Crime in downtown Savannah: Beverly Willett's guest column in Savannah Morning News

[macalan]

Palmetto bugs and Pillsbury Dough rolls won't kill you - a violent robbery can.


I hesitate to see how witnessing a very real violent robbery in her neighborhood is "opinion" or "feelings" it is fact.


Yes, the fact is some people are less afraid of risk (being robbed/killed) while others would prefer to hedge their bets (not live in a high crime area or take extra precautions). There are also people who keep their head in the sand and don't believe crime happens around them - that it is contained in the "bad" areas, and happens only between the "bad guys". Or they don't want to acknowledge it because they are afraid it will affect their property values, or diminish tourism.


We visited Savannah many years ago and found it lovely. We stayed in the middle of the historic district and arrived at dusk our first night. We were walking from our B&B on a beautiful street when we were stopped by a local woman in a car who told us it was "not safe" to walk at this time of night, and to go back, and stay away from the bushes because of robberies. The next day we bought a local paper and the front page story was of a 45 year old wife and mother shot in the head in a local grocery store parking lot in the middle of the day the prior day - a random robbery.


This wouldn't bother some people who live amongst crime - we didn't, and it did. Whatever the "facts" I think it's only fair to be honest about the crime situation, especially for people considering moving there. And let people make their own decision whether the level of crime is acceptable to them, without calling them "wimpy" or criticizing them.

[gentlearts]

I get what you are saying, macalan, but to me Savannah is no less safe than anywhere else. Bad things happen everywhere, when people are in the wrong place at the right time. To live in fear is to give in. When good people stay behind closed doors, the bad guys win.

[CoastalGAGuy]

Parts of Savannah are definitely less safe than others, and those same parts are certainly more dangerous than other parts of other cities. The truth is though, that violent crime in Savannah is on an upswing over the past year. Proposals in which to deal with the problem are a little bit long on lip service (read: campaign promises), and a whole lot short on action.

[macalan]

Gentlearts - I've heard that a lot - "crime happens everywhere", but in reality it doesn't. There are cities - we lived in one - where "crime" is teenagers drinking and acting up. Our city was small, but our city was not the only place like this. No, violent crime does NOT happen everywhere, and people who say that either have never lived anywhere where this is not violent crime, or are trying to make themselves feel better by saying "it's everywhere".


For people who have never lived amongst violent crime - in their own neighborhood - it's very unsettling. Nothing wrong with being careful, or even not wanting to live there because of it. Maybe if people didn't just put up with it and started moving away, or no longer visited, it would hit where it hurts and there'd be more of an effort to control the crime.

[SavannahLife]

Originally Posted by gentlearts

I get what you are saying, macalan, but to me Savannah is no less safe than anywhere else. Bad things happen everywhere, when people are in the wrong place at the right time. To live in fear is to give in. When good people stay behind closed doors, the bad guys win.

Savannah is FAR more dangerous than most other cities its size in the US. Our stats are way high per capita. And just wait until the Metro Police Dept is split off the County. I mean that would be like saying you like St. Louis or Detroit, because nothing happened to you. Yet. But, this can easily be fixed, and it must be fixed. Half a BILLION dollars for an arena, art center, a CAT streetcar, and ripping out an interstate ramp? ALL of which almost no one wants, except the fatcat donors and their local companies. Mind boggling. Or... more police, more teachers, more job training, more programs for youth? I think half a BILLION could go a long way. City Manager, Mayor, and Council, need to go. Get your friends in the city to vote TOMORROW.

And KNOW where to vote!! Go to the right polling place! (I think the city has a website somewhere)

[SavannahLife]

Originally Posted by gentlearts

After the election, maybe we should all start a new country on Hutchinson Island.

Like one of those tiny island nation-states with observer status at the UN right? We can fund it with a US 17 toll, and grow bananas on north side of the island.

[gentlearts]

Originally Posted by SavannahLife

Like one of those tiny island nation-states with observer status at the UN right? We can fund it with a US 17 toll, and grow bananas on north side of the island.

I like the way you think.

[SavannahLife]

Ah yes gentle, we'll have a highly successful tropical paradise with our banana exports. It will be our own banana republic!

Now for your Public Service Announcement of the Day: Know where to Vote!
http://elections.chathamcounty.org/Elections
savannahnow.com/elections

[gentlearts]

Originally Posted by SavannahLife

Like one of those tiny island nation-states with observer status at the UN right? We can fund it with a US 17 toll, and grow bananas on north side of the island.

FYI, I've applied for a franchise from The Baby Doc College of Offshore Medicine. Taking applications.