Detroit Dodges Bullet in Crime Survey; Mayor Calls for Celebration
DETROIT, MI (Disassociated Press) - November 25, 2005– For the second time in as many years, the City of Detroit, often maligned for high crime, poverty and general urban blight, managed to avoid the dubious distinction as being the “Most Dangerous City in the Nation,” coming in as the second most dangerous city to Camden New Jersey, which also had the highest crime rate the previous year. The rankings are based on statistics reported by the FBI.
“As I’ve said in the past, Detroiters are always proud to not be the worst at something,” said Mayor Kwami Kilpatrick, in a speech similar to one he gave when he announced a ticker tape parade for the Detroit Tigers in late September, 2003, when the long suffering Major League Baseball franchise just barely managed to avoid the indignity of having the worst season in major league history (see Detroit Tigers Dodge Loss Record, Ticker Tape Parade Planned, The Disassociated Press, September 29, 2003). “Whether it’s not having the worst crime rate, or the worst unemployment rate, or not having the worst baseball team ever, not being the worst is always a reason to celebrate in the Detroit.”
A beautification campaign, which will be based around the installation of “Welcome to Detroit” signs at the city’s borders which will proclaim “We’re Not the Most Dangerous Place in America for the Second Year in a Row – It Might not be a Fluke!” is in the works, as well as another city wide celebration.
“We’re inviting all residents to come out of their homes, come to downtown, and join in the general good feeling and glow of once again not having the worst crime rate in the country,” concluded Kilpatrick. “However, we’re reminding everybody to be prudent and cautious when they come out and celebrate, of course – after all, this is still Detroit.”