Is safe just a feeling? (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh: transplants, crime, house)

[ca2pitt]

Living all over the state of California the only time I have ever felt safe was as a small child. One year ago I set the wheels in motion for my family and I to move to Pittsburgh.Unfortunately finances halted the move temporarily, I read in a book once "safe is a feeling not a location". The first 30 min of news in California are Murders, drug activity,gang violence, the kind of garbage that has me very nervous when my kids go to school, a friends house or the park. Now for me to expect no crime at all in Pittsburgh would be unreasonable but it seems quite a bit safer for kids as well.Is the grass greener in this occasion, sound off Pittsburgh natives and California transplants

[ElijahAstin]

I haven't spent an extensive amount of time in California, but I can tell you that as someone who grew up in a wealthy, socioeconomically insulated Philadelphia suburb, I have seldom felt unsafe in Pittsburgh. The only time I felt slightly nervous was driving through Homewood at dusk. Pittsburgh is probably safer than most East Coast/Midwestern cities. You just have to be smart.

[gg]

I can't agree with the saying, "safe is a feeling not a location", but I don't know about that book. Certainly I feel very safe in my neighborhood, but if I was hanging out at Northview Heights on a Friday at about 2AM I wouldn't feel great about it, but that is just me. Some people I am sure think it is fine.

[Geeo]

I think that local news everywhere, which concentrates on crime, drugs, and "stranger danger," has a lot to do with it. They need to put that crap on to get a bigger audience for their advertisers. In reality, Pittsburgh is generally one of the safest larger cities in the country. It's certainly not Shangri-la, but it has a stable population, good neighborhoods, a pretty good economy, and a high quality of life.

[Uptown kid]

Pittsburgh is one of the safest Eastern big cities unless ur a living in a bad gang neiborghood... Gang crime is way more underground and less violent than most Californian cities... That said the bad parts: Homewood and the Hill District especially are truely bad... In Homewood there are 6 sets of cripz over 100 strong in total. There were 11fatal shootings last year all gang related or gang members killing what seems to be innocent people... so Homewood isnt safe... Safety is a fact in my opinion... Some places have gangs, while some parts have white supermist. If all of da Burgh is so safe then you party in Northview Heights at 2:00 saterday mourning! Or party in a random place in Butler County if your non-aryan! thats just how it is anywhere in America and we all know it...

[MeinGlanzendMotorrad]

Always carry, always safe

[Faer]

As a fairly recent CA transplant myself (mostly familiar with the south LA country/north OC areas), one thing that takes a while to get used to in Pgh is that "rundown" does not mean "unsafe". As a west-coaster, beat-up almost always meant ghetto, mostly because things are a lot newer in CA. This is not really case out here. For example, most neighborhoods are alot older construction than the project housing apts around, and can look more "rundown", but they are also safer. That being said, most of urban Pgh is safer than most of urban CA, and on the surface gruffer looking, but safer.

I actually find myself reminding people I know to lock their doors, because they are so lax about it.

The best advice I can give is just make yourself familiar with the neighborhoods around the city, where to go and not go, and you shouldn't have concerns.

[bradjl2009]

Unless you're looking for trouble in Homewood, the Hill, Northview Heights, and maybe a few other select areas, Pittsburgh is a very safe city to live in.

[Aqua Teen Carl]

Originally Posted by bradjl2009

Unless you're looking for trouble in Homewood, the Hill, Northview Heights, and maybe a few other select areas, Pittsburgh is a very safe city to live in.

I've never believed the whole "unless you're looking for trouble you'll be fine" line. There are those who will bring trouble to you in every city in America and elsewhere. The economy sucks, people are poor and desperate, and you can be victims of crime even in a "safer" city like Pittsburgh. My family and I have learned that the hard way this past decade.

[ca2pitt]

Not many places in California are safe to walk at night, I read quite a few posts of people in Pittsburgh walking at night. I won't walk to the mailbox at night and I live in a nicer neighborhood.