Homicides soared in New Orleans in 2007 (30% increase from 2006)

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Homicides soared in New Orleans in 2007

With 2007 Homicide Numbers In, New Orleans Again on Track to Be Nation's Bloodiest City

MARY FOSTER
AP News

Jan 01, 2008 23:50 EST

http://www.rawstory.com/news/mochila/Homicides_soared_in_New_Orleans_in__01012008.html

The bloodiest city in the country in 2006, reeling from crime in its struggle to recover from Hurricane Katrina, got even worse in 2007.

New Orleans registered 209 homicides last year, a nearly 30 percent increase from the 161 recorded in 2006.

The FBI's rankings for 2007 will not be out until much later in the year, but New Orleans' population is thought to be 295,450, which would mean a rate of about 71 homicides per 100,000 people.

Even the most generous population estimate in 2006 put the number of people in the city that year at 255,000. That meant a real homicide rate of 63.5 per 100,000 residents. To compare that number with some other notoriously bloody cities, the rate for Gary, Ind., was 48.3 and Detroit's was 47.1.

The killings are drug-related or retaliatory for the most part, police have said. The upswing comes despite continued patrols by the National Guard and state police and the addition of two new classes of police recruits in the past year.

[Atman]

1. But...but...but...

I thought W's "theory" was that by removing the dark-skinned poor people, the city would get better? Wow. Bush is even failing in Eugenics 101. And his daddy helped write the course syllabus!

.

[annabanana]

2. The infrastructure is gone.

All viable security is private. All food, shelter, health care and safety are on a "pay if you can" basis. Anyone in straightened circumstances must do whatever they can, with whatever resources are available.