A distinction we could do without
August 22, 2012 at 5:00 am by TU Editorial Board
Our opinion: The latest crimes stats, putting Albany and Schenectady at the top of the state in some categories, should be more than a one-election issue.
In the midst of a political campaign, it can be tempting to pass off everything as just so much rhetoric. We choose sides, buy into what our favored candidate says and dismiss whatever the opposition comes up with. But sometimes the facts are worth a listen, no matter which side you’re on.
So take a step back from politics and consider these statistics: On a per capita basis, Albany County had the highest rate of property crime in the state last year.
Schenectady County was No. 2. When certain violent crimes are factored in, Schenectady moved to No. 1, and Albany took the No. 2 slot.That is, in a word, astounding. Bucolic, peaceful upstate, the relatively prosperous, stable Capital Region no less, New York state’s crime capital?
Well, by some measures. There are a bunch of asterisks, not least of which is that it’s the cities, Albany and Schenectady, that skew the statistics. But the point, made by attorney Lee Kindlon in his race against incumbent David Soares for Albany County district attorney, is taken. These are unsettling numbers.
They should give everyone pause — including Mr. Soares and his counterpart in Schenectady County, Bob Carney. But this is clearly a problem bigger than prosecutors, convenient as it may be for Mr. Kindlon to suggest otherwise in his quest for the Democratic line on the November ballot.
First, a little more on those asterisks. It really is property crime that drives the numbers in Albany and Schenectady. When it comes to violent crime, four of New York City’s five boroughs and Buffalo’s Erie County dominate the list. But residents and leaders here shouldn’t take too much comfort: Albany and Schenectady counties come right after them when it comes to violent crime. And Rensselaer County is fairly high on that list, too, at No. 13, just after Richmond County, which covers Staten Island.
Nor is crime necessarily going down, as Mr. Soares suggests. Violent crime is substantially down in Albany and Schenectady counties, but there were more property crimes in recent years than five years ago.
The figures put some context into Albany Police Chief Steven Krokoff’s observation that many city residents talk of not feeling safe, a feeling undoubtedly shared by many in Schenectady. For index crimes — a composite statistic that covers both the violent crimes of murder, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault, and the property crimes of burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft — Schenectady County led the state last year on a crime-per-capita basis, followed by Albany County. It’s no wonder that residents don’t feel safe and secure. Compared to the rest of the state, they aren’t, in many ways that matter.
To be sure, police are trying new approaches. Under the state’s Operation Impact, the 17 highest crime counties outside New York City can get extra crime-fighting funds. Under Chief Krokoff, Albany is focusing its extra dollars on community policing.
Clearly, the latest numbers show that this is an enduring problem. Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings should be talking about it; so should Schenectady Mayor Gary McCarthy. And whoever wins the Albany County district attorney’s race should, too. The conversation Mr. Kindlon has started needs to last longer than this election.
http://blog.timesunion.com/opinion/a-distinction-we-could-do-without/21664/Sure, add more guns. That will make things safer - Not a war zone!
Quote "police are trying new approaches... extra crime-fighting funds."
Spending more is not a new approach. It is an escalation of failure after failure.
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