Why Does the Bronx Have a Poor Reputation? An Expert's Perspective

The Bronx has a reputation for being relatively unsafe, as it is the New York district with the highest crime rates. While it is true that the Bronx has some of the highest crime rates in New York, it is not much more dangerous than many other urban areas with the same population. It is advisable for tourists and visitors to avoid certain neighborhoods in the Bronx and always be alert when visiting the district. From Howard Cosell's saying, “The Bronx is on fire” to movies and books like “Fort Apache: The Bronx” and “The Bonfire of the Vanities,” people who don't really know the Bronx and its inhabitants have felt free to write some of the most offensive racist articles.

When it comes to crime rates, the Bronx is almost double that of Brooklyn and Manhattan and almost three times that of Queens and Staten Island. However, it is still relatively safe compared to some of the most dangerous cities in the United States. The property crime rate in the Bronx is still considerably higher than in Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island. The area surrounding 149th Street and the Grand Concourse (in fact, the entire length of the Grand Concourse, the West Farms section, Fordham Road) are parts of the Bronx frequented by working-class Bronx residents, but not by tourists.

It's not recommended to visit the Bronx at night, especially if you're not familiar with the area, but it all depends on which neighborhood you are in and what business you have there. Despite its bad reputation, there are more than 7,000 acres of parkland in the Bronx, including New York City's largest park, Pelham Bay Park. As a result, this borough has one of the highest rates of residents living in shelters, particularly families. In addition, hardworking people can still dream of buying a home in this borough.

The Bronx has been striving to change its image since its tumultuous '60s and '70s when violent crime and uncontrolled poverty caused middle-class families to flee. For more information on crime in the Bronx, you can check out the interactive map on Bronx crime on the New York City open data site.