John, is correct about the shelter. it attracts down-trodden people who may act out.
unfortunately the shelter is here to stay.

I have been thinking about moving to Salem, but after reading countless reports about the never ending crime in this town, I am having second thoughts.

Count on more to come .
The state is forcing the "Gateway community ' upon us .Along with the CPA that will help fund "AFFORDABLE "housing , we will become a mecca for these problems .
Interesting to note the push back from ward 2 already .

I recently sold my home in NY because of the increasing crime and not feeling safe in my neighborhood. I bought a house in Salem, hope I haven't made a mistake.

If it was my sole decision I'd move our business out of Salem and into Beverly or Danvers. I worry about the safety of our employees after dark.

Let's face it - word is out that Lynn and Salem are places to go if you are down and out.

At least criminals can find work in this economy.

Mayor Driscoll seems to be only concerned about bringing in small business, tourism, etc. I've been in Salem three years and the decline in the city is astounding. She needs to focus on the cleanup of crime and get the city back again. I don't want to blame the shelter alone. We're relocating from the city for work, and I dare say it seems like it's coming none to soon. I don't want my daughter going to school in one of the worst systems in the state, and I don't want her to fear walking around downtown.

I'm also having second thoughts about my move to salem, shame because I love this town, visit every yr. Since I was a teenager. This is what happened to my neighborhood, it will get much worse if action is not taken. Id hate to see the place I love turn into the place I'm trying so hard to leave

Maybe Salem has free WiFi to ensure crime victims can contact police from anywhere in the city,...brilliant!

Just last night I heard a man threatening to kill another over a drug deal gone bad right in the YMCA parking lot. Makes me feel oh so safe when I'm there with my kids.

I agree about the mayor...she's worried about the bottom line with money and here own appearance....time for here to go....as far as the shelter..that's cowards appprouch to problem ...it will come to light that most robbers during Xmas have hones and chrildren and more in fair of there appearance during holiday...were ad homeless do not fair this stereo type....so just because your homeless does not mean your a criminal

The kind of tourism we promote here...bizarre behavior celebrated, vulgar and violent imagery/costumes/role playing...plus the shelter problems mentioned...this is, indeed, changing the character of the city. And not for the better. Just an observation from a concerned resident over the past decade.

In Texas, they don't have these kind of conversations,...wonder why?

What do you expect from an administration that rolls out the red carpet for needy? It's not just the shelter, it's the amount of affordable housing Salem provides. And they want to add more - in keeping with the state's Gateway city program, which Salem qualifies for, based on its lower-than average residential incomes. Now ask yourself - why are Salem's median incomes so low? Because it already provides one of the highest amounts of affordable housing on the North Shore. It's one thing to provide affordable housing to existing Salemites that need it, it's another to build more than and our fair share and encourage low income residents to relocate here. No wonder we have an increasing crime problem.

Madam Mayor ,are you reading these comments ?
They most likely voted for you ,for the last time .

City of Salem are snobs literally...your right the mayor must go..being apart of the city as a employee....gives them a sence of god the city employees care more about them selves and image than the needs of the city....look into any complaints filed with cilvil rights division and you will see the mayors gives a crap about the everyday citizen.......you literlay must attend numerous fiction and fundraisers to even be heard about....hey police charged with rape didn't a local fire fighter steal money and another charged

Two sides to every story.I agree about the mayor and some employees unforgivable behavior.Consider what the mayor has done in recent years. She and she alone is responsible for the school failure. She also has no respect for union contracts(teachers,police, fire) but recently gave BIG raises to a chosen few in her administration while she is slowly taking away benifits to city employees. Create a lousy atmosphere and live in a lousy city.

This whole city is becoming just a drive-thru for businesses and tourist. Our Mayor is driving out the long term residents with the way she runs this city! Salem used feel like a home " a place to raise a family." Our Mayor no longer cares about the long term residents and we get no breaks or incentives to even continue to live in this city. Pretty soon they will have to re-name the city for what our Mayor is creating here and that is "Slumlem!"

Nice try, pk- you listed crime stats of allUS cities over 100,000, useless,...now, here is the 25 MOST VIOLENT cities in the US and look!,...NO TEXAS CITIES,.that's what i'm saying professor.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/the-25-most-dangerous-cities-in-america.html?page=all

Interesting fact, the most violent cities are in Conn., Ca., NY., Mi., Md., states with the toughest gun laws!,...how did that happen?

Rally against the mayor. Mayor Driscoll please resign. Whose in?

As more and more citizens become aware of the direction our Mayor is taking our City, the more her popularity seems to go down hill. You don't win popularity contests aka "elections" by force-feeding public with unpopular ideas. She seems to have become expert at alienating one segment of the population after another with her unpalatable programs.

It seems that area is a major focus on robberys....I'm amazed the library would risk having that much cash from late fees and book sales just lying around while giving refuge to the homeless from the bitter cold....serious what's stoping them from jumping the counter...God help salem

Increased "affordable" housing plus the expansion of the shelter is responsible for much of this, IMHO. "If you build it, they will come" has never been truer than when applied to a segment of the population that often has no visible means of support and/or employment.

Here, an interesting read from The Atlantic, reputed as fairly liberal.

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/07/american-murder-mystery/306872/

American Murder Mystery
Why is crime rising in so many American cities? The answer implicates one of the most celebrated antipoverty programs of recent decades.

"Janikowski merged his computer map of crime patterns with Betts’s map of Section 8 rentals...

Betts remembers her discomfort as she looked at the map. The couple had been musing about the connection for months, but they were amazed—and deflated—to see how perfectly the two data sets fit together. She knew right away that this would be a “hard thing to say or write.” Nobody in the antipoverty community and nobody in city leadership was going to welcome the news that the noble experiment that they’d been engaged in for the past decade had been bringing the city down, in ways they’d never expected. But the connection was too obvious to ignore, and Betts and Janikowski figured that the same thing must be happening all around the country."

Well! you could move to Danvers where they have a higher rate of thefts. As far as crime in Salem the majority are committed by those that live outside of Salem. More police would be great but that went down with the jobs bill.

I know the city is haywire..while I was having cup of coffee one day I over heard two thugs talk about how friendly mart on Lafayette St next to sub shop is the best over all store to hit..with only survalsnce next to register and loads of cash.....people in city are money hungry

The mayor will not be allowed to run for any office....I will see that any election she seeks that the behavior of her city workers attacking my nephew disability and did nothing but worry about getting sued and did not fire a single person....trust me her days in public office are over

Seems to me the shelter has both a curfew and a no weapons policy. And, people who are making (in) decent money dealing drugs and robbing people can afford to live somewhere more private to suit their entrepreneurial pursuits.

Are you sure you people just aren't blowing smoke? Maybe you should call Lifebridge and arrange a visit. My church cooks dinner there once a month. So might yours - most of the local faith communities pitch in.

You might find your heart growing a few sizes larger this holiday season. Who knows?

Might suit you.

When good people see this, by good people I mean the kind who are good neighbors and friends, who work and pay taxes and who's kids go to school and who are involved in the community,- those are the people you want in your city to stay or move into, but this kind of press will turn those people away, not because they are uncaring, but because they understand what makes a community and they won't find it here.

John for once I agree w u, as this kind of activity grows n becomes commonplace throughout the town, those who are honest & work hard to provide for their familys, those who care about their neighbors & keeping their communitys safe for their children, they will leave. The crime & the drugs will take over, n good people wont come to salem, not to live & sooner or later, not to visit. Businesses will leave, jobs wil leave, tourist income will leave. I'm all for helping those in need, but some people are in need because they choose to be, because it is easier for them to get through life scamming, taking handouts & stealing from those of us who work hard for the little bit we do have. Most people can't see the difference between those who need help & those want to take whatevers free

All this low income housing is for 1 reason! To keep The Democratic Party in power as it gets the same dirty people elected year after year, The solution to the problems are term limits, less government jobs, elimination of Unions that are affiliated with civil service jobs, and anyone that is on welfare or sec 8 housing be required to pay back the tax payers every penny they have taken when they get off assistance in the form of community service or money taken from their pay once they get back on their feet! There shall be no lifetime sec 8 tenants or welfare, they shall be required to be enrolled in job training programs when on assistance ( unless they are legally disabled) having kids to obtain welfare is not a disability, it is a 3rd world way of life!