Is My Neighborhood Safe? 12.26.2007 | 1 Comment(s)

Well, based on the Suburban Journal's recent article about that very topic, I'm not sure.

Basically the journal lists the top 5 neighborhoods for crime and the lowest 5, but everybody in between is left out without any analysis. The focus of the article seems to be on violent crime in the Gravois Park neighborhood, so I found the Journal's headline a bit misleading since my neighborhood wasn't even mentioned.

Anyway, at the end of the article the Journal gives a phone number and various links to websites where you can get more information on crime stats, but, just like with the local TV stations, I have a problem with news media providing links to websites and thinking that is giving complete, thorough coverage to a story. If you're going to do a story like this which is naturally going to pique reader's interest, devote enough pages to the story to do it right.

With a headline like

Is your neighborhood safe?
Journal analysis breaks down violent crime in South Side neighborhoods

I expected a neighborhood by neighborhood breakdown of crime, maybe a map highlighting trends & hotspots and what city officials are doing to get the crime rate down. Instead we get alderman in high crime areas stating "So many parts of Gravois Park are doing exceedingly well and some parts are plagued by problems," Alderman Craig Schmid, D-20th Ward said.

All in all it's an OK article, and I appreciate that the South Side Journal is giving us local coverage that other media outlets refuse to give, but I found the article incomplete and rushed.

By  Scott Miller, at 1:58 PM

Just found your blog -- it's terrific! I run New Line Theatre, which has just moved into the new Ivory Theatre in Carondelet -- how can we send you info about our upcoming events? Do you have an email we could send to? Please email me at newchaz64@aol.com or visit us at www.newlinetheatre.com