The danger in New York City of subway cuts and transit fare hikes looms. Keeping the transit system in decent shape affects more than your commute to work. It’s a public safety issue. The proposed MTA “doomsday” service cuts puts the past 15 years of public-safety gains in jeopardy. Many factors contributing to New York City’s crime drop, but a…
Tag: broken windows
Cameras and Crime
Here’s an article in the New York Timesabout the (weak) link between security cameras and crime prevention.
Broken Windows Works
Researchers, working with police, identified 34 crime hot spots. In half of them, authorities set to work – clearing trash from the sidewalks, fixing street lights, and sending loiterers scurrying. Abandoned buildings were secured, businesses forced to meet code, and more arrests made for misdemeanors. Mental health services and homeless aid referrals expanded. In the remaining hot spots, normal policing…
Broken Windows in the Economist
I got issues with this piecefrom the normally stellar Economist.I just happened to have lunch yesterday with George Kelling. He has issues, too. For one thing, Broken Windows is not Zero Tolerance.
Shot cops and turnstile jumping
There’s more about that here. Also interesting (if it weren’t, would I post it?). “Officers Seeking Fare Evaders Often Find Worse Crimes.” And here’s a first hand account of the shooting from the L.T.
Bright light! Bright light!
Bright lights don’t reduce crime. Goodlighting might. Too often people reflexively think that the brighter the street light, the safer the streets. I don’t buy it. Lighting sets the tone. Street lighting is no different. If you light the streets well at night (not just bright, but well), people will go out and, without even knowing it, help keep things…
Fixing Broken Windows in Chicago
Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weiss says he plans more foot and bike patrol and an emphasis on “broken windows” policing. This is great news for Chicago… if it actually happens. It’s tough to get cops out of cars. But Weiss is certainly saying the right things. This is reported in the Sun Times. The point of getting tough on the…