bostonimproper's journal

[chenda]

That all sounds horrendous Boston. I would be inclined to leave and move somewhere safe asap.

[zbigi]

All of these problems come part and parcel with living in a city, I’ve accepted.

FWIW I live in one of Poland's worst cities and any of the things you listed (needles on streets, teenagers assaulting librarians, people being attacked with paintball in public parks) would be shocking here, and likely make national news. They're definitely not "part and parcel with living in a city". I suspect there's even plenty of cities in the US where that's not the case, or at least districts of cities (I knew someone from San Francisco who said they don't even lock their car - they live in a "good" part of the town).

[mountainFrugal]

Not locking your car in SF/Bay Area is a known strategy to not have to deal with a smashed window. Never leave anything in the car, make sure it is tidy so there is less interest, leave it unlocked so that if someone wants in they might at least try the door handle instead of smashing your window.