The top five most dangerous American cities have one thing in common: they are all Democratically controlled.
According to a recent analysis, the city of 27,000 people in Bessemer, Alabama, has the highest chance of becoming a victim of crime—a startling 1 in 9—and tops the list.
Bessemer, which was formerly praised as “The Marvel City” for its quick development, is now faced with a harsh reality of increased crime, increased violence, and auto thefts. There are 33.18 violent crimes per 1,000 residents in the city, which is a worrying statistic under Mayor Kenneth “Ken” Gulley’s administration. Birmingham, another city on the list, is only a short distance away and highlights a concerning trend in the area.
Memphis, Tennessee, which is the second most violent city, presents a bleak image. The city’s neighborhoods—Downtown and Parkway Village-Oakhaven, in particular—have crime rates that are 237% higher than the national average. These areas are practically hotspots for criminal activity. Mayor Paul Young has led Memphis’s anti-crime initiatives, but they have not exactly been effective.
FBI VIOLENT CRIME DATA IS HIGHER THAN ORIGINALLY REPORTED, SAYS PUBLIC SAFETY GROUP
St. Louis, Missouri, justifies its spot on the list due to its high unemployment and poverty rates, which compound the city’s one in fifty risk of becoming a victim of crime. Deaths are being caused by Mayor Tishaura Jones’s inability to address the deeply rooted problems in the city.
