CityStats shows growing crime concerns

Using 537 completed phone surveys, the Baton Rouge Area Foundation reveal in its latest edition of CityStats that local residents want their local government to reduce crime but have diminished faith that leaders can achieve that goal. Baton Rouge averages 68 crimes a day and has the dubious distinction of having one of the highest murder rates in the country, and polls show that residents believe crime will worsen, reports BRAF. In the 2009 edition, the group’s first, CityStats showed 28% of residents were concerned that either they or a family member would become a victim of a crime. That concern has now grown to 37%. And people have less faith now than four years ago in their leaders’ ability to reduce crime, with 55% of respondents saying they don’t believe elected officials can do anything about it. Meanwhile, East Baton Rouge Parish is absorbing more residents, with a net migration of 5,546 in 2010. Job losses since the start of the recession persist, with 6,711 fewer in 2010 than the year previous; unemployment in 2010 ranked at 7.2%, up from 6% in 2009. Poverty is a root cause for many social troubles, BRAF reports, with one of every four children being considered poor. In 2011, it is estimated, 31% of residents couldn’t afford to eat, and 18% couldn’t afford a place to live. The new CityStats does show some bright spots: The teen pregnancy rate has continued to decline, and Baton Rouge “has improved conditions for lost companion animals.” To learn directly from the report, click here.