The Big Apple!

[R. Devane]

Don't get me wrong, I do love Ireland - I must do because I keep coming back!

But there are things that really wreck my head about this country. I'm not talking about the greedy politicians, builders or banks - I'll leave that for another blog.

I'm only just back from New York. I've been to the US loads of times but it was my first time to New York. Times Square (the centre) was very busy. It was full of every race as well as plenty of homeless people. Not once for the whole trip did I get any feeling of being 'unsafe'. Sure, there were police around but there wasn't a heavy presence especially considering the amount of people. ha ha you're probably laughing at me feeling 'unsafe' because I'm such a big, bad fighter! but I like to feel safe when I'm out as I want to avoid muggings or street fights! Now, compare that to Dublin. Dublin city centre isn't safe. You can feel the threat all around. As such, I'm sure that many Irish people avoid the centre which in turn is wreaking havoc on city centre business. I'm not making any recommendations of what to do (not yet!) so this is just an observation. New York city felt safer than Dublin city!

Attachments:

[Donal Ryan]

I'm just back from New York myself, I went over for my parents' 40th wedding anniversary. I love NY, I'd live there. I agree, NY feels a lot safer. There's a police presence on nearly every street but they're not intimidating and look like nice people. There's loads of ethnicities but they're all New Yorkers so there's a friendly mix.

Dublin city centre doesn't feel safe at all. I live just off the Chinatown end of Parnell St, and the type of people that walk around the area leave a lot to be desired. And it's the Irish I'm talking about. I blame Summerhill being a bit further down. My Polish girlfriend makes me walk her everywhere after dark and I don't blame here. She slags me about the scum on the streets, but I get my own back a little by mentioning Polish roid rage No offence to our Polish friends

[R. Devane]

Nothing like a bit of racism to get my blog section started!

"Chinatown end of Parnell st"
"I blame Summerhill"
"scum on the streets"
"Polish roid rage"

And I was holding back in my post! What are we going to do with you Donal!

[Donal Ryan]

Now hang on, I specifically said that the scum were Irish! And I can't be racist to Polish if I've a Polsih girlfriend. And given that Chinatown is the nickname given to the area by all the Chinese residents of the area, I reckon that that has me covered. Phew! Libel I tell you, libel!

[maynard]

Personally I'd take my chances with the spaced out mong-junkies in Gardiner Street/Marlborough St etc over a New Yorker with a gun!! Plus having coppers on every corner to make you feel safe is a bit Police-Sateish to me.

But I hear what you're saying!! I do. I have a real strong love and pride of Dublin, but sometimes you just get caught thinking that a lot of it's inhabitants are just depressing twats!
That said, I guess you'll get that when you put over a million people in the country's second smallest county.

What was that stat/urban-myth about NYNY? A murder every ten minutes or something of the like??!! Can't be true surely?!

EDIT: Oh and by the way; you look like you're somewhere in the year 3052 in the picture! A time when giant electronic billboards ruled the earth!

[Deleted]

Haa Donal on a made one I see were your coming from Donal, like the longest I've been out of Dublin is two weeks but I' do feel it is getting unsafe but its not from all the muggers and all the rst, I think its from the bank managers who keep adding on these random taxes every week to, at the end of the day pay back the mess they made up in the first place haaaa..... ;D

[Donal Ryan]

Maynard, apparently the 3 strikes and your out rule in NY has made a lot of difference to the crime rate. I don't agree with it in some ways, 3 petty crimes should be dealt with differently, but in a lot of cases people work up from small crimes and in treating these seriously it can prevent serious offences in the future.

And I hear you about Police State, I hate the idea of it myself, but there is a happy medium and in NY I felt they were closer to that than we are.

Times Square is great for billboards, when I was there there was one for UFC 103, I had to take a picture

[spidermato]

Being Honest..I dont feel safe in Dublin and moreover..The Garda presence doesnt make me feel better, Look at the police in other places, or even England...anways...

Antonio

[alcatraz]

I've been to New York about half a dozen times over the last 10 years, and I find the city a wee bit intimidating.

In saying that, I don't mean in a safety way, I just mean the scale of it all.

But I know what you mean Rob. We broke down in The Bronx once and the residents were more than helpful, especially after hearing our Scottish accents.

All the times I've been over to Dublin on holiday or to visit you guys, I've never felt intimidated or scared.

But then, I grew up on the infamous Castlemilk estate in Glasgow, so perhaps, wrongly, I'm used to it.

[dkidd]

There is a constant air of threat in the cty centre of Dublin. I'm not an aggressive person but becasue I cycle very where I'm lucky if I go a month without having to...... deal with a problem be it verbal or physical. I think it is down to the fact that there s absolutely no fear of the law amongst a certain section of society. Ordinary people park badly they get screwed scumbags attack a guard and walk free.
www.herald.ie/opinion/i-cannot-believe-these-brutes-got-away-with-suspended-sentences-1922878.html
As the saying goes 'walk tall and carry a big stick'.