heroin and crack both did damage, the latter were just more visible, the zombies ... fucking junkie thieves would steal any/everything they possibly could... but that's another subject. (drug delivery methods have changed the scene also, not as many whitey or $$$ going into the 'hood when they can get substance x/y/z delivered.) anyway--

1) yes NYC is generally 'safer,' especially most of Manhattan, chunks of Brooklyn, the subways.

2) that said, the specifics of Bloomturd/Kelly crime #s are bullshit, "COMPSTAT" is lies lies lies lies...

forget the downgrading of felony crimes-- very common practice-- but the # that would be instructive is NOT murders but rather the

# of shootings

particularly because trauma care is so much better than it was. Be very curious to find out how THOSE #s compare year-to-year, decade-to-decade.

I have no doubt the #s are still down-- taking away just mob-related hits cuts let's say a x dozen homicides a year-- but in the bad 'hoods... things are still bad, innocent bystanders get killed and badly wounded by asshole 'gangstas' etc

also, the newspapers suck and are more racist than ever so you hear less about these crimes, likewise, under Kelly, cops were barely allowed to speak in public so there were lots fewer stories for the few remaining REPORTERS (not glorified bloggers regurgitating the same shit from their desk) would be compelled to pursue.

p/s-- most of the cameras are bullshit. They're there, yes, mostly ignored and even when pulled... Remember that midtown hit last year, black guy (drug courier or related) whacked right on 57th St, broad daylight?

The light pole cameras etc were another Ray Kelly fraud--what # of arrests and prosecutions did they lead to? It'd also be instructive to learn who received the contracts for that crap.