Worcester Residents: Crime #1 Issue in the City
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
No one involved in the dispute disagreed that – despite the brazenness with which this particular station scoffed the law – it was hardly alone in doing so.
But there was another takeaway: on the same day, the gas station in question, according to city councilperson Sarai Rivera, was visited by the Worcester’s vice department, and some of the offending products were seized. Normally, due to a lack of manpower, the enforcement of such laws – surrounding such things as blunt wraps and synthetic marijuana – only takes place once a year. But, according to Rivera, an exception is made when a citizen takes action.
SOCIAL (MEDIA) COMMENTARY
Over the weekend, a large number of those citizens were also willing to voice their concerns in an informal poll conducted over a local Facebook page. The question was simple enough: “What is the most important issue facing Worcester?”
It obviously touched a nerve. The replies – numerous and emotional – paint a portrait of a historic community blighted by increasing crime, drugs, gang violence, panhandlers, and a police force that is doing nothing to stop it.
“Crime, crime and more crime driving good people away,” said one.
“Drug dealers on my street and the cops that don't care!” read another.
“Violence,” writes a long-time resident. “...Have never seen it this bad in all my time in Worcester...” It’s a weighty claim from a citizen of a city that has been dealing with high crime since the previous century.
But how true is it?
The recent release of the FBI’s 2012 crime statistics would seem to confirm at least some local fears, or at least, keep the issue fresh on the minds of residents. They continue to show Worcester as a city where crime remains above national and state averages. Worcester ranks 7th in Massachusetts for violent crimes.
And it’s not just residents who want it to go away. The city’s home page boasts of Worcester having “one of the lowest crime rates in the country.” A glance at the Wikipedia page for Worcester makes no mention whatsoever with the city’s historically high crime rate. Delve in to open-source travel site WikiTravel, and the lead paragraph comforts potential visitors with the fact that Worcester has “a very low violent crime rate” when compared to Providence, RI (which is true). This would lead some to believe that the city is a bit self-conscious of its continuing crime problem, and raises suspicions that it is willing to gloss over it. Repeated efforts to get comment from Worcester Police Chief Gemme went unanswered.
Worcester ranks among the tops for violent crimes in MA
“This is a responsive and reactive community,” says councilwoman Rivera, when asked about public perception of what it perceives to be its biggest concern.
Because of it, Rivera notes, it can be hard to sway perception, even as the police department starts to make positive strides, both with community outreach and with law enforcement. She notes that positive developments in her community (South Main) and all around the city, especially those taking place in conjunction with local law enforcement, struggle for media coverage.
To combat this she spearheaded an increase in foot patrols in her district earlier this year, to “connect with people and businesses” in an effort to make Worcester feel safer. And she’s already citing results, saying that the identification of a perp in a Chandler St. shooting earlier this month was made possible because of community engagement with the police force.
“The PD is developing good relationships with citizens. There’s good back and forth. The PD is making a sincere effort in making those connections.”
Rivera has additional reasons for optimism: the impending graduation of 65 new officers. Additionally, research shows that reported incidents have dropped slightly over each of the last three months. “Let the data speak,” she pleads.
Rivera anticipates these things - along with increased community involvement - will help to change Worcester’s enduring image as a dangerous city.
Even so, that change may not be coming about quick enough for one resident. “Crime and increasing violence,” she wrote on Facebook. “We’re buying a house in the spring and we aren't sure anymore that we want to stay in this city because of these issues.”
Related Slideshow: MA School Districts With The Most Suspensions
Here are the 20 Massachusetts public school systems with the highest number of out of school suspensions, from lowest to highest. The data were collected by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary School Education, and refer to the 2011-12 school year. Data represent the number of total suspensions, not the number of individual students suspended. Dropout reates indicated the percentage of students, grades 9-12, who dropped out of school between July 1 and June 30 prior to the listed year and did not return before October 1. Both in school and out of school suspension rates indicate the percentage of students receiving one or more of the respective suspensions. All data are self reported by school districts.
#20 Everett
#19 Plymouth
#18 Revere
#17 Malden
#16 Chelsea
#15 Fitchburg
#14 Taunton
#13 Haverhill
#12 Methuen
#11 Chicopee
#10 Lawrence
#9 New Bedford
#8 Lowell
#7 Holyoke
#6 Fall River
#5 Boston
#4 Lynn
#3 Brockton
#2 Worcester
#1 Springfield
Related Articles
- MA’s Most Violent Cities and Towns: FBI Crime Data
- NEW: Attorney General Wants $1 Billion for Crime Victims
- NEW: Public Health Commissioner Resigns Following Crime Lab Controversy
- Worcester Crime Stats Mask Problem Areas
- Budget Hearing In Worcester Zeroes in on Crime Lab Scandals
- Worcester Districts Debate Efficacy Of Pricey Crime-Fighting Tool
- Crime-Counting Controversy on New England’s College Campuses
- Worcester Emerges As Leader In Handling Juvenile Crime
- Experts Explore White Collar Crime at Clark
- Leonardo Angiulo: Changes on the Horizon for Crime Scene Investigation
Follow us on Pinterest Google + Facebook Twitter See It Read It