Detroit - Named Most Dangerous City in U.S.

**grumpyoldlady** · April-24-09, 06:19 PM

According to Forbes, Detroit is the most dangerous city in the country.

http://finance.yahoo.com/real-estate...ngerous-Cities

Retroit · April-24-09, 07:58 PM

Way to go criminals! Keeping Detroit at #1 after all these years! Quite an accomplishment.

Toolbox · April-24-09, 08:16 PM

Just keeping it real.

**thecarl** · April-24-09, 08:24 PM

we've all seen rankings like this before, and we all know how detroit fares.

**barnesfoto** · April-24-09, 08:42 PM

Buried in the article is this gem:

"I wish that those with the resources would view domestic terrorism like they do terrorism across the water. It used to be that we were keeping our head above water and treading quickly. Now we are drowning, and no one seems to really care. All they tell me to do is cut some more." -Kym Worthy.

That's the best quote I've heard about Detroit in a long time. Thank you, Kym Worthy

**thecarl** · April-24-09, 09:17 PM

people say, detroit suffers from crime because there are not enough police. well, then, the answer is simple: make every resident of detroit a police officer.

Bearinabox · April-24-09, 09:35 PM

Originally Posted by thecarl

people say, detroit suffers from crime because there are not enough police. well, then, the answer is simple: make every resident of detroit a police officer.

Does anyone really think that's why Detroit suffers from crime?

**Eastburn** · April-24-09, 09:36 PM

What would the numbers look like if Livonia & Dearborn were not included in the total?

**Novine** · April-24-09, 10:06 PM

With a MSA of 1.9 million, it's more than just Dearborn and Livonia that have been tallied together with Detroit.

MIRepublic · April-24-09, 10:12 PM

The report first says "city" but includes the metro, but only a division of the Metro [[i.e. Detroit-Livonia-Dearborn MSA division), and that division is simply Wayne County. This is actually a bit strange/odd, because for no other metro did they simply cut off the rest of the metro and simply use the central county, I don't think.

Also, to note, the FBI Uniform Crime Report they use is only for the first half of the year [[Jan. to June) unless they were able to obtain the full years report, as that has yet to be released.

Lastly, I wonder which violent crimes, in particular, rose, last year? Because, homicides [[both the number and the rate), particularly in Detroit, were down significantly from 2007 [[down %14). As usual, the report leaves quite a few questions, for me.

**noenaim** · April-24-09, 10:16 PM

I saw this story when I got up this morning I'm surprised it took so long for someone to start a forum on it
7:19 PM?
Anyway Detroit has been on such list for years ,and I'm more intrigued by the other cities on the list [[Miami, Las Vegas, Nashville,Orlando) many of those cites are popular tourist spots. Cities that have so much more going for them than Detroit. How can those cites have some the same problems but still have stuff we don't? Stuff like shopping, jobs, attractions, a real downtown I don't quite understand.

**Ocean2026** · April-25-09, 12:11 AM

Some of the crime those towns have is tourist inspired. Tourists are somewhat defenseless compared to locals. I could tell you all the reasons if you like>

**d.mcc** · April-25-09, 12:15 AM

Originally Posted by Ocean2026

Some of the crime those towns have is tourist inspired. Tourists are somewhat defenseless compared to locals. I could tell you all the reasons if you like>

Some of... I hear about more murders in Orlando than I did in Detroit...

**firstandten** · April-25-09, 12:18 AM

Originally Posted by noenaim

I saw this story when I got up this morning I'm surprised it took so long for someone to start a forum on it
7:19 PM?
Anyway Detroit has been on such list for years ,and I'm more intrigued by the other cities on the list [[Miami, Las Vegas, Nashville,Orlando) many of those cites are popular tourist spots. Cities that have so much more going for them than Detroit. How can those cites have some the same problems but still have stuff we don't? Stuff like shopping, jobs, attractions, a real downtown I don't quite understand.

I would think that with Miami and maybe Orlando it would be drugs. Las Vegas once you get past the strip it has some pretty seedy and dangerous areas. Don't really have any idea about Nashville.

**dtowncitylover** · April-25-09, 12:24 AM

"The news has been bad for decades, but there may yet be hope for Detroit. The city's new mayor, Kenneth V. Cockrel Jr., assumed office on Sept. 19, 2009--and hasn't committed a single felony."

Was anyone else really offended? As if the Mayor's of Detroit have been all felons. This is gets me steamed.

**firstandten** · April-25-09, 12:40 AM

Originally Posted by dtowncitylover

"The news has been bad for decades, but there may yet be hope for Detroit. The city's new mayor, Kenneth V. Cockrel Jr., assumed office on Sept. 19, 2009--and hasn't committed a single felony."

Was anyone else really offended? As if the Mayor's of Detroit have been all felons. This is gets me steamed.

agreed ! another throw away line by a writer trying to be clever.

**LeannaM** · April-25-09, 12:49 AM

I have noticed that sometimes a city is on the most dangerous list, and the city's metro is not on the most dangerous list. Unfortunately, Detroit is on top of both.

**Bobl** · April-25-09, 11:18 AM

Originally Posted by Ocean2026

Some of the crime those towns have is tourist inspired. Tourists are somewhat defenseless compared to locals. I could tell you all the reasons if you like>

A friend, who often keeps a "dummy" wallet conspicuously in his back pocket, had it swiped in a bump and run incident in Las Vegas a few years back. [[In fairness to Las Vegas casinos, he was in the seedier area, up past the strip.) Inside was a note that read: "F..k You, I'm from Detroit!"

**MickeyMac** · April-25-09, 11:48 AM

Ok I live in Kalamazoo and I am going up to Hammtrack for the Jim Shaw benefit tonight, so I got a couple of questions.

I dont have time but lets say I wanted to hang in Detroit first what areas should I avoid at all costs??

I hear the W. Grand Blvd. is also rough, but I figure since thats the street the Motown museum is on and its a big tourist spot, they would work to keep it safer. I hear thats a rough spot and was back in the 60's [[one of the reasons I hear why Motown moved to Hollywood), is all that true??

**Zug** · April-25-09, 11:48 AM

Originally Posted by MIRepublic

The report first says "city" but includes the metro, but only a division of the Metro [[i.e. Detroit-Livonia-Dearborn MSA division), and that division is simply Wayne County. This is actually a bit strange/odd, because for no other metro did they simply cut off the rest of the metro and simply use the central county, I don't think.

Also, to note, the FBI Uniform Crime Report they use is only for the first half of the year [[Jan. to June) unless they were able to obtain the full years report, as that has yet to be released.

Lastly, I wonder which violent crimes, in particular, rose, last year? Because, homicides [[both the number and the rate), particularly in Detroit, were down significantly from 2007 [[down %14). As usual, the report leaves quite a few questions, for me.

Wow...I was thinking the exact same things. If this is a measure of metro area crime, then Detroit's should at least have Oakland & Macomb counties included. I wonder if they did this in previous years? Unfortunately, most people will just see Detroit at the top and not think any further. It's not like Detroit representing an image of crime is anything new. But it does make me wonder why they would choose to only examine Wayne County. In a time when Detroit's getting bashed nationally, I'm sure a whole discussion about Detroit's ills makes for better material than talking about Memphis.

**Prodigal_Son** · April-25-09, 12:01 PM

Originally Posted by MickeyMac

Ok I live in Kalamazoo and I am going up to Hammtrack for the Jim Shaw benefit tonight, so I got a couple of questions.

I dont have time but lets say I wanted to hang in Detroit first what areas should I avoid at all costs??

I hear the W. Grand Blvd. is also rough, but I figure since thats the street the Motown museum is on and its a big tourist spot, they would work to keep it safer. I hear thats a rough spot and was back in the 60's [[one of the reasons I hear why Motown moved to Hollywood), is all that true??

The area right around the Hitsville museum is rather safe. Henry Ford Hospital is right across the street. As you move further down W. Grand to the west, it is a bit more sketchy.

As a general rule, downtown and the museum district are safe, provided you're not there in the middle of the night and you stay on well-lit streets.

Go to a Tigers game -- the ballpark is wonderful and opens up nicely to the rest of the city. Go to the Motown museum, stop by the River [[Hart Plaza or Belle Isle), visit the Traffic Jam restaurant, check out Campus Martius. Avoid the RenCen -- aside from making a mildly interesting shape on the skyline, it might be the worst thing that ever happened to Detroit.

------------------
Prodigal Son
Rise From Ashes- toward a new Detroit

**Moetown** · April-26-09, 02:41 AM

Drunk drivers and pick pockets are about the worst crime a tourist will see in las vegas, and maybe a rental car breakin if you leave things in plain sight. The drunks will get you 24 hours a day, and it does not matter if you are walking or driving

, PAY attention.

The only place I have ever felt unsafe was in new orleans walking around the french quarter at night

. This was in 2002 during the first week of mardi gras.

**Ladyinabag** · April-26-09, 03:06 AM

What about Los Angeles? If you go to LosAngelesTimes.com you will see that they have a whole section labeled "murder". L.A. has 5-20 murders on a week-end with all of those gangs. PLEASE!!!

**Mary Murphy** · April-26-09, 05:51 AM

Hi everybody,

I am a french woman. I understand not very well English. But I try to learn. I yet posted on the forum.
" French woman searches grandfather of Detroit". I would like to go to Detroit when I will speak and understand [[better) English.
Is really Detroit a dangerous city for the tourist?
Thank you very much for your answers.

More soon.
Mary

**gazhekwe** · April-26-09, 07:58 AM

Mary, most places you would go to visit and sightsee are safe enough. Detroit is a big city, but there are many places a tourist would never go, just because there is nothing special to see there. In a lot of those places, it might not be safe for a tourist. Think of Paris or Marseilles, it's the same idea. You can go all over in some places, in others places, you wouldn't go there. All the places that have been suggested to you on the other threads are fine.

To others posting, I notice Detroit is in good company, with Nashville, Miami, Orlando and Las Vegas. Some have attempted to make distinctions showing those cities are somehow better and more safe than Detroit. While it is true that Detroit maintains its place at the top of the list, these other places also have problems, yet tourists flock to them. It is the same concept as here, go where tourists go and don't stand out. Who feels 'unsafe' in South Beach? or Disney World? Or the Strip? Compare apples with apples and leave the oranges out of the mix.