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Question for people saying Boston is safer? It is not, but people feel that it is.
How does this affect how you live in NYC vs. how you do things in Boston? I mean- on the ground, really. I've never been in NYC and felt like I was in danger. Do you all feel in Danger in NYC? Is it just a lot easier to avoid danger in Boston? Do you think Crime is just massively underreported in NYC? Are you spending your time in Cambridge more as opposed to Boston? A combination of all of these? I think in OPs case this might be nice to know.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cpomp
The comments about Boston being "safer" are a bit overblown. Yes on paper the stats are better for Boston. But by and large New York is a very safe city. I don't think safety will impact the QOL for the OP in either city.
Agree with your last point. The real question is if the OP wants the NYC experience or not.
I was under the impression that the stats weren't even better Boston and BBMM's sources seem to indicate that (Boston's worse). It's mostly just perception. I'm not sure if it's actual "feel" on the ground for some, old reputations not dying, or the seemingly renewed interest and hyper fixation on crime by a number of media outlets. Personally, I don't think Boston feels any more or less safe than NYC. It wouldn't be a factor for me in choosing either place.
As of 12/11, NYC has 11x the homicides of Boston with about 13x the population.
Yea I'm aware... and thats with Boston underreporting. And this is Boston as safe as its ever been. Let alone the other crime categories..
It's not safer.. growing up there in the inner city in Boston i was never like 'boy- im safe'. lol. NO people around me were going to jail, breaking and entering, I was getting m house broken into, bikes stoles getting mugged, all of that. I understand my experience isnt the experience of most people in Boston but yea.. it was "real". People have been shot or stabbed virtually every day in the same 12 square mile area.
I understand for some NYC feels safer, Not arguing that. But saying its "safer" just isn't actually true. But folks are saying it like its science, maybe dont..?
I'm just want to know does that change their behavior or QOL? What would OP have to do in NYC that they wouldn't have to in Boston, for safety's sake? And how much does it depend on where they live?
I think we can all agree NYC has everything Boston besides maybe the Encore Boston Harbor level Casino.
I feel like last time I was in NYC, the homelessness seemed generally worse than in Boston. More people around and in worse condition (e.g. more out of it and with varying states of undress).
As of 12/11, NYC has 11x the homicides of Boston with about 13x the population.
They do still favor NYC. I think part of the reason for the perception though is just the sheer volume. I don't know that the average person hears a crime report on TV or on Facebook and automatically thinks, "well, what does that work out to on a per capita basis?" 300 murders sounds a lot worse than 32 (not actual numbers, but just an example) and some won't look beyond that. Crime is becoming more and more politicized and NYC is the U.S.'s flagship city. So it's under a microscope in a way that Boston just isn't. Some people also haven't shaken their 20-30 year old notions of NYC either.
I was under the impression that the stats weren't even better Boston and BBMM's sources seem to indicate that (Boston's worse). It's mostly just perception. I'm not sure if it's actual "feel" on the ground for some, old reputations not dying, or the seemingly renewed interest and hyper fixation on crime by a number of media outlets. Personally, I don't think Boston feels any more or less safe than NYC. It wouldn't be a factor for me in choosing either place.
Yes to the bolded.
But honestly back in the 2010-2020 decade I really did feel Boston- for where I am in Boston, felt noticeably more dangerous and underdeveloped than Boston. Many more vacant lots (this is a big one), darker quieter streets, and more police sirens but much less police presence, fewer places to socialize, more anti-social people, and more established gang territories. Just my POV... observations/memories, hearsay.
Now it feels like a wash. People are shot and stabbed in Downtown Boston (id say fairly often), like they were this weekend. Never would make any newsroom.
My brother lives in Harlem now. Never mentions crime. I told him I was staying at an AirBnB in the Bronx he was like yea theres good deals there I dont know why everyone hates on the Bronx..
this is where I was staying (with my gf and 3 year old child) we had a lovely time. I liked it so much I saw a number to call for rent and found that 2 bedrooms in the building i was looking at were going for $1850. I saw some graffiti, but the people weren't acting crazy or yelling or cussing, and we took the train the whole time. I dont get all the fear surrounding NYC.
I feel like last time I was in NYC, the homelessness seemed generally worse than in Boston. More people around and in worse condition (e.g. more out of it and with varying states of undress).
Where? Like I don't doubt this but I've never noticed the homeless in NYC. Maybe it's just because there are so many active bodies around. I couldn't tell you where they hang out. Whereas in Boston I know Copley-BPL, DTX, Mass and Cass.
If I had to guess in NYC I would guess Lower East Side, maybe somewhere in Queens or the Bronx under an El? I just didn't see them. Maybe they blend in with the regular crowd. No one in NYC has ever begged em for change but that happened within 10 minutes of me being in Lowell MA recently-and he wouldn't leave my car door.
Even in Bmore they come up to me at the drive-through at the McDonalds (like they do at Mass and Cass). Not in NYC.
Where? Like I don't doubt this but I've never noticed the homeless in NYC. Maybe it's just because there are so many active bodies around. I couldn't tell you where they hang out. Whereas in Boston I know Copley-BPL, DTX, Mass and Cass.
If I had to guess in NYC I would guess Lower East Side, maybe somewhere in Queens or the Bronx under an El? I just didn't see them. Maybe they blend in with the regular crowd. No one in NYC has ever begged em for change but that happened within 10 minutes of me being in Lowell MA recently-and he wouldn't leave my car door.
Even in Bmore they come up to me at the drive-through at the McDonalds (like they do at Mass and Cass). Not in NYC.
All over the place. It's because NYC is so big. You can find homelessness throughout the city in all areas. Try coming out of the Port Authority on any given day. It looks like shan-gri-la now compared to what it once was and it's still a hole with homeless and crackheads congregating. That whole part of the West side between Port Authority and Penn Station, while better, is still grimy. That's just one example.
I would personally say that something like Cambridge is uniquely Boston that New York doesn’t have. New York has some of the best schools in the world and it’s own education districts, but I wouldn’t say there’s a town or district that can resemble Cambridge.
I would personally say that something like Cambridge is uniquely Boston that New York doesn’t have. New York has some of the best schools in the world and it’s own education districts, but I wouldn’t say there’s a town or district that can resemble Cambridge.
NYU, Washington Square Park and the Village are no slouches in terms of being uniquely New York.
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