It’s late January and the usual “Homicides Are Up; run for your lives” or “Homicides Are Down: don’t be worried though, Springfield is still dangerous” article hasn’t yet appeared. The 5 year rolling average for murder is 15 and last year came in at 14 with the city being homicide free now for 3 months. It’s an increase of two over 2016.
I wonder if the storyline has become tiresome to the editors or if future advertisers MGM have suggested that they’re not too keen on supporting a publication which hypes violence in the community where they will need to attract hundreds of thousands of out-of-towners in order to make a profit. My wife thinks that my message is getting through. If so, I’m sure it’s indirectly. I somehow missed homicide 14 and was preparing to write this assuming 13 was the magic number for last year. On the WWLP “Springfield Homicide Tracker” (map included!)they listed 14. I did a search for the victim’s name on Masslive and, sure enough; 14. What also came up was an article about a person of the same name being arrested for possession of heroin with intent to distribute: coincidence, I’m sure.
Sarcasm aside, it isn’t at all that I want anyone to be murdered, but years and years of experience demonstrate that the overwhelming majority of victims are engaged in gang activity, drug activity, or were in a violent relationship. That doesn’t mean they deserve to be killed but it does mean that living in a city is less the danger than the behavior they engage in and the people with whom they interact, in a city or not.
Still conspicuous by its absence is any “Motor Vehicle Death Tracker” anywhere in the media. It’s a phenomenon which is: more causally connected to place than homicide; impacts more people in this region; and is more random in its distribution in terms of race, age, and gender.
Do you know a public database of geocoded traffic deaths? Mapping them wouldn’t be hard
I don’t.
Too bad this data isn’t current. I live in the City of Akron, Ohio, and I often think of the reports you did concerning deaths in old posts.
This site has some statistics and maps, but only up to 2014
http://www.city-data.com/accidents/acc-Springfield-Massachusetts.html
There’s reality and there’s perception…
When people think of danger they think of gang violence, thieves, and rapists. That all equals “urban.” Car accidents are more numerous, kill and maim far more people, and are radically more likely for people living in a comfortable suburb. But the perception of the two kinds of danger is entirely different. Is there any point in trying to present a rational argument about this stuff to most people? Not really.
Both newspapers and TV network news are aimed squarely at older, whiter, generally more suburban audiences. Younger people get their news from other sources and/or aren’t paying attention to local news since it’s mostly, “Hair brushes will kill your children! Film at eleven.” If it bleeds it leads.
There’s also serious under reporting of the kinds of drug usage that occurs in middle and upper income suburbs since people with more money take their coke and smack in the quiet comfort of their homes with less intervention from the authorities.
On the other hand, the recent opioid crisis among the downwardly mobile white population is attracting attention. Weird how the public response is so different. When black and brown people get stoned it’s because they’re lazy, stupid, and make poor life choices. Lock ’em up! When white people become junkies it’s because of societal factors that force them into a corner. We need to crack down on evil pharmaceutical companies who push this stuff on unsuspecting citizens and create meaningful jobs for otherwise decent folks society has discarded. Funny…
Yup.
http://rationalurbanism.com/now-its-a-crisis/
I love Johnny’s thinking and writing and photos, but I disagree with him about the value of presenting rational arguments. It doesn’t always work, but I think it can make a difference. I’m very glad your local media is slowly changing, for whatever reasons.