People in the burbs can take these stories however they want and I don't concern myself with whether they want to come to the city or not based on their perceptions of them. The Buffalo News reports the facts and we will all interpret them differently based on our own experiences and how our views have been shaped by them. I think that most often I feel safe but it really depends on where I am. Out of the three instances of attacks (2 from (e:paul)'s journal and 1 from (e:gardenmama)'s) I have found myself in those same locations at similar times on foot. Sometimes I have large amounts of cash like $200 and people of lower income levels typically do more with cash than plastic for many different reasons. Many people even pay their rent with cash they turn into money orders.(e:janelle), I get your concern, and I would assume your statistics correct, but to just assume that these attacks are somehow based on a criminal background of the victim and that you should just assume that bad things only happen to bad people based on statistics is sort of dangerous. I have seen numerous cases of gangs of threatening youth who have little respect for themselves or others do quite horrible things to innocent victims. These crimes can happen anywhere. You are also probably aware that most of these crimes are not reported for a huge number of reasons but mainly out of fear, both fear of reprisal and fear of a failed judicious system. If you know the judicial system is unable to protect you and that by going to the police you can be identified and later can be found it is an extremely hard thing to do. The violence we read about in the police blotter is only a fraction of what is really occurring out there on the streets.
There should be some amount of fear in us that we could one day be victimized for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I do not think it should consume us but it is reasonable to take some precautions. For me, the most appropriate precaution I take is to trust my instincts as they are most often correct.
One other thing is that Buffalo, in my opinion, does have racial tensions. They are a source of violence within themselves. Race riots occurred here not so long ago. There is anger and distrust still and it takes a very long time for it to heal. Because Buffalo is so divided still racially, you can draw attention to yourself by your race alone and become a target because of it. I suppose that can be true anywhere but again because Buffalo is very segregated, I think it makes it even more likely for this type of violence to occur here. People do not know where to place their anger and anger is often responded to in violence. This type of anger results in hate crimes including crimes against a person's sexuality.
I hear ya, Libertad.
Again, I'm not assuming anything about these two particular individuals.
They might be terrific people for all I know.
I used to cash my checks in NYS for a long time. I have done it at corner convenient marts and places like Tops and Wegmans. The problem with banks mainly is that if you do owe them any amount of money they will share that info with all the other banks making it very difficult to open an account until your account is settled. Another time is when you owe someone money and they seize your account. All money deposited in the account will be eaten up first by bank fees and then by your debtor. When people mess up, like we often do, the excessive fees that add up in the bank can often just be too much to pay back if it means not having enough for groceries. This happens a lot! There was even a time when I first got out on my own that I found the need to write bad checks and later paying the fees so that I could buy some things to eat.
I read all of your comments (e:janelle). I just wanted to make myself clear that I don't think that it is fair to assume based on the info provided to us that any of these young men were involved in criminal activity.
Some really good points by everyone. Is the no check cashing new, it must be, I have seen in past check cashing places. But maybe I'm just thinking of places that advertised in it big letters but you could buy other things there. I'm thinking that in NYS it used to be legal. I don't like walking around with cash my self, and just because you have a lot of it doesn't mean you are a criminal. Some people like cash, you can see it you can feel it, it isn't some absract idea on some plastic card. Plus everyone takes cash. Say right now there is lots of snow If I get stuck at the sabres game, or say for some people working downtown and you see some one you can give them cash to get you to your home or at least close, you can't give some dude a card. Also for people who live check to check or for people who are poor things come up so they need money and if you take your money out of the bank and have A 0 balance you get fined. I have had money problems and for some time I cashed my check at the store on Grant that is both next to and part of the liquar store with the white horse.
If you're directing the comment to me. We read the same article. Remember? It was in the NY Times Magazine? Lol.
And check cashing is not allowed in NY. So people in Buffalo go to corner stores and get money orders.
There was an article recently about how often these check cashing places thrive right next to banks. The banks better deals up front, i.e. "Free Checking," but hit you huge fees if you mess up. Some people use the cashing stores because at least they are up front with their fees (usually posted on a board, a la McDonald's)
Also, banks tend to reflect less the culture of the people around them, whereas the smart check cashing places always hire locally and keep things more informal.
Finally, these check cashers do everything they can to say "yes," even accepting yearbooks as ID! Yes, they are ripped off more than traditional banks, but they make up for it in volume.
Let me be clear--I don't defend the practices either of the check cashers OR the banking industry (which can be pretty shady, too). I'm just saying that there's more to people going to those places than just being stupid. It's no more stupid than carrying a balance on a credit card, and lots of people do that all the time.
I just re read your post again and caught the part about lower income people carrying lots of cash to purchase money orders to pay bills.
I work with a lot of people who do that and that practice has always concerned me. From my experience (mostly in Philadephia) it seems to have a lot to do with a banking system that doesn't work for lower income people; a distrust or a lack of knowledge of banks for lower income people; and an unwillingness for banks to work in low income areas. It's a shame that low income individuals get stuck in a situation of having to carry large amounts of cash on them.
(e:Libertad). I agree that there should be some amount of fear in us that we could be in the wrong place at the wrong time. A healthy amount of fear can contribute to our safety by making us cautious and aware of our environment.
I'm not ashamed to take up a guy on his offer to walk me home if it's late at night and I think the area seems sketchy.
Crimes go unreported for a number of reasons and statistics support your comment that people often don't report crime if they think the police/justice system will not be effective in responding to it.
If you get a chance, read the additional comments that I made on Paul's journal, because I think already addressed the concerns you raise now in your journal.
But if you already read those responses... then let me be really clear.
My intent was not to assume that the men in the incident were criminals. I simply pointed out that Zobar's comment could be right based on the fact that criminally involved people are more likely to be victimized.
I don't believe all victimized people are criminals.
I never said bad things only happen to bad people. I never said bad things can't happen to good people.
I really think we're on the same page here.