tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745853352605490549.post9098141782210275874..comments2024-01-27T08:57:57.608-06:00Comments on Big Shoulders Atlas: A Chicago Neighborhoods Blog: Most Dangerous Neighborhoods in Chicago/AmericaLaura and Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16454065247071768193noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3745853352605490549.post-21735642128050476452011-11-10T14:06:38.104-06:002011-11-10T14:06:38.104-06:00I have worked at Leavitt & Fulton, right in &q...I have worked at Leavitt & Fulton, right in "America's Most Dangerous Neighborhood" since 2005. I had no idea it could possibly be described as such. On the one hand I suppose I should accept the statistics but on the other my experience there makes it hard to believe. <br /><br />North of Lake Street those blocks are almost entirely industrial facilities or office lofts. South, there is a recent and quite nice looking public housing development. There is consistently hardcore homeless squatting underneath the train bridges crossing over the north/south streets. But to my experience it's just men sleeping and storing their stuff. They do not even panhandle there, really. I, myself, have bicycled in that neighborhood and walked in and out from all directions repeatedly and often quite late at night and never really felt unsafe or threatened. <br /><br />The streets do not seem well-to-do but they do not resemble at all those pockets of Englewood with a lot of board ups and broken glass everywhere. I can not recall witnessing the sort of bizarre public behavior one sees in Uptown or hearing gunfire like I often did Rogers Park.<br /><br />At a guess, those stats, if at all meaningful, may reflect hobo on hobo crime or a perhaps there has been a turf war over narcotics dealing in the blocks south of Lake Street. If such events occur it must be well after midnight when I am safe home in bed. I certainly do not think of it as an area where one is more likely to be mugged or attacked.<br /><br /> If there is anything instructive to me in learning the statistical distinction given to that area it is that crime statistics must be an extremely poor predictor of what your experience will actually be in a given neighborhood.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com