This column, from the weekly opinion piece MATTER OF FACT, first appeared in the Home Reporter and Spectator dated September 26, 2019
In 1990, New York City recorded 2,245 murders, the apex of a decades’ long, upward trend. That was about eight times the 289 seen last year, which was the least in seven decades. By every objective measure, crime is the lowest it’s been in our lifetimes.
And yet, some continually tell us we are living in a crime-ridden community and no one feels safe on our streets after 11 PM. They say that when people feel unsafe, the community is unsafe, regardless of what any stats show.
“Maybe one of the reasons many people feel unsafe, despite the facts, is because certain leaders, nationally and locally, frequently tell them they’re unsafe, despite the facts.”
In a 2016 CNN interview from the Republican National Convention, Newt Gingrich countered the fact that violent crime across the country is down, saying, “The average American… does not think crime is down, does not think they are safer.” He added that the FBI figures showing the contrary mean “liberals have a whole set of statistics that may be theoretically right… but what I said is equally true: people feel more threatened.”
We shouldn’t ignore how people feel, but feelings don’t trump reality. Maybe one of the reasons many people feel unsafe, despite the facts, is because certain leaders, nationally and locally, frequently tell them they’re unsafe, despite the facts.
As per NYPD statistics through September 15, Southern Brooklyn crime is still trending downward. In the 62nd and 68th precincts covering City Council District 43, violent crimes of murder and rape are down 50 percent and 20 percent respectively, compared to last year.
If we expand to include the 61st and 63rd, which are the others in the four precincts covering State Senate District 22, we’ve seen a reduction in robberies of 33 percent and a 51 percent drop in burglaries compared to just 9 years ago.
Reciting statistics gets tedious and as you get very specific, you can find some slight upticks from last year in a particular Southern Brooklyn precinct for a particular offense, but the overall trends are still downward.
Granted, the 71 people burglarized in the 68th precinct in 2019 don’t care much that 26 years ago the number of burglaries was astronomical in comparison, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t all 90% less likely to be the victim of a burglary today, because we are.
Ordinary citizens and the NYPD have all played roles in making our neighborhoods as safe as they have ever been. To tell people that the facts on crime are insignificant and they need to be afraid, is an insult to everyone who has worked to create the safe communities we call home. It’s an affront to the local police who last week apprehended someone wanted for an attempted rape in Bay Ridge and arrested two suspects for a string of 15 burglaries across Southern Brooklyn.
There are crimes, like handle-surfing and deliveries stolen from stoops that are more prevalent today and need to be addressed. Those who want you to feel like crime is surging tell you about them every chance they get, eagerly harping on each anecdotal instance. Now that their preferred candidate is no longer in office, they appear to be rooting against the neighborhood as they look forward to telling us how bad it’s become, again, despite the facts.
Scoffing at inconvenient facts has become epidemic. Last Friday, students from around the world led a global climate strike, but many in positions to do something about the most existential threat we face, still deny the settled science on climate change.
Sixteen-year-old environmental activist Greta Thunberg participated in the event here in New York City, in between testifying before Congress and addressing the United Nations. After she expressed at the U.N. how angry she was over the current state of inaction, President Trump mockingly referred to her as “a very happy young girl.” On Fox News, Thunberg, who is on the autism spectrum, was referred to as “mentally ill” by one guest and host Laura Ingraham compared her to Stephen King’s Children Of The Corn.
Facts are facts. Feelings and insults cannot change them. We can’t fix our problems if some are unwilling to accept the realities surrounding them.
