The only people that show kindness are other people who have as much money as you. The restaurants are expensive and the shopping is very expensive. unless you live with the poor. Then you have to worry about fighting crowds everyday. Traffic is congested mostly always unless you can shop during the week daytime. if you need city services you have to deal with a bureaucracy that surpasses Hitlers Gestapo. Oh yeah please do not park your car on the street you will be ticketed,towed,vandalized,hated by the other guy who parked there yesterday. plowed in by some chivalrous neighbor who loves his new snowblower. or blocked by numerous chairs in the middle of your building just because he shoveled it out. remember the filthy rich and the city and county and state workers run this town. occasionally the FBI does their job but mostly the city is still very corrupt and racial on both sides. And nobody will give you the time of day if you don't fit into their click.
There's no point trying to conduct a point-by-point refutation of this twaddle. It will suffice to say that I've never seen a finer example of writing from someone who purports to know so much about Chicago but reveals himself to know so little.
check the police crime report in all the areas you want to move in then go there and see it night and day and remember most Chicago people are rude arrogant, impatient, and hardened by their fierce defensive nature that Chicago is the best place on earth. Some major brainwashing by local media and political allies of the Daley terrorist organization. There are no outside washrooms. No police on the beat walking and never a place to get free drink of water. Most neighborhoods are quiet due to everyone hiding in their homes waiting for the government to tell them what to do next. The only people that show kindness are other people who have as much money as you. The restaurants are expensive and the shopping is very expensive. unless you live with the poor. Then you have to worry about fighting crowds everyday. Traffic is congested mostly always unless you can shop during the week daytime. if you need city services you have to deal with a bureaucracy that surpasses Hitlers Gestapo. Oh yeah please do not park your car on the street you will be ticketed,towed,vandalized,hated by the other guy who parked there yesterday. plowed in by some chivalrous neighbor who loves his new snowblower. or blocked by numerous chairs in the middle of your building just because he shoveled it out. remember the filthy rich and the city and county and state workers run this town. occasionally the FBI does their job but mostly the city is still very corrupt and racial on both sides. And nobody will give you the time of day if you don't fit into their click.
This reply is a little freaky, but I agree about the lack of public bathrooms DT. Outside of a few fast food places, good luck if you have to pee. Grant Park, outside of festivals, has one bathroom facility. Lincoln park has about three.....and then they arrest you if you do your business outside! Blame it on the homeless, who would use them for bathing facilities. In that case, I can dig the lack of them, as it is common to see a homeless person "bathing" in a public washroom DT. Yuuchhh! And this reply isn't that far off per Gestapo, with all the FBI-like survellience cameras,and the new police superintendant a former lifelong FBI agent......sometimes those freaky posts have lots of truth behind them...
check the police crime report in all the areas you want to move in then go there and see it night and day and remember most Chicago people are rude arrogant, impatient, and hardened by their fierce defensive nature that Chicago is the best place on earth. Some major brainwashing .....
This reply is a little freaky, but I agree about the lack of public bathrooms DT. Outside of a few fast food places, good luck if you have to pee. Grant Park, outside of festivals, has one bathroom facility. Lincoln park has about three.....and then they arrest you if you do your business outside! Blame it on the homeless, who would use them for bathing facilities. In that case, I can dig the lack of them, as it is common to see a homeless person "bathing" in a public washroom DT. Yuuchhh! And this reply isn't that far off per Gestapo, with all the FBI-like survellience cameras,and the new police superintendant a former lifelong FBI agent......sometimes those freaky posts have lots of truth behind them...
I was amazed by cleanliness and amount of public restrooms in Toronto. They are cleaner than the washrooms at city hall!
In Chicago ,when I need to go, I jog my brain to remember where the closest park district fieldhouse or library is. You can use them and usually they are decently clean.
Also, go to a bar(usually not too clean and usually not good if you gotta do the #2) but...
Department and large grocery stores. Target,Jewel,etc...
In the daytime you are in good shape. Early morning things get really difficult!
Nope not illegal. I agree i was a little extreme with this post. But i really wanted to shake up some dust. As always common sense and wisdom does rule but some people really need to get a wake up call as to what is really going on in the world. Most of the time the city can be safe but there is a lurking menacing force hidden behind the curtains that can really hurt your daily routine if you are not well prepared educated and gamefully employed. The city has no patience for quote (loosers). That is why all the CTA routes are being eliminated. Poor people just don't matter. If I was say a waitress working my way up the ladder and had no car, and worked anywhere near Cumberland ave. I will have to take a cab after Jan 20 because they are eliminating bus routes. Why????? because poor people can't b----.
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bad neighborhoods
