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| Chicago and New York clock disparate year-end crime milestones | Chicago and New York clock disparate year-end crime milestones |
| (4 months later) | |
| A disturbing contrast between two great American cities – one seen as a capital of violence, the other as a model of urban safety in the US – was driven home Friday by a pair of year-end reports on homicides. | A disturbing contrast between two great American cities – one seen as a capital of violence, the other as a model of urban safety in the US – was driven home Friday by a pair of year-end reports on homicides. |
| New York City announced that 2012 was the safest on record, with 414 homicides beating the previous low of 471 in 2009. | New York City announced that 2012 was the safest on record, with 414 homicides beating the previous low of 471 in 2009. |
| Chicago, meanwhile, at about a third the size of NYC proper, drew near its 500th homicide of the year. It was the first time the city had approached the mark since 2008, when 512 were killed. | Chicago, meanwhile, at about a third the size of NYC proper, drew near its 500th homicide of the year. It was the first time the city had approached the mark since 2008, when 512 were killed. |
| "Chicago has reached an unfortunate and tragic milestone, which not only marks a needless loss of life but serves as a reminder of the damage that illegal guns and conflicts between gangs cause in our neighborhoods," Mayor Rahm Emanuel said in a statement. "We are working with neighborhood activists, community groups, faith leaders, educators and business leaders to positively change the violent culture that is too prevalent in our communities." | "Chicago has reached an unfortunate and tragic milestone, which not only marks a needless loss of life but serves as a reminder of the damage that illegal guns and conflicts between gangs cause in our neighborhoods," Mayor Rahm Emanuel said in a statement. "We are working with neighborhood activists, community groups, faith leaders, educators and business leaders to positively change the violent culture that is too prevalent in our communities." |
| The Chicago police department denied reports earlier Friday that the 500th homicide had already been recorded. "The department's official year-to-date 2012 murder total for the city of Chicago currently stands at 499, with one death investigation still pending classification," the police said. | The Chicago police department denied reports earlier Friday that the 500th homicide had already been recorded. "The department's official year-to-date 2012 murder total for the city of Chicago currently stands at 499, with one death investigation still pending classification," the police said. |
| But with homicides running higher than a murder a day, it is thought highly likely that the grim marker will be reached before year's end. | But with homicides running higher than a murder a day, it is thought highly likely that the grim marker will be reached before year's end. |
| In New York City, Mayor Michael Bloomberg congratulated police officers at a graduation ceremony on the record-low deaths. | In New York City, Mayor Michael Bloomberg congratulated police officers at a graduation ceremony on the record-low deaths. |
| "The fact that the safest big city in America is safer than ever is a testament to the hard work and determination of the men and women who put their lives on the line for us every day – and it also reflects our commitment to doing everything possible to stop gun violence," said Bloomberg, one of the US's highest profile politicians pushing for stricter gun controls. | "The fact that the safest big city in America is safer than ever is a testament to the hard work and determination of the men and women who put their lives on the line for us every day – and it also reflects our commitment to doing everything possible to stop gun violence," said Bloomberg, one of the US's highest profile politicians pushing for stricter gun controls. |
| Guns accounted for 237 of New York City homicides in 2012, the mayor's office said. Chicago had counted 424 gun homicides by the end of last week. | Guns accounted for 237 of New York City homicides in 2012, the mayor's office said. Chicago had counted 424 gun homicides by the end of last week. |
| The two cities are fighting different crime problems. Gun traffic in Chicago far exceeds that in New York City, where police commissioner Ray Kelly said 800 illegal handguns were removed from the streets in 2012. | The two cities are fighting different crime problems. Gun traffic in Chicago far exceeds that in New York City, where police commissioner Ray Kelly said 800 illegal handguns were removed from the streets in 2012. |
| Chicago seizes guns at nine times that rate, according to the Washington Post. | Chicago seizes guns at nine times that rate, according to the Washington Post. |
| Last week Kelly suggested President Obama should be doing more to fight gun violence in Chicago. "[It's] the president's hometown," Kelly told the New York Daily News. "But barely a peep out of him." | Last week Kelly suggested President Obama should be doing more to fight gun violence in Chicago. "[It's] the president's hometown," Kelly told the New York Daily News. "But barely a peep out of him." |
| Taken over a longer period, overall murder rates in both Chicago and New York are declining. New York counted 2,245 murders in 1990, more than five times as many as this year. Chicago counted 943 murders in 1992, nearly twice today's rate. | Taken over a longer period, overall murder rates in both Chicago and New York are declining. New York counted 2,245 murders in 1990, more than five times as many as this year. Chicago counted 943 murders in 1992, nearly twice today's rate. |
| Meanwhile, a third US city also released data on homicides on Friday, with Los Angeles noting a slight incline in violent deaths. | Meanwhile, a third US city also released data on homicides on Friday, with Los Angeles noting a slight incline in violent deaths. |
| By Thursday the city had recorded 297 murders for the year, three more than the same period last year. Since 2010 homicides have hovered at just under 300, a benchmark figure four times lower than a violent peak in the late 1990s. | By Thursday the city had recorded 297 murders for the year, three more than the same period last year. Since 2010 homicides have hovered at just under 300, a benchmark figure four times lower than a violent peak in the late 1990s. |
| Despite New York's pride as a safe big city, the metropolis witnesses gun violence at levels unheard of most anywhere else in the world. In the United Kingdom there were 138 deaths resulting from firearms in 2009. The entirety of Canada counted 223 gun homicides in 2005, its worst year for lethal gun violence in the last two decades. | Despite New York's pride as a safe big city, the metropolis witnesses gun violence at levels unheard of most anywhere else in the world. In the United Kingdom there were 138 deaths resulting from firearms in 2009. The entirety of Canada counted 223 gun homicides in 2005, its worst year for lethal gun violence in the last two decades. |
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