Here is a current headline on WJZ’s website - "Harford Co. Violence Rises As Residents Move In". Evidently, the BRAC move is happening already. And those that are in the process of moving into the county are busy dodging all the bullets flying around. Here are some interesting lines from the article:

Violence is becoming an all too familiar part of life for residents in Harford County.

Is violence "all too familiar" in your neighborhood? I understand that there are pockets of violence in the county, but to say that the entire county is under siege is a little irresponsible. Here is the next sentence:

Jessica Kartalija reports lawmakers are cracking down even harder on crime, just as thousands prepare to move into the neighborhood.

Are they saying that thousands are moving into a crime-ridden neighborhood? What neighborhood are they talking about? Is our county one giant neighborhood? Here’s more:

But if murders keep happening like the one in broad daylight that killed a young father, new residents may be leery.

Home invasions and carjackings have made headlines and most of the crimes are occurring in Edgewood.

The rest of the story shifts to the well-documented problem in Edgewood. Look, what’s happening there is a shame, and I truly believe things are going to get better there. But why is there a need to throw the whole county under the bus? I’m sure the Asbury Park Press, and others in the Fort Monmouth area, will be happy to trot this story out to their readership. Reading some of the comments from those that live up there would lead you to believe that out streets (and farms, parks, trails, waterways, etc. ) are not safe.

I found a story from two years ago on the APP’s website talking about the crime rate for Asbury Park. Now, this is 2 years old, and they may have magically righted the ship. But this is also just talking about one area of Monmouth County, much like this WJZ article is doing. Here are some tidbits from that article:

But unless the crime situation in the city improves dramatically, the
risks those potential homeowners need to weigh will be significant.
Consider that:

Asbury Park had the third-highest violent crime rate in New Jersey in 2003,
according to the most recent Uniform Crime Report compiled by the New
Jersey State Police. The city trails Irvington and Camden in the
category, which includes murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault.
Asbury Park’s rate of 22.5 violent crimes per 1,000 residents places it
ahead of much larger cities such as Newark, Jersey City and East Orange.

Asbury Park’s violent crime rate is almost four times
higher than the second-highest municipality in Monmouth County –
Keansburg.

Asbury Park’s overall crime rate (77 per 1,000 residents),
which includes both violent crimes and nonviolent crimes (burglary,
larceny and motor vehicle theft), is also the highest in Monmouth
County.

The number of criminal charges filed against individuals
in Asbury Park between July 2003 and June 2004 was 6,973. These include
indictable and disorderly persons offenses.

Do you think the rest of Monmouth County would be happy if the headline to this article would have read "Monmouth Co. Violence Rises as Residents Move Out?"

Categories: Harford County News
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