Hitting the depths in University Heights
The brutal beating of Michael Bliss last weekend has many in University Heights talking about crime and violence.
Other college students and young people have been attacked in the neighborhood as well, including several gunpoint muggings of students. In December, a young man from Rochester was killed outside a fraternity fundraiser being held in the basement of a Winspear Avenue apartment.
Some in the community blame heavy drinking at local bars and house parties. Others point to a lack of investment in the community by young residents of the neighborhood.
Is there a way to stem the tide of violent crime in University Heights? Is there something students should do to protect themselves? Or is Saturday's incident a terrible, but random,
crime that couldn't be prevented?
-- Maki Becker
I hate to say it, but if you actually are reading this article this is college students beating up on each other . The issue is on the registrar and the kids they are enrolling because their students are getting drunk underage and paralyzing each other. This is no longer about city violence, but young adults behaving like adults instead of children
Posted by: Darren | March 26, 2008 at 08:23 AM
I can't believe after months of crime in University Heights it took a poor students cold blooded paralyzation for this to make the front page.
Its also sad that it came to this, residents in the area have been plagued by violence, burglaries and muggings for the longest time and now it makes the front page.
This publication is a rag.
Posted by: Connors | March 26, 2008 at 10:00 AM
being a parent of 3 college kids myself, and working for a company that is the national leader in self-defense pepper spray, it is a responsible move for me to provide my children the means to protect themselves against thugs, and random attacks via proactive measures, and appparently others are getting the message in light of the disturbing uptick in violence we are seeing around our campuses, and it explains why smart people are taking the proactive measure of being prepared for an assault by acquiring their own pepper spray
Posted by: Leyland | March 26, 2008 at 10:34 AM
Throughout the article there is mentioning of various clubs and community groups (ie. University Heights Collaborative) how many of these reach out to the college students within the University Heights to obtain their ideas or influence?
I'm a college student currently living in the Heights and have never seen any sense of community. The article gives college kids of the Heights and bad name, yes there is drinking and partying...but it is college. The same type of rowdiness and crime (fights, underage drinkining, public intoxication) occurs in the parking lots of Ralph Wilson Stadium every Sunday. Only so much of the blame can be put on the drinking factor, because even without the big parties college kids are still going to drink. The focus should be on the people that migrate to the Heights area to prey on the college kids. Come Friday/Saturday it is not going to be the college kid that is breaking into cars or mugging people. The goal should be to make sure the residents of the Heights are safe from the crime.
When it comes to the crime level of the Heights and the college drinking scene, don't forget that the crimes occur on North Campus as well. Granted there aren't muggings, but there is constantly items being stolen from libraries (computers/cell phones/mp3 players) or cars getting broken into and drinking doesn't cause any of them.
The article also talks about the "low-level quality-of-life issues"; students move to the Heights for two reasons...the freedom and cheap living. Many of the students want a nice place to live, however; the cheap housing is the major draw and we end up living in dumps. It is the responsbility of the landlords that own properties in the Heights to see that the yard is maintained. Or to notify the tenants that it needs to be picked up.
Posted by: Jeffrey | March 26, 2008 at 12:40 PM
Respectfully, I feel like this article falls short. I feel like this is the same ‘crime in the Heights’ story that I've read about a dozen times in the News, in which we hear a lot of breathless anecdotes, but learn nothing substantive about what is really going on, or what can and should be done to address the problem.
Next time the News decides to report on crime in the Heights, I encourage them to ask the questions that people in the neighborhood really want to hear. For starters, here are a few:
1. What are the real crime trends in the Heights? The article twice refers to a “spike in crime,” and talks about a couple of recent incidents, but provides no hard statistical evidence at all about larger trends. To be safe as residents, and to begin to address this problem through public policy, we need more than anecdotes; we hard facts about what is really happening.
2. What are some real actions that can/should be taken to reduce crime in the Heights? There are a lot of people, from elected officials to the police department, who are in a position to do something about this problem. Residents want to know: Who is accountable for taking action to address this problem? What are they doing? Is it working? What more can and should be done? Public officials should have answers to these questions, and reporters for the News should hold them accountable.
3. What should be the responsibility of the university itself in helping to address the challenges of a neighborhood where thousands of its students live? Many students feel like UB should do what most other large urban universities have done, and make a real effort to revitalize its adjacent neighborhood—for the benefit of both the university and the neighborhood. Articles about UB students and the Heights should at least raise this question. Is UB doing enough? What are some things it can or should do to help improve the area for its students?
Despite its problems, the Heights is a great place to live: affordable rents; great restaurants, bars and shops; and a real feeling of community, character and eclecticism you can’t get in Amherst. To help the neighborhood address its challenges and reach its full potential, I encourage the News to go beyond its well-worn 'crime in the Heights' story and take up some more rigorous questions in its next story.
Posted by: Ben (UB '05) | March 26, 2008 at 01:38 PM
I'm not the brightest guy in the world, but......
The title of the lead article states: "Increase in crime puts University Heights on edge."
vs.
(facts contained in said article)
Buffalo police spokesman Michael J. DeGeorge suggested that the recent high-profile crimes should be put into perspective.
“There have been a few incidents in the University District, but overall violent crime remains down,” DeGeorge said. In the last two calendar years, violent crime went down by 12 percent in the city, he said, and the overall crime rate went down by 7 percent.
Who's lying?
I suspect Buffalo News writers Maki Becker, Gene Warner and Vanessa Thomas had a preconceived angle before they wrote the story and were not smart enough to to think "facts" were very important (in fact in their own article they provided contrary evidence).
Where was the evidence to back up the title of their article?
Posted by: Paul | March 26, 2008 at 03:06 PM
As I observed from Lake Effect 2 years ago (& still ongoing), the preditors see the students as easy prey....but I was accused of being Chicken Little crying "the sky is falling".
If you pay attention you can pick out 3 to 5 guys hanging out separately but signaling to each other as to who to target. The students meanwhile are young & naive, distracted by having fun and sometimes drunk & unobservant. When a single person leaves the crowd & starts out on their own, I've seen the signal given & one or 2 of the "watchers" goes after them. It's just like watching wolves in the wild pick out the single vulnerable prey on a nature program. When I try to warn kids I know, I'm brushed off. When I try talking to kids I don't know, I'M accused of being a perv. When I try talking to police/politicians, I'm told I'm overreacting. The next days news reports usually (unfortunately) vindicate my position. Maybe NOW there will be some attention given to a growing problem.
BTW this doesn't discount the student on student fights---that'll occur where ever boozing crowds gather.
Posted by: denis | March 26, 2008 at 05:34 PM
"The UB south campus should be closed and all activities moved to the north campus."
This is a joke right?
GO read UB's student newspaper and you find out that the same crimes that occur on south campus also occur at north campus every day. Items are constatnly stolen from desks in libraries, cars are broken into and there are drugs. However, these are over looked because they occur in Amherst and not the city of Buffalo.
Posted by: Jeffrey | March 26, 2008 at 06:52 PM
Jeffrey - The non-violent crimes on the campuses, yes you're right those happen on both campuses. The violent street crimes near the South Campus, no. That's not on both to the same degree at all. Some violent crime at North Campus, bike path rapist for example and some other crimes too, but nowhere near the amount and frequency of muggings and beatings as happens near South Campus.
Posted by: Client 9 | March 27, 2008 at 02:13 AM
Close the south campus, and there will be nothing to contain the menace of the east side. Use noise and litter ordinances enforced by foot and bicycle police patrols. Expel more students for violations.
Posted by: '74 grad | March 27, 2008 at 07:02 AM
Why don't the people in the area form a "CITIZENS ON PATROL" (C.O.P.) like most everyone seen in the movies titaled Police Adcademy. I think it would be very effective and everyone who participates have a two way radio or walkey talkey to noify the Buffalo police if they see a crime commented. Maybe someone that is reading this can notify the Buffalo Poice and Mayors office about this. I beleive it'll work and catch those gang members on the spot. Al
Posted by: Al | March 27, 2008 at 09:30 AM
I spoke to the person who owns the store front in this picture. Nice job on besmirching a business that did nothing to deserve it. Business owners in the area depend on not only people in their neighborhood, but in traffic coming in from outlying areas. Why did the the news have to use a picture like that?
When we wonder why people don't want to move back into the city, it's stuff like this that we have to look at. But then again, maybe the News has lost it's focus on these types of issues since it is now owned by a national conglomerate?
Posted by: Alexandra | March 28, 2008 at 09:57 AM
denis--you are correct about the predators. The police need to be more cognizant of loiterers, as many of them are, in fact, looking for crimes of opportunity, or waiting for a deal.
I wonder, statistically, whether the targets are rural kids who do not have a clue of the dangers in urban settings?
Posted by: Lydia Bezou-Hojnacki | March 28, 2008 at 10:06 AM
Alaxandra said "But then again, maybe the News has lost it's focus on these types of issues since it is now owned by a national conglomerate?"
Nah. The News has been owned by Bufett for over 30 years now. I don't think ownership affects how a story like this is covered.
The story deserved attention, but the reporter and editor did mess up by linking it to the University Heights crime problem. That crime problem is real and serious, and not perpetrated by UB students, although they are often the victims.
This was a story about drunk college thugs and the damage they do. Also a serious problem, but separate.
Posted by: Client 9 | March 28, 2008 at 10:32 AM
I am a homeowner in the University Heights - my family and I love it there.
I cannot improve upon what Ben, UB '05 had to say about all of this -- Amen and good night.
Posted by: Punch | March 28, 2008 at 01:58 PM
I am a homeowner in the University Heights - my family and I love it there.
I cannot improve upon what Ben, UB '05 had to say about all of this -- Amen and good night.
Posted by: Punch | March 28, 2008 at 01:58 PM
Ok, Punch, I will partly agree with you and Ben. Ben wrote three areas of questions. The first was very good:
"1. What are the real crime trends in the Heights? The article twice refers to a “spike in crime,” and talks about a couple of recent incidents, but provides no hard statistical evidence at all about larger trends. To be safe as residents, and to begin to address this problem through public policy, we need more than anecdotes; we hard facts about what is really happening."
I also would like to see the Buffalo News address the above issues Ben raised.
It was a severe weakness in their report. The reporter and editor should learn from Ben's critique. The article made claims withou providing facts to back it up.
The next two points raised by Ben were not good however.
"2. What are some real actions that can/should be taken to reduce crime in the Heights? There are a lot of people, from elected officials to the police department, who are in a position to do something about this problem. Residents want to know: Who is accountable for taking action to address this problem? What are they doing? Is it working? What more can and should be done? Public officials should have answers to these questions, and reporters for the News should hold them accountable."
Yawn. Lot of blah blah blah. There's nothing unique about the University Heights for the question of who is accountable. The police, district attorney, city court judges, and parole boards all share in accounability. The Buffalo News doesn't owe us a civics lesson. The actions that should be taken are arrests, convictions, sentencing, and denying parole as long as possible.
The third question is the weakest:
"3. What should be the responsibility of the university itself in helping to address the challenges of a neighborhood where thousands of its students live? Many students feel like UB should do what most other large urban universities have done, and make a real effort to revitalize its adjacent neighborhood—for the benefit of both the university and the neighborhood. Articles about UB students and the Heights should at least raise this question. Is UB doing enough? What are some things it can or should do to help improve the area for its students?"
UB is not properly empowered, nor should it be, to involve itself to that degree in the neighborhood. Similarly, Buff State shouldn't be expected to help solve crime in the Grant Street area, nor should Canisius be expected to do that in the near East Side. Universities should be responsible for policing their campuses and in some cases assisting on nearby streets. That's it.
Posted by: Kennedy-Dodd Waitress Sandwich | March 29, 2008 at 12:58 AM
I live in the University District but "the other side of Bailey". Last night I had another experience w/ 911 that was typical of this city's response. I was in my backyard & HEARD an "explosion". I ran to the street to see a car racing away with severe damage, the front wheel bent sideways,with rubber & sparks flying. I followed them 4 blocks to where they hid the car in Cheektowaga. I then called 911 with my half of the story in case someone else called in the 1st part. The 911 response was; that since I only saw half, they were dismisive and that since the car was now out of Buffalo, it was no longer their concern. I called the Mayor's complaint line & left a message about the 911 brush off; I expect little more than status quo lip service...if anything at all.
My (middle-aged) friends on Winspear, Highgate and Lisbon all have given up calling years ago for anything less than gunfire, due to poor 911 response and lack of enforcement by police in this area. My block club says to keep calling, but why???
Posted by: denis | March 29, 2008 at 11:17 AM
Denis, the real question is why do you still stay living there?
"My block club says to keep calling, but why???"
Posted by: Confused | March 29, 2008 at 04:48 PM
I live on a "dangerous" street that is rife with drug deals. I hope and pray that no one aims at me--you know-- if I'm discovered to be the neighborhood snoop and snitch. I see a lot from behind my curtains, and I report all of it. 911 has become familiar with my voice, and I always begin my message with, "I'm not in imminent danger, but the drug dealers are at it again on ***** Street."
My only regret is that I'm not bold enough to go downstairs to write down their license plate numbers when they're hanging in front of my house trading their wares.
We should all be so vigilant.
Posted by: yadayadayada | March 29, 2008 at 07:29 PM
As long as we have "single" unwed mom's who are glorified in today's society who the taxpayer supports, then we will have angry, "get a buck fast druggie dads" not only doing nothing with their lives but shooting it up both literally and physically. Stop spending the taxpayers buck to support these children and spend my money doing DNA testing and put them in jail if they don't support their offspring. It is one way to get the criminals off the streets.
Posted by: disgusted again | March 29, 2008 at 07:52 PM
"Confused" asks why do I stay in Univ Dist? I can answer in 3 ways:
1. The "solution" to run away rather than try to improve cities is PART of why the US crime rate is turned on it's head. Everytime you run, it just follows. ie:We looked to move to the country a few years ago, the farmers that owned the land were killed in their beds during negotiations.
2. (the real reason) My morgage and retirement will occur together in only a few short years; I'll be deciding then. In the meantime, NOW is not the time to try to recoup all that I've put into the house.
3. Where am I going to go? My coworkers complain in Amherst, Cheektowaga, O.P., & W.S. too; as do my relatives in Victor, Rochester, Canandaigua, Greece, Siver Spring MD, Boulder CO, Jasper AL & Meterie LA.
Posted by: denis | March 30, 2008 at 05:53 PM
I am originally from upstate NY but came down South for economic reasons. My first place was on the edge of "the city" but reports of violence (muggings, rape, shootings) scared me away. So I went to the "first ring 'burbs" only to encounter more crime (daytime robberies, carjacking, gangs at the Mall, drug deals in plazas/schoolyards). I ran to the "new bedroom community" 30 miles away...& here comes the crime too. Based on crime reports, I'm considering moving into the center of downtown (gated parking, building security, delivery services) but it MAY be too fortress-like for my tastes. I have opportunities to move to the Detlta or Pacific NW, but in my research they have their own problems. I plan on staying here ($$$) but envy your cultural choices (I drive over an hour to see any live entertainment other than stockcar racing).
I too am tired of running, but frustrated as to what else to do.
Posted by: CKY | March 30, 2008 at 08:59 PM
Denis - I understand there can be complicated reasons for not moving so I didn't mean that inquiry in a bad way. When the time comes keep in mind although Amherst has some problems it's much less troubled than the University Heights area. Usually for crime rate Amherst is nationally ranked in the top 5 of all 100,000 and greater polulation cities or towns.
Posted by: Confused | March 31, 2008 at 01:03 AM
"(I drive over an hour to see any live entertainment other than stockcar racing)"
CKY, I believe you about where you are but to imply the above is how it is in all southern cities is garbage.
Posted by: Confused | March 31, 2008 at 01:05 AM