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gopperman t1_jbetgur wrote

Reply to comment by Blotofink in Is the area around Clark University safe? by Blotofink

Agree with /u/Climboy, I've had plenty of friends who have lived exactly on that street, it's fine and close to campus!

You'll hear a lot of stuff about Main South not being safe, but it's the same as any city. The neighborhood outside Clark is filled with PoC and immigrants, and there is a normal amount of poverty. Most "crime" is drug-related or won't affect you as a college student. You'll see a homeless person every now and then. Most people over-react to these optics because they've never lived in a city before. Worcester statistically has lower crime rates than other nearby cities. Take the same precautions you would in any city, and you will be fine. There's a lot of great food and activities in the area if you're willing to leave the campus bubble!

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Doom-Hauer451 t1_jbf3hk8 wrote

This has been my experience as well, living mostly in “less than desirable” parts of Worcester since 2009. I think I felt anxious about it the first few months having grown up in the suburbs, then it was fine. If you’re not in a gang and you’re just a normal person who works and/or goes to school, your chances of being involved in a crime or attacked on the street are considerably low.

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Sangy101 t1_jbfpowi wrote

Yeah I lived near Clark around the same time period. Had way more friends get jumped than one would expect — but then you talk to them, and it’s like “are you fucking serious? You provoked the locals.”

Don’t be a jerk. Don’t pick fights. It’s all good.

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ssumana t1_jbf2hl2 wrote

This. Born and raised here and the bad rep that main south has that gets repeated is obnoxious at this point.

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FIFAFanboy2023 t1_jbfl797 wrote

Oh yeah... super safe stepping on used needles and being accosted by homeless and/or unmedicated people. Such a fun, safe place. Super safe. Donald Trump would say its the safest spot in Worcester.

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ssumana t1_jbfnfwv wrote

i think you have main south confused with lincoln street which is where the majority of the city's medical resources are. You'll find needles, homeless, and mentally ill anywhere in the city. that's just the reality of life today and if that's scary to you stay home. not sure what trump has anything to do with this discussion. main south is packed with small family run businesses, working class, and students.

To OP probably the only section of the city where you'll find people of all backgrounds actually out of their homes and interacting during the day and I hope you enjoy what it has to offer.

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FIFAFanboy2023 t1_jbfnzsc wrote

The Trump comment was just to capture the trolls I feel like arguing with when I'm bored at work.

The majority of the city's medical/psych needs are actually on Queen St/Jacques Ave., as is the biggest homeless shelter in the area. The Lincoln st. medical areas are for the lower socio-economic class of people who can afford to get around by car.

I've definitely stepped on needles around Beacon Pharmacy multiple times. That's definitely not on Lincoln St.

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gopperman t1_jbftxp6 wrote

yeah, as i was saying above, if you are bothered by the existence of and proximity to people struggling through these issues, maybe living in a city isn't for you.

Equating a few unpleasant interactions with less fortunate folks with a serious safety risk above and beyond normal city life is disingenuous, frustrating, and not helpful for OP.

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FIFAFanboy2023 t1_jbg1xa3 wrote

I've lived in Boston and NYC and worked in Brockton, Fall River, New Bedford and Lowell. I can handle city life just fine. I've also lived in Tampa and Daytona Beach.

The person how the area around Clark is. Due to the nature of my work I am in those areas on a consistent basis and find it to be the worst part of the city.

Sorry not sorry, I'm entitled to my opinions as well.

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gopperman t1_jbghgr3 wrote

Cool, cool, I was able to pull up violent crime statistics via neighborhood scout. Your chances of being victimized by a violent crime in:

Worcester - 1 in 170

Boston - 1 in 166

Brockton - 1 in 156

Fall river - 1 in 110!

New Bedford - 1 in 164

Lowell - 1 in 303 (good job, lowell)

Tampa, FL - 1 in 178

Daytona Beach - 1 in 98!!

So you can see clearly Worcester is safer than many of the places you've lived and worked.

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FIFAFanboy2023 t1_jbjdsly wrote

A difference of 8-15 people would put them all in the same category in most statistics groupings. This is essentially saying that Boston, Worcester, Tampa, New Bedford and Brockton are all roughly the same with, shockingly IMO, Brockton being the safest of the group. Surprised about Lowell as that city sketched me out the most. Daytona doesn't surprise me.

I'm curious about your source and from when these numbers are as well.

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gopperman t1_jbjse7f wrote

I mentioned it up above but https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/

edit: Also, you might be reading the stats backwards, Brockton is the least safe of the median bunch at 1/156, Tampa the safest at 1/178, but I agree they're all pretty similar enough.

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FIFAFanboy2023 t1_jbk75d4 wrote

Yeah I did read that wrong. I read it as 186. Fucking old man eyes over here.

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