The 70's is back

I am not talking about the bell bottom jeans and the bright graphic print shirts, and high collar. It is about the recent crime in the city.

The news media reported that there were noticeable increases in violence crimes in our subway and many Manhattan neighborhoods. The most recent one happened on Easter Sunday morning. With more than 50 arrested and numerous people injured.

Is it really violence crime on the rise, or is it because it happens in Manhattan makes it the more news worthy?

NYC is a big city, and all big cities have crimes. We cannot avoid it. What are we to do? Headlines made comparisons of the recent surge of crime to the bad old days of the 70’s.

I was not here in the 70’s therefore do not know first hand how bad it was. However I did remember Times Square was once not a very safe place to be on after dark. No one wander down to 9th Ave. Today it is a striving restaurant Ave, with business line both side of the streets, and the establishments are migrating to 10 Ave as well. Do you think it is really realistic to think that the Bad old days of the 70’s are back with some isolated accidents?

I suppose with so much unfortunate happenings in the recent weeks, safety certainly is in the core of everyone’s mind. We can place our blame of the subway incidents on the lack of subway manager, but when was the last time you saw anyone working in any subways stations pass late night? We do not have incident then, why now?

The flashback of gangs starts harassing passengers like the scene in the movies of the 70’s will not be recall if it is not because the news media screaming that crime is on the rise due to staff cut by the MTA, give me a break please. I believe their action alone influenced the copycat criminals doing just that.

As for the gang violence on Times Square on Monday Morning, according to many sources that is nothing new. It happened in the last couple of years on the same day in conjunction on the closing of the Auto show at Javits Center. Easter Sunday traditionally is also the Gang initiation day. The police should have warned the local business and beef up patrol, instead they drop the ball. So the blame game began again.

Therefore, is this an epidemic in the making? I live close to the area. I think the area is save, but I will not take any chance to walk alone on quite street at any night, anywhere in the world. Comparatively Manhattan is not dangerous at night. However ruining the reputation is just an easy flip.

Will more police presence, or more subway attendances help makes the city crime free? I simply do not know. But I do know that I have no interests in sensational journalism to sell paper or boost TV rating.

What is your thought on the subject?

Chance Encounter NYC