Crime around the Pittsburgh area (McKeesport: crime rates, statistics, food)

[PreservationPioneer]

A lot of the shootings I see on the news seem to be occuring in places like the cities of McKeesport and Duquesne, not in Pittsburgh. Although today there was a news item about a shooting in East Liberty.

Shootings happen all over, even in good neighborhoods (remember the shootings in Stanton Heights last year?). However, the news reports all the bad stuff. We sort of have a culture of fear. Main point is shootings happen in the suburbs and the city.

[KoobleKar]

I never go to Fox Chapel without dawning my body armor

[aerosolking]

Funny how if iwonderwhy makes that statement he/she is labeled a racist but if say Dr. Harry Edwards makes a similar comment,albiet a bit more eloquently, he's called thoughtful and insightful...just sayin'

[ferraris]

Originally Posted by iwonderwhy2124

Exactly. If I criticize the white trash that populate my hometown nobody would bat an eye. But, if I politely examine a social phenomenon/problem that is largely resting in the black community then I am a racist. Funny how that works.

Originally Posted by iwonderwhy2124

Once summer hits the black people start shooting each other for some reason. As long as you don't live in the wrong neighborhoods/crappy suburbs you will be fine.

How is that politely examining a social issue? First off it's a generalization to say "the black people" anything. On top of that your original statement was just too nonchalant. It just happens "for some reason"...that's really examining something to a deep degree there.

[greg42]

Originally Posted by apiscean

I access KDKA and PPG news online everyday and it seems like everyday there are reports of shootings . I'm fairly new to this area so its a little disconcerting.

To be fair it seems to be concentrated in a couple of areas. Wexford/Mccandless/Upper St Claire are some areas which don't seem to have these incidents.


Has it always been like this? Or has there been a marked increase lately?

It is a city. Not sure if you're new perhaps from a smaller town, but the concentration of population in an area like this means yes you will hear about some violent crime on a regular basis.

That said, it's NOT by any means widespread. Crime is less prevalent here than in other cities of similar population. The rate of shootings may fluctuate up and down some, but I'm not aware of any notable uptick.

It's the local news: if it bleeds it leads.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by ferrarisnowday

How is that politely examining a social issue? First off it's a generalization to say "the black people" anything. . . .

Exactly. The original statement in question isn't subject to the defenses subsequently being offered for it, because it was actually just a silly and offensive generalization, not an accurate statement of fact.

[Renaldo5000]

Bahhh....I don't want to get into a debate in this forum. It reflects badly upon the 'Burgh. I officially retract my statement. But, at the same time I don't apologize at all for relaying the blunt truth.

[Heit]

Originally Posted by iwonderwhy2124

Exactly. If I criticize the white trash that populate my hometown nobody would bat an eye. But, if I politely examine a social phenomenon/problem that is largely resting in the black community then I am a racist. Funny how that works.

But, I digress. Let's stop this line of discussion and point to the fact that Pittsburgh has a relatively low crime rate for an area of its population (as BrianTH stated so eloquently).

Nothing racist about your original statement, simply an observation. "The white people" are ripped on all the time and yet THAT seems to be o.k. in society. FYI............racism goes BOTH WAYS, it's NOT just a "white-thing".

[grimacista]

It's not just Pittsburgh where stories of violence lead the news, its everywhere. For psychological reasons to be discussed elsewhere, that kind of story draws in viewers more than leading off with info about a "Save the Squirrels" farm.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by iwonderwhy2124

I officially retract my statement. But, at the same time I don't apologize at all for relaying the blunt truth.

You aren't retracting it if you are still claiming what you said is true.

And what you said originally was not in fact actually true. It was hyperbole, and you are trying to run away from the fact that you originally thought it was a good idea to engage in a hyperbole that reinforces a negative stereotype of black people.