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In 2004 (the year before Katrina), the overall violent crime rate in Houston was 1,146 per 100,000.

The Katrina evacuees seemed to do quite a bit of damage (which probably was over-reported), but overall it was a statistical blip.

- Jim

Much to my surprise, you are correct. The violent crime rate in Houston was 1,132 per 100,000 in 2007. The corresponding figure for New York City was 614.

Now, the problem with these overall figures is that they do not distinguish between assaults on strangers (the kind that we typically worry about), gangsters going after each other, and domestic violence.

The detailed data are available for someone who has the time and inclination to crunch the numbers: http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/cius2007/data/table_08.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

In any case, the New York of Death Wish is not the New York of today.

- Jim

I agree on driving in NYC.

The last time we were there, we rented a car to visit someone way out on the east end of Long Island.

- Jim

I climbed the Statue of Liberty around 1975. It was half an hour of standing on a steep, narrow spiral staircase with a stranger's butt in my face, for the opportunity to look out the windows at the ocean.

I wouldn't do it again.

If you have a car, I recommend crossing the Verrazano Narrows Bridge when traffic is light.

- Jim

Realistically speaking, a person minding his honest business has no more chance of becoming a crime victim in New York than any other American city. Manhattan south of 110th street has been cleaned up pretty well in the past 20 years. I don't know about the other boroughs, but if you're visiting someone who lives there, they will know.

Don't look like you just fell off the turnip wagon, flash a Rolex, etc., and you'll be fine.

Nearly all the violence that you see in the news is between drug gangs and people who have the misfortune to live in the neighborhoods where they are active. It's the same in Boston, Baltimore, Chicago, etc.

- Jim

Not unless you're Michael Bloomberg's nephew or you can become a federal agent by December.

[ETA]: It looks like pepper spray is legal. Read the restrictions on handguns and realize how good we really have it: http://www.handgunlaw.us/states/newyork.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

- Jim