It seems like October just began, but it is already the 2nd Saturday of October, almost a third of the new month already gone.
The older I get the faster time seems to fly. I don't like it.
Yesterday I made mention of Fort Worth's #15 Most Dangerous Neighborhood in America and opined regarding what I thought to be the absurdity of a Galveston Neighborhood being the only other Texas Neighborhood, besides Fort Worth, on the list of the Top 25 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods in America.
Well, Mr. or Ms. Anonymous made an interesting comment regarding Galveston....
"Galveston does have a densely populated ghetto inhabited by poverty-stricken people who live in the federal housing project, which is tucked away on the far east end of the island away from the sea wall and just far enough from the newly revitalized tourist area called the Strand/docks on the other side of the island/sea wall. Remember one of the oldest and last remaining government subsidized apartment complex in FW is located just across the freeway from the homeless shelters and accessible by an overpass. This complex is still there because it's not close enough to the Trinity River---or else the TRV or other profiteering entities would have eminent-domained it long ago."
I thought I'd driven all over Galveston, both the town and the island. I don't recollect driving through a ghetto.
But I can be pretty ghetto oblivious, unless it is obvious. For instance I have ridden my bike over the pedestrian overpass that goes over, I think, the 287 freeway, and leads to the subsidized apartment complex, to which Anonymous refers. I did not realize at the time I was in the Heart of the 15th Most Dangerous Neighborhood in America.
I think I am in need of some peaceful salubrious hiking on the Tandy Hills today. I had me a night of some pretty rough nightmares that woke me up feeling very unsettled.
Research/data from sociological-psychological and law enforcement fields indicate that the over all majority of crimes, but esp. ones involving violence, occur among people who know each other such as lovers, friends, families, neighbors--as opposed to complete strangers out of the blue (even then the perps choose their victims instead of just acting haphazardly). This is also intuitive because people and relationships inevitably involve differences and conflicts that often lead to aggression/to revenge among other less than healthy ways to solve problems/ conflicts. Thus, people like you and me who don't live (in actuality they are pretty much "confined")in the shelter zone or decrepit apartments/"projects" are so much less likely to be a victim of any serious criminal acts by passing through or by even visiting for a while. In other words, there are knowledge, relationships, conflicts, alliances, etc. among the residents that make them more likely to commit acts that often result in police intervention..and thus records and data being entered into systems with the end result being organizations and persons (esp. when in politics/elections)sorting the raw data to make certain conclusions and even predictions. Of course, all the crimes committed among those folks are usually not deemed newsworthy (not reported, which gives the public false idea about the amount of crime and danger for the resident) and accepted as a normal part of living in the ghetto/shelter/skid row with the exception being some extraordinary crimes. On the other hand, in those infrequent cases where someone from the outside gets their property damaged or their person threatened or harmed, the chances are much higher that it's reported--via media or word of mouth. Having worked and volunteered in these settings, I have heard regular reports of people who choose sleeping/"living" under bridges and in various campsites braving the elements cuz that is much less dangerous and they "feel much safer" than being in cramped quarters where falling asleep is to risk being victimized in some way. Thanks to the many kind and well-meaning church groups and individuals who follow their hearts/faith by handing out home-made food and other necessary items right out of their vehicles (part of reason why fw is mecca for the homeless), the homeless people in FW generally do not view "outsiders" in a negative or hostile way since there is a good probability that you in your van is bringing them nourishment/gifts. Or for the "day laborer" types that you had encountered before, running toward a van or p/u truck increases their chance of getting hired to do some kind of physical labor for cash (van and trucks=physical work). As for the thought elicited by the sight of you cruising by on your mountain bike or picturing-taking hikes (near campsites): that lucky health-obcessed yankee who probably blogs about the real crimes and criminals in the heart of the city, challenging citizens to DO/SAY the right/ethical thing..instead pontificate for the tv camera or issue ridiculous self-serving press releases :D
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