A safe city: Manchester is one

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I think that Manchester is okay. i mean like jim said, it does have bad people. but like joe, its no bettter than a village or small town. i wouldnt dare live there, but there are peolpe who do and i wot look down at them or be afraid of them because of where they live. im better than that and so are al of you. and yes. i do believe in a better world. and yes, i am upity with myself.
- Lexi, Manchester

Manchester is the best place to live in New Hampshire. The affordable housing, and low cost of living, the Queen City offers the best combination of safety, employeement opportunity and general quality of life. The City was ranked number one on Forbes List of Americas Cheapest Places to Live in July 2009.
- Tara, Manchester

I feel that the united states needs to focus on the american's in our country.
The minority is the american's this hurts to see foreigners doing better than us.
The government gives them all the help
why doesn't our govenment help the american people like the foreigners?
That's because now we have a foreigner
running our country.
They bring all their foriegn disease and bugs here.
Look @ the bed bug situation in Manchester we never had this problem.
Pleas Americans lets take our stand and stand for our rights which have been taken from us.
- barbara philibotte, manchester,nh

Jim - In case you forgot, this is the United States, not Africa or South America. Apples to apples please. If you are so ignorant that you can't admit that small towns have far LESS crime and problems than larger towns and cities, than you can't carry on a meaningful conversation. No place is perfect and every place has SOME crime, but its a huge difference.
- Joe, Manchester

Joe,
I haven’t closed my eyes to anything. In my immediate neighborhood in South Manchester I know exactly who the drug users are and I’m pretty sure we’ve shut down or locked up all the dealers. We check the sex offenders list regularly and know which houses to avoid. We can give a vehicle description of any car on our street that acts funny or even drives too slow. Any other common sense suggestions Joe?

You’re dreaming if you think small towns don’t also have serious drug problems, bad parents, and scary people, and internet prostitutes.

You missed my main point Joe, your lousy attitude about people helps make Manchester seem like it sucks worse than it really does. Try visiting a city in Africa or the barrios of South America. Unless you live in the ‘Combat/Red Zone’ or under Granite Street bridge, then we have it pretty good. Clearly living in Antigua would be better but….
- Jim, Manchester

Jim in Manchester, I am a person with common sense which you are clearly lacking. If you choose to close your eyes to the HUGE amount of drugs and problems in the city, than that is your own problem. I do not blame the police or the city officals. Manchester is probably a better place to live than cities of similar size. The fact is that it's not even close to comparable to a smaller town as far as crime rate, schools, and quality of residents. (and before you start whining, yes I'm sure there are many good people in the city, but there are also MANY no so good people)
- Joe, Manchester

Joe in Manchester,
You sound like one speaking as one who know. So which are you? A drug dealer, drug addict or lousy parent? (Me? I'm a blog addict).

IF Manchester is a hole, it's a nicer hole than 75% of the villages, town, and cities in the world. I've lived in 2 towns and 2 cities now, some nicer, some quieter... Everywhere I've lived, I've felt that 'I live in a hole' feeling, maybe than 3 or 4 times a year. It don't mean nothin'.

Life in Manchester is like life anywhere. Life is what YOU make of it.
- Jim, Manchester

I was all ready to make a posting and then I read Bill McDonald of Dover's reply and he said it best. Manchester was a much nicer city before our neighbors to the south (and south of the border) & (and neighbors from other places) began migrating into the city. I remember when it was a question of "Where are the bad streets in Manchester?", now it's a question of, "Where can I find the safe streets in Manchester?" They are few and far between compared to 10 years ago.
- Bill, Manchester

Manchester is relatively safe on AVERAGE. Whether is seems safe to you depends heavily on you adress; how many drug dealers, drug users, gang members, and pedophiles live nearby.
- Jim, Manchester

Manchester is a hole, as is most cities of this size. It is FILLED with drug dealers and addicts. All these lousy parents have lousy kids and the cycle continues. I would never let my kids attend school there.
- Joe, Manchester

You people need some perspective here. The city is alot safer then you people think. Just because you read about shootings, robberies, and drug busts in the news does not mean the city is spiraling into the depths of chaos. It means that the UL reports on problems in the city. My house was invaded a few years ago and I feel safe in the city. So why are all of you so affraid? How many of you have been tied up in your own home and have the criminals still not found? What right do any of you have to feel affraid, oh yea you read an article, if you wan't to complain about being affraid goto Chicago then you have a right to be scared. For now grow up and realize we are not a tiny little hidden safe zone anymore, we hit 110,000 and in cities this big stuff happens, deal with it or goto the north.
- Unknown, Manchester

I do not feel safe. Something needs to be done to help us feel secure in our city again.
- Sue, Manchester

Safe city? Manchester? All you have to do is read the front page of the UL each day to know the words "safe" and "Manchester" don't belong in the same sentence.
- Brian, Farmington

"The city's very unsafe right now."
Exerpted from the article by Micheal Cleveland about the shooting of Lenoxx Tibbs.
What do they(MPD) expect us to believe when there are a lot of conflicting articles, and a lot of issues occuring as well??
- Anne D., Manchester

I live in housing right behind Central High School in what might still, or should be called "The Zone". In the 5 years I have been at this address: I have been broken into three times, twice while home, and all at various times of the day/night:
I have recently witnessed(by hearing) a young woman neighbor get attacked right under our first floor windows around midnight, and it was downpouring(thought I would mention that as it was NOT random)
A neighbor killed herself 3 yrs. ago by OD'ing on crack above me...a yr later Mgt. evicted a crack dealer from our building, how convenient, only after he assaulted somebody, not for the drugs.MPD "never" could prove it because they couldn't search his apartment.
I am not exagerating all this. I wish I was. The drug house the MPD busted YEARS ago is still boarded up on E. High St. around the corner from me, and I see both the paddy wagon, and undercover vehicles up and down Lowell St. all the time. Are the streets safe we are questioned?? I have to answer no while only being allowed to own knives for my protection, because apparently: guns are not allowed on housing properties.
- Anne Dudziak, Manchester

I have yet to read WORD 1 in the UL about the problems caused by in migrants, most notably from our neighbor to the south. This spike in violent crime is still a relatively new phenomenon in Manchester, NOT TO MENTION THE REST OF THE STATE. Yet the Union Leader REFUSES to mention this! Oh, and we are now a "blue state" as well! Do you think that the new political composition of our state (Which was also caused by in migration.) doesn't factor into this? I don't recall any gang related murders here in the 80's throughout the 90's, when Republicans were in control! Massachusetts had a better "first of the month" policy back then in comparison. If the UL had mentioned the negative effects of the massive in migration New Hampshire has experienced in the last 10-12 years I might buy it. Stop being "politically correct" and tell it like it is.
- Bill McDonald, Dover

To Joel and Spike....
Nothing in my post said anything about perfection.
It's about a quality of life in Manchester that has been slipping away for quite some time now. And some of you are ok with it apparently.
You should be able to go to the store, no matter where you live in the city, at any time you choose, without getting robbed, beaten, stabbed, or raped...Do you not agree with that? But these crimes do occur...and I am not ok with it.
The frequency of these crimes in this city are unacceptable to me. It's not the fault of the Police....I get that...but it IS time to get someone in there who has a game plan that's going to improve things, instead of the dog and pony show that has become Mara's trademark.

There seems to be an attitude these days, that there is an acceptable level for the frequency of these crimes...and that it's just how it is... Well I say no, there isn't...
The idea is to reduce crime, and strive for better things, rather than accepting it as just a part of everyday life in Manchester, New Hampshire.
- Marc L., Manchester

It starts when we catch the punks at 20-21 stealing or assaulting and the judges winks and let them off or give them suspended sentence or fines. Had a skinheaded, tattooed drug-using foul-mouthed tenant with 12 assaults on his record (more probably dismissed) and he's only sevred 4 days total. So he struts and uses his drugs and fathers more illegitimate kids. The UL should publish the names of these Dads rhat do not marry or support their kids.
- J dumont, Goffstown

Yes, Manchester is relatively safe for a city of its size and Chief Mara is a good man. The Union Leader should not make his job any tougher by continually promoting nighttime trick-or-treating. The issue is not sadism against children by the occasional warped homeowner, but the kids' increased exposure to traffic/pedestrian accidents and the unwillingness of residents to open their doors after dark unless they expect the visitor. Manchester's policy, which puts kids' safety first, is excellent. One can imagine the precipitous drop-off in trick-or-treat activity this year after the recent crime spike in the city if the "traditional" nighttime hours were observed. If I had young children, no way I would allow them out of the house after dark. Also, no way would I open the door after dark for anyone I didn't know, regardless of their age.
- bill_o, manchester

What about all the crimes that are not reported to the police because the victims are too afraid of another beating or worse? How do those figure in your precious statistics, Mr. Cowardly Anonymous Editorial Writer?
- Mark, Manchester

why do you want to help them bury that it's rising fast? like DW said, there is nothing so powerful as truth.

we don't want to be like other cities our size in more dangerous states. this is NH! compare us to the rest of NH!!! and don't blame mass. nashua and salem are south of us, and safer.

ken and mara wants more watch groups. we have 80. it's not working.
- mina, manchester

Anyone who would suggest that legalizing heroin, cocaine or meth - or any other illegal drug - will make the streets safer is crazy. If Heroin was $10 a hit, we'd lose thousands of productive citizens to it, and it would still cause crime, violence and misery.

Oh, and let's stop pretending that libertine libertarians, who HATE government and HATE taxes, would voluntarily submit to "taxing the heck out of" pot, coke or heroin. PLEASE spare us the hypocrisy.

And the streets in Manchester are safe, relative to other cities, not that that is good enough.
- Stephen A., Manchester

Manchester would certainly seem to be very dangerous to the "folksy-down-home-on-the-farm" types who live in the Great North Woods and rarely venture south of Concord (no offense to you fine people). Big bad city and all that.

As has been pointed out, Manchester's crime rate for a city its size is respectable. Try leaving the state some time to get a decent perspective on crime elsewhere. Some of the "nicer" New Orleans neighborhoods make the bad parts of Manchester look like a pristine gated community. Maybe not a fair comparison but there are many more to be made.

That is not to say that the city couldn't be safer. In addition to the police and other officials doing what is required of them, the responsibility is also on the citizens to report questionable activity and take some initiative in cleaning up their neighborhood.

I spent a lot of my youth in Manchester...hanging around some good parts and some bad parts. There's some common sense involved that applies to every city (stay primarily in well-lit areas, be aware of your surroundings, etc.)
- AJ, Concord

If Manchester is such a safe city, why do the children still have to Trick or Treat during daylight hours on a Sunday, instead of going out on Halloween night?

Tells me the city still isn't that safe!

Heard someone's putting a ForSale sign on his lawn before his term is up at City Hall.
- Donna Douglas, Manchester NH

It seems like there is a lot of "boarding house" type of place in downtown Manchester. Those places, with really cheap rent, tend to attract a less then desirable element. Also, the majority of trouble seems to occur near or around a couple of downtown clubs that cater to elements from out of town. Maybe the city council should require those places to have a paid police detail outside checking for gansta wannabes. The mere presence of a police detail will probably be enough to keep the gang riffraff away.
- Dan, Bedford

Try telling my friend who was just burglarized last week while her family(including an 8 month old baby) slept and were awoken by the burglar in their home! And for those, who say get a dog, most landlords will not allow dogs over 20 lbs, including my landlord, let alone aggressive breeds, it raises property insurance. As for a gun, I've always been against them because I have been on the other side of the barrel of a .38 with a jealous boyfriend, trust me,it's not fun. I have been reconsidering that stance, however, as long as they are used responsibly. Either way, I am looking forward to relocating shortly. Manchester was a great city in the 70's and 80's (I'm sure before that too, but, I moved to Manchester in '77), I moved out of state in '90 and moved back in '96 and noticed a HUGE difference in Manchester just in those 6 years that I was gone.
- Lois G., Manchester

why did the UL focus only on murders? tell us other violent crime stats. gunfire, stabings, robberies, rapes. nothing good has happened since chief jazzkolka left. all mara does is make watch groups. we have 80 and things keep getting worse. he's home in bedford today while we're afraid.

***Editor's note: The editorial notes that Manchester's overall violent crime rate is below average for a city its size.***
- mina, manchester

Our country needs more room in our prisons for violent criminals.

Most non violent drug offenders should be released from prisons to make room for violent criminals.

I would like our country to legalize, regulate, and tax the sale of marijuana, heroin, and cocaine for people who are at least 18 years old. Gangs will probably obtain less profits from their drugs and their will probably be fewer fights dealing with territories. Prohibition made crime dealing with alcohol a lot worse. Drugs that are regulated by the government are likely to be safer than the drugs people buy now. People may not be sure of what they are buying now. People may not know how pure what they are buying is, the potency of what they are buying is, and what else besides the drug they are getting.

The least our country should do is legalize, regulate, and tax the sale of marijuana for people who are at least 18 years old. Low taxes on marijuana could bring in a lot of money to fight violent crime. Tax revenues could also be used for drug rehab, education, and other things.
- Ken Stremsky, Manchester, NH

Again, unsigned editorials are worthless in my opinion, but...to Marc in Manchester...according to the FBI reports across all major crime catagories...Manchester is approximately 50% BELOW average in crime as compared to national per capita averages. The one lone exception is forcible rape where Manchester is 50% above national per capita averages.

Marc come on...Lake Avenue? Get real. There's areas in ANY city, even my home city of Nashua, that have sections where crimes occur regularly. Is that the fault of the police department? No. It's the fault of those who commit the crimes. It's like saying the gun commits the murder and not the shooter.

Marc, if you want change to occur, then you need to do something simple and old fashioned. Meet your neighbors and begin to work together to make your neighborhood a better place. Take some responsibility. it is not entirely the police department's responsibility. It is also the citizens responsibility to do their part.
Peace.
- Joel, Nashua

Stepping back to admire Manchester is something policy-makers shouldn't spend a lot of time on. Nor Marc L.'s standard, which is perfection.

Whether misconduct is directed at family members or strangers, too many Manchester residents seem to feel they can get away with it. It's worse in many other places, but is often a result of government policy enacted to look good rather than to work. Separately, the "war on drugs" introduces violence to a neighborhood and induces some of its residents to live completely outside the law--a result worse than the problem.
- Spike, Brentwood NH

maybe its my own impression but it seems like a lot of the violent acts are gang related. Maybe we should investigate a zero tolerance policy for gang activity. Give the Police the power to stop and search suspected gang members. Any gang member convicted of a crime gets an automatic 20+ year sentence. If some people have a problem with that they can move.
- Dan, Bedford

I'm not sure there was ever some big turnaround that came as a result of the community coming together or public officials and police stepping up their game, as the UL says. Rather, I think the city has always been a reasonably safe place, especially between sunrise and midnight when most people would be out and about in the city. Having read about street crime in the UL over the years, it seems like incidents usually happened in situations that were already risky and took place between midnight and 6 AM. As for break-ins, people should get a dog or exercise their second amendment rights, which are well respected in the Granite State.
- Dan, Manchester

to all the people who are scared buy a gun and just be ready to defend yourself it sucks to live with fear i know i wont and ill do what ever i have to, to protect my family wether its fight or move out ill do it but NEVER LIVE WITH FEAR.It can control your life and not let you live the way you want to.
- mister E, manchester

I live near the schools on Putnam and I cant even tell you what I see and hear from elementary and Junior high school kids here. I have lived in this city for 15 years and I don't feel safe in my own home which was robbed a year ago. My car has been broken into in my own driveway twice. People should be more afraid to commit a crime in the city than the homeowners are of living in it..
- Kara, Manchester westsider

Manchester is no longer a safe city... it is just as bad as anywhere else. I have lived here for 22 years and i have made the decison to move out of NH next week...i no longer want to raise my children here, everything happening is too close to home for me!
- Lynn G, Manchester NH

What about young adult killed in the alley for his cell phone, what about the one on Franklin St right after attending a graduation ceremony at the Verizon wireless arean in broad daylight. What about the punk with the gun at the July 4th celebration. What about the one down by tavern across from the Verizon and the other one up by Bridge St. Over the years a cabbie was murdered, there has been shootings on the west side and east side. The streets aren't safe. Theres not enough cops, never will be because most of us aren't fit to get on the police department and you already have to rule out the ones that have some kind of criminal record or moral terputuity issues. I wouldn't wish being a cop on my worst enemy because in this day and age wearing a badge on uniform means nothing. At one time your respected it, you got a good swift kick in the rear when it was needed, and you got one when you got home from your parents.
- Jack Alex, Manchester

Dear Editors, Is this how you determine whether or not a city is safe: by the number of "street crimes"? It seems like our City has a problem with violence in the home. Just because that is behind closed doors, it is acceptable to you? I'm disssapointed you would publish that we are a "safe" city in light of these recent tragic losses. You missed a real opportunity here- to condem all types of violence in our community. Instead you managed to minimize the type of violence happening in homes. If the amount of violence that occurs behind doors in our city occured on the streets of Manchester, you would call it an epidemic.
- Gerard, Manchester

Really? Just because Manchester had 3 murders so far this year...it means the streets are relatively safe? What about beatings, stabbings, robberies, and muggings? What do the statistics say about those?
Does your definition of "safe" mean someone can comfortably stroll down Lake Ave to go to the store on any given night, at any time, without the thought of possibly being robbed?
Or does your definition of "safe" mean that you have to calculate your odds of even making it to the store and back, and decide if it's even worth it, before you go on your stroll..
The streets of Manchester are getting worse...Don't try to pontificate, and tell us that it's all in our heads. It isn't! Mara needs to go!
- Marc L., Manchester