San Antonio's Dark Side (Houston, Dallas: mall, safe, train)

[supfromthesite]

Originally Posted by malcorub16

^^ Gang culture isn't as prevalent in Hispanic cities as it was in the 80's and 90's. When I was a kid in the 80's and 90's there were lots of my peers getting sucked into that non sense. Even LA is much safer today than it was in the 90's.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o..._by_crime_rate

As far as Texas cities over 250K in population go, I am surprised to see that Laredo and El Paso are far safer than San Antonio and even safer than most other US cities, not surprised to see Plano and Austin at the top.

Why commit crime in Laredo or El Paso when you can drive across the border in 10 minutes and do literally whatever you want?

[supfromthesite]

Originally Posted by Galvatron99

Well how about both of you leave then? Problem solved.

How about we lock up the criminals and keep them locked up? Why should law abiding people have to leave?

[Slowpoke_TX]

Originally Posted by TexasBard79

San Antonio has NEVER been reliable when it comes to drug enforcement, or human trafficking, or bullying.

That's to be expected from a city that elected a convicted drug dealer to be the DA.

[Grandmax4]

I grew up on the southside and lived there most of my life, left for 10 years and recently returned. I now live in the heart of the Westside...the REAL Westside, not that watered down Westside. Yes, there is crime, but every city has it. The people who live in the thick of it don't always have a choice of where they live, but try to make a difference in their neighborhoods. They report criminal activity and do what they can to protect themselves and their property. Personally, I prefer living where I do. It's gritty, it's real and shows the determination of residents who to try to make things better. If you're afraid of walking around in my neighborhood, then the problem is yours. Crime here isn't as rampant as you may think. We don't have shootouts in the middle of the street at all hours. Things aren't perfect, but it's not as bad as you're making it out to be.

[River City Rocky]

Originally Posted by Grandmax4

I grew up on the southside and lived there most of my life, left for 10 years and recently returned. I now live in the heart of the Westside...the REAL Westside, not that watered down Westside. Yes, there is crime, but every city has it. The people who live in the thick of it don't always have a choice of where they live, but try to make a difference in their neighborhoods. They report criminal activity and do what they can to protect themselves and their property. Personally, I prefer living where I do. It's gritty, it's real and shows the determination of residents who to try to make things better. If you're afraid of walking around in my neighborhood, then the problem is yours. Crime here isn't as rampant as you may think. We don't have shootouts in the middle of the street at all hours. Things aren't perfect, but it's not as bad as you're making it out to be.

Where does the real Westside start and at what location does it turn into the watered down Westside?

This is a legitimate question because I have some co-workers from the Northside that consider Ingram Park Mall the Westside but to me of course it isn't.

[prim8]

Originally Posted by Grandmax4

Crime here isn't as rampant as you may think. We don't have shootouts in the middle of the street at all hours.

Well that is pretty specific.
I'd prefer no shootings at all, but I guess at least they're not occurring all the time there.

[TexasBard79]

I saw street shootouts growing up arount I10 and West Avenue. Drive-bys every few months when a little gang known as "The Olmos Boys" who went to Whittier Middle School were living the life. They were actually a branch of the Latin Kings that spun off after the Kings went bust in the late 80's. Finally they had had enough and the Krypts paid them a visit. They parked in front of and next to the house, and they shot it up. The kids went into the back yard for cover and were mowed down. Do I feel sad for them? Nope. They were my age, doing dope in school and one or two of them got into fist-fights with me. Their deaths were a relief.

Most gangs start out of a community feeling of "We need to protect ourselves." - But would they have to do that if they weren't dealing in drugs? It's one thing to get into a neighborhood watch and talk to the Police. It's another thing when the gang culture circles up it's own wagons because they KNOW The Police won't support their illegal activities...

... unless their de-stigmatized. And then what? The blue line turns grey when the Police dealing with this stuff have thoughts like "My cousin does drugs... what if that was him..." or other bull like "If you hadn't reported this, we wouldn't be in trouble!" and then what? Before you know it Gangs aren't getting busted and there are less shootouts. Crime statistics depend upon enforcement. Maybe if you want your city to look safer, just pretend nothing is happening.

[Lee W.]

Originally Posted by supfromthesite

Why commit crime in Laredo or El Paso when you can drive across the border in 10 minutes and do literally whatever you want?

And how many times have you tried that? Personally, I'd tread lightly in Mexico or better not go. You pull something in a gang's territory and you might find out where they toss the bodies before they kill you. Then there's the local cops...you never know.

[TexasBard79]

Lee W. has it right.

In Mexico, a corrupt judge or Cop will put you in jail and hold you for months with minimum food or water until someone ransoms you, or the extradition goes through from the Consulates office.

Funny thing: The Mexican Consulates Office in San Antonio, Texas is within 3 blocks of both the Federal, and local court houses. It's not unheard of for Mexican nationals to flea the courthouses and either hook up into the Embassy, or reach the Greyhound, Americanos, or Express bus stops, the Amtrack station, freight railroad lines, or any other transportation other than Airliner which are easily reachable on foot by blending into the crowd and leave a few times a day, diverting through the Riverwalk, going through the mall, taking the small transit trollies, and such. There are 100 ways to avoid the Federal and local cops...

In other words, crime can be easier in America than Mexico. That's why they come here.

[TexasBard79]

Another thing...

Drug users and dealers know everything the Psychiatrists do, and the two tend to be mutually sympathetic. It's terrifying what they can do.