Why does Athens get a pass when it comes to crime and poverty compared to other GA cities when stats are similar?

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by cwkimbro

But are you trying to say the perception of Athens overall it better than that of Savannah, Charleston, Columbus, Augusta, etc.... ?

I see them as historic and/or more economical successful cities functioning in their own right.

Athens really grew up round the college, less that of a metropolitan on its way to a half million or more

Savannah and Charleston, not quite. Columbus and Augusta, yes.

College towns, especially those that are home to a major college/university, tend to be pretty beloved.

[AUGnative]

Athens also has a real vibrant downtown... probably one of the best in Georgia outside of Savannah's.
Columbus and Augusta may have larger metro areas, but I would take downtown Athens over the downtowns of Augusta and Columbus anyday. Also Athens seems to have a lot more cultural offerings than larger metros like Augusta and Columbus. The quantity of people in a metro area does not always equal to quality. I would take a quality smaller metro with a vibrant downtown and lots of culture over a larger blander metro with a half dead downtown

[masonbauknight]

When I was at UGA, downtown Athens had nowhere near the amenities it does now. It shut down at 6 PM except for eating places like the Sizzler or the Spaghetti House. Yet it was still the safest city downtown in the state, a secure space literally at the door of North Campus. You could walk around and feel safer than I do in downtown Savannah then or now. Athens' crime areas (and crime incidents) were always fairly far away in East Athens. Today, downtown is hopping with all sorts of cool things (I'm kind of envious), and it still feels safe. As AUGnat says, Athens is probably the best GA downtown after Savannah's.

[Charles Ian Drake]

I agree about the lack of TV Station as well as the lack of online resources as to why crime in Athens is seldom discussed along the lines of other high crime areas. 'Online Athens' requires a paid subscription. Flagpole is great for what it is, and what it isn't is something which reports daily on crime. Red and Black has grammar so bad at times to render it incoherent.

There are areas where crime is committed every day and yet nobody has thought to install cameras around them and have them monitored. At times, they'll have a police officer stand or sit on a bench near certain commercial areas.

The crime in the area is on the increase and until people in power figure out how as it spreads it decimated their property value nothing will change.

[AnsleyPark]

Originally Posted by Mutiny77

'Cause UGA.

Yup. Go Dawgs!