Crime - best and worst areas of Litte Rock

[850_branded]

Originally Posted by Mike Town

Just look at who and what is walking on the streets, Lives in the area who is in the local stores. That will tell you something about the crime rate and places to stay away from.

While this does have some merit to it, to completely go by that wholesale would be incredibly shortsighted.

Example: observe the area around, say, Battery and 14th (!). On one side you got Children's, Centennial Park, and on the other, Summit St and Schiller. Now I've walked through that neighborhood MANY times, during the day and at night. Hear most tell it about the Central High neighborhood, it's "stay away" territory. Yet I see both younger and elderly white people out walking their dogs, walking in general, jogging, nice cars, a couple REALLY nice houses, and at the same time black people who most would label "ghetto" (for better or for worse) living right next to them. (And for the record I've seen it the other way around, as well.)

One cannot always believe the "eye test" wholesale. Certainly one should use good judgement, but to cast off am entire section based on the looks (& words) of a few is, at least to me, quite shortsighted.

(Now obviously different people have different circumstances/situations, so if one has the means to live in an area re one need not worry about even the thought of experiencing crime, hey, go for it. Can't fault anyone who aims to better his/her position. But not everyone has those resources, so...)

Anyway, off my soapbox. :-D