There have been many discussions over the past few years on the topic of high crime in our urban cities, particularly, Chicago, DC, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle, to name a few. These discussions became one of leading political issues for at least one political party during the recent 2022 midterm elections. The great city of Chicago was singled out as one of the most violent cities in America, with some politicians comparing crime rates there to some war-scarred cities around the globe. For many conservative pundits, New York City has always been a target, suggesting not enough enforcement authority, bail reform, early prison release and the need for longer prison sentences in general.
Perception vs Reality. The discussion of violent crime, and crime in general has become a national conversation and concern, especially in densely populated urban cities. We cannot negate the fact that there has been an uptick in serious crimes, particularly youth crime and gun violence based upon crime statistics. According to the New York City Police Department’s crime stats released in November 2022 there has been an increase in grand larceny, robbery and burglary, from 2021 to 2022. Although, not as serious as homicide or sexual assault/rape, property crimes tend to have a very personal, emotional and economic impact on our psyche and sense of security. The loss of personal safety at your home or business in instances of burglary, home invasion, or robbery can cause individuals to abandon once vibrant urban communities seeking refuge in more suburban/or predictable environments. The movement to the suburbs by middle-class households can have an immediate impact on the economic success of urban cities, particularly it’s business districts and the value of residential housing. As cities become less occupied quality of life conditions such as homelessness, sanitation and vandalism spike adding stress to an already over taxed and underserved municipal workforce.
The safety and security of our small businesses and residential properties are paramount to the revitalization and vibrancy of urban cities which were directly impacted by the COVID 19 pandemic. Prior to this health crisis, there have been other calls to action resulting from extreme weather events, civil disobedience, and terrorism. For the past 25 years the staff at Integrated Security Services has been at the forefront of providing our expertise in security & safety consulting and empowerment to manage both the reality and perception associated with these current crime trends. Our consulting divisions, composed of seasoned law enforcement professionals, and insurance risk managers possess the skills and knowledge to analyze and develop solutions that conform to your specific needs, budget, and operating culture. We provide a wide array of tools for owners/managers to assess risk and vulnerability. From deep dive security and safety assessments, to investigative penetration tests or crime analysis studies, there are many ways to proactively address your concerns, reduce fear and the risk of becoming the next crime statistic.
Although violent crime has been the centerpiece of many political debates, sharing the stage with equal concern and proportion is our city’s mental health crisis, homelessness and managing the influx in new immigrants, a more recent phenomenon. There is no arguing that the rise in all three of these conditions has increased significantly since the pandemic and added significant stress on an already depleted infrastructure. Cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and cities of the Pacific Northwest are struggling to manage this crisis in the most humane way possible with limited municipal budgets and resources. San Francisco and most recently, New York City have been forcing the homeless off the streets using mental health initiatives and laws to reduce the perception of an out-of-control homeless condition, particularly during the harsher winter months. That said, this is simply a shell game treating the symptom and not the cause with few homeless individuals provided with a long-term solution to their problems.
With no effective long-term solutions, many urban communities [cities within the city] have turned to Integrated Security Services to organize highly visible community patrols to manage these quality life conditions and restore a sense of tranquility back to their neighborhood. Utilizing seasoned security professionals from our law enforcement services division to patrol, observe, report, and move homeless encampments, or simply act as a highly visible deterrent has proved successful in improving quality of life conditions for business owners and residential properties. Patrols can be targeted to specific locations, days and hours where and when conditions are most prevalent, or community activity and traffic is at its highest.
The Media Influence
In a recent New York Times article What Comes Next for the Most Empty Downtown in America dated December 12, 2022, by Cornor Dougherty and Emman Goldberg, a photo taken of the San Francisco’s downtown business district depicts an area during the lunch hour as being void of what was once bustling activity. While we recognize there has been a significant work force reduction resulting from the pandemic and corporate layoffs, is one random photo taken of downtown San Francisco a true representation of what’s really going on in our urban cities three years later? Is the public being sold these misrepresentations by some media outlets which also function as purveyors of fear propaganda for a particular political party or marketing agenda? Are our urban communities being misled by cultural wars and conspiracy theorists?
According to an online article from The City Life Org (a news organization about City Life) NYC & Company, the official destination marketing organization for New York City announced that New York City’s economic recovery continued in 2022 with 56.4 million travelers arriving in the city by the end of the year, a whopping increase of 71 percent from 2021. This figure includes both domestic and international travelers. According to NYC & Company “this activity marks the return of 85 percent of the city’s record 2019 visitation levels” which was the last year prior to the pandemic. The tourism of 2022 has supported approximately over 400,000 jobs in the leisure and hospitality sectors. In stark contrast to the daily myopic crime reporting is the staggering number of visitors to NYC making our urban streets, mass transit system and tourist attractions, such as Central Park, the Hudson Yards and Times Square much safer. According to a Metropolitan Transportation Authority report as of September 2022 ridership – while not back yet to pre-covid numbers- has dramatically increased on both the New York City Subway system and commuter lines of the Long Island Railroad and Metro North, based on turnstile activity and purchases of commuter tickets.
Final Thoughts
This writer has been asked over the past couple of years the same question: “why are you still traveling into New York City to work?” My response is “why not”. New York City, as well as other major metropolitan areas are exciting and have much to offer, socially and economically. While crime stats are up for certain crimes and homelessness and affordable housing are not just a social condition for the underclass, interest in most major cities remains strong. Perception is in the eyes and experience of the beholder. The reality of a big city experience has always required the urban dweller to know the city they are visiting, living in and/or working in. Knowing how to avoid risky situations is not a phenomenon associated with large urban cities, and considering the high volume of legal vs. illegal activity occurring 24/7, you are more likely to be injured in a car accident than you are spending time in cities like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago or San Francisco.
Regardless, property owners and retail establishments need to be proactive and utilize the resources of security firms to ensure they stay ahead of the risks. The seasoned staff at Integrated Security Services have the knowledge and experience to address the real facts about your risks and vulnerability. Using seasoned security professionals we can conduct a risk profile of your residential/or commercial property, have experts examine your electronic security technology to ensure it is performing according to best standards and look at your emergency preparedness policies and procedures to make sure there are contingencies that can sustain your family and/or business. The staff at Integrated Security Services are available 24/7 and can be reached at our toll free number of 888-808-9119, or you can visit our website at www.intesecurity.com and request a free 30 minute consultation with one of our experts.
Footnotes:
Dougherty, C & Goldberg, E What Comes Next for the Most Empty Downtown in America, The New York Times, www.nytimes.com, 2022/12/17.
New York City Police Department, Crime Stats, November 2022, https://www.nyc.gov/site/nypd/news/p00066/nypd-citywide-crime-statistics-october-2022
