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Editor’s note: This op-ed was originally published by The Columbus Dispatch and is addressed to constituents of Rep. Jim Jordan, Republican of Ohio. The writer, a New York-based journalist, contends that New York City is alive and well — despite warnings to the contrary from Jordan and others on the right.
You have been misled by U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan and much of the far-right cohort of the Republican Party.
They’ve made it sound like the place I call home — New York City — is some kind of crime-ridden boogeyman. I am here to tell you that’s far from the truth.
This week Jordan ramped up his rhetoric amid his accusations that District Attorney Alvin Bragg abused the power of his office as he held the former president accountable for his actions.
Jordan’s fictional portrayal of the nation’s largest city serves one clear purpose: to elevate his extremist punditry aimed at an audience of one.
Letters:Jim Jordan is Ohio’s embarrassment. Frank LaRose’s Householder excuse is hilarious
His claims have given my city a bad reputation in many of your eyes. That’s not fair to you, and it’s not fair to me, my neighbors and my community.
Those of you in Ohio’s 4th District (and the neighboring districts) deserve to know the truth.
Let’s set the record straight.
While there was a concerning escalation in crime last year, it’s now trending in the right direction.
According to the New York City Police Department, shootings dropped by 26%, rapes fell almost a full percentage point, homicides tumbled more than 11%, robberies plunged by more than 1%, and burglaries plummeted more than 12% last month.
Historically, the pandemic-induced uptick in crime did not mark a significant shift. It was marginal compared with long-term trends that show that the city’s crime rate has been on a decline over the last three decades.
New York is not just safe — it’s still one of the safest cities in the United States and around the globe, according to The Economist Safe Cities index. Even with the slight increase, it is still safer than when then-independent Mayor Michael Bloomberg called New York the safest big city in America.
Jordan and his allies also blame bail reform for what they suggest caused more crime in the nation’s largest city. There’s no evidence to support that.
A New York City comptroller’s office report last year found that “The data indicate that pretrial rearrest rates remained nearly identical pre- and post-bail reform.”
Jordan has spent days tweeting about crime in New York City, citing data about felonies while conveniently ignoring the overall long-term trends since 2000.
What about Columbus?
It’s also important to consider scale: 170,000 felonies sounds a lot bigger in Columbus than it does in New York. There are 8.4 million people living here, 1 million more commute here daily, and the city expects more than 61 million visitors from around the world.
By comparison, Columbus has a higher per capita homicide rate. It’s three times higher than New York City’s.
Conveniently, Jordan managed to overlook those points.
Based on Jordan’s record in the House, it’s fairly likely his obtuse remarks will not ultimately lead to any kind of policy. He’s authored only 29 bills in 16 years, and not a single one has made it to the floor.
More:Manhattan DA, Jim Jordan clash over murder rates in Ohio, N.Y. after Trump indictment
What about New York?
By no means is New York perfect.
It’s insanely expensive. The average rent cost in Manhattan is over $5,000 a month. In the summer months, more often than not the sidewalks smell like urine and much of the city has a trash problem, but one thing it’s not is a crime-ridden danger zone.
I am not from central Ohio, nor have I ever lived in the place you call home, so I am not going to speak about what it’s like. It would be appreciated if one of your representatives, Jim Jordan, could pay us the same respect.
More:‘It’s just getting worse’: NYC rent prices surge amid competition from three graduating classes
My advice to you: Travel to New York City and enjoy the sights. See for yourself rather than taking the word of an elected representative who is blatantly misleading you.
Andy Hirschfeld is a journalist based in New York. His work has appeared in Slate, The Daily Beast, Observer, CNBC.com, Fortune and several other publications.
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