Philadelphia has become the murder capital of the U.S.

[CTyankee]

1. New Haven is in a similar situation.

So far, my part of the city is safe (the mayor lives here), but I often wonder when/if that will change. The demographics are mixed in my neighborhood, which is good --- some young, some old. And we are anchored by an Orthodox temple (it was Joe Lieberman temple back when in lived here) and since the Orthodox Jews must walk to shull on sabbath, it means that they live nearby. They stabilize the community greatly.

But edges of downtown are just awful and the murder rate continues to go up. I no longer tutor ESL downtown as a Literacy Volunteer. I tutor in nearby West Haven on Sat. mornings.

It's a terrible problem...the people in unsafe neighborhoods are in constant danger. I truly feel for them...