Folks will always notice the presence of something before they notice it's absence. This is not exclusive to Hoboken. I lived in New York City at a time when murder and violent crime were rampant on the streets and in the subway, a time when many folks left for the suburbs, a time which gave birth to Curtis Sliwa's vigilante Guardian Angels.
We needed angels to keep us safe back then.
What turned it around? Many things- but most of all it was changes made to the New York Police Department under the leadership of smart, thinking out-of-the-box commissioners like Bill Bratton- with back-up from the NYC mayor. Nowadays, who even thinks about getting robbed at gunpoint in Manhattan? Sure, there is crime but it is in 'normal' ranges for a city of its size and population density.
The Mile Square has followed a similar trajectory.
While the Bronx burned, so did Hoboken. It must be noted that Hoboken's economic boom and resulting gentrification came at a huge cost in human life. Dozens of Hoboken residents were killed and hundreds displaced by an epidemic of suspicious fires in the 70's-- this tragic history brilliantly documented in Nora Jacobson's film, Delivered Vacant.
As for crime, I didn't find Hoboken stats for the 70's through the 90's. But according to Hoboken's 2004 Master Plan: "the Hoboken crime rate in 2001 was 42 crimes per 1,000 residents... Most crime in Hoboken is classified as larceny/theft, followed by burglary and motor vehicle theft."
As for crime, I didn't find Hoboken stats for the 70's through the 90's. But according to Hoboken's 2004 Master Plan: "the Hoboken crime rate in 2001 was 42 crimes per 1,000 residents... Most crime in Hoboken is classified as larceny/theft, followed by burglary and motor vehicle theft."
2001: 42 crimes per 1,000 residents.
What is it now? Are you sitting down...
2019: 8.6 crimes per 1,000 residents.
Holy shit is right. Hoboken residents are 5 times less likely to be a crime victim today than they were in 2001.... and almost half as likely to be a crime victim today as they were last year.
And who do Hoboken residents have to thank for our ever-increasing public safety and the drop in Hoboken crime?
The men and women of the Hoboken Police Department under the leadership of Chief Kenneth Ferrante, that's who.
After the Chief tweeted about Hoboken's crime drop, GA requested comprehensive stats with breakdown by category. I also asked him, "How'd you do it?"
"There are so many men and women of the Hoboken Police Department that have contributed to these outstanding numbers, " HPD Chief Ferrante said, "From our uniformed patrol officers, to our investigators, to our training staff, to our civilian dispatchers and staff, this is a team effort. We continue to always assess how we deploy officers on patrol while also expanding our community outreach and expand technological advancement in cost efficient ways. I thank all 160 members of our department, especially my command staff, and I am proud of the excellent work that is being done daily!"
"There are so many men and women of the Hoboken Police Department that have contributed to these outstanding numbers, " HPD Chief Ferrante said, "From our uniformed patrol officers, to our investigators, to our training staff, to our civilian dispatchers and staff, this is a team effort. We continue to always assess how we deploy officers on patrol while also expanding our community outreach and expand technological advancement in cost efficient ways. I thank all 160 members of our department, especially my command staff, and I am proud of the excellent work that is being done daily!"
HOBOKEN CRIME COMPARISON:
JULY 2018 - JULY 2019
Hoboken residents don't notice the absence of real crime in Hoboken, but the presence of e-scooters in the street or on the sidewalk. And for that we have our HPD to thank.
In a city where every drop of rain can turn into a political argument, you have to admire the way the chief goes about his business while all the crazy swirls around. Where I work we talk about people with high JFDI scores. It's people who just shut up and do what needs to be done because it needs to be done. JFDI stands for Just Do It. I think the F stands for Frankly or something like that....
ReplyDeleteExcellent JFDI scores, HPD. Stats don't lie.