This is the most dangerous city in America?

One of the reasons I am inclined to believe in something akin to reincarnation is because I can remember being 6 years old and wanting to live in New York City, even though I had no idea what New York City was.  I’d never been there, never really seen pictures of it, but I knew that was going to be the place for me.  I’m from a small town upstate, so when I actually moved to New York City as planned, my parents weren’t exactly thrilled.  My Dad used to say stuff like, “I don’t know how you can stand livin’ in that crime-infested, rape-filled, rat-hole of a concrete jungle hell.”  (And that’s the edited version.)  I tried to explain to him that New York is much safer than most people think, but he refused to come visit, so he was much more comfortable with the vision of the city that cemented in his mind during the 70′s, when New York actually was a kind of scary place to be.  But thanks to Mickey Mouse and Rudolph Giuliani, parts of New York City these days are down-right quaint.

That’s right – on a list of the most dangerous places to live in the USA based on crime statistics published by the FBI, NYC ranked 269th out of 400.  Impressive!  But listen up New Yorkers, before you get too excited.  The crimes considered in the rankings include murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, and motor vehicle theft.  If the rent being too damn high and robbing kids of a quality education were included, Gotham might be much closer to the top of the list.

So what are the most dangerous cities in America? Continue reading »

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The January suicide of tormented 15-year-old South Hadley, MA student Phoebe Prince rocked the nation and shed much-needed light on the grave seriousness of bullying in schools.  Strollerderby reported on April 21st that family friends and advocates started a campaign to craft anti-bullying legislation in her honor.  Now, according to the Washington Post, the South Hadley school district “has unveiled a draft anti-bullying policy that details measures that should be taken to prevent, or intervene in, a bad situation.”  And – this just in – the Massachusetts Legislature voted today and unanimously passed an anti-bullying law.  Representative John Scibak told the Boston Globe, “This is a day that we can be proud we have done something positive – to eradicate bullying and to demonstrate to this commonwealth and to the nation that bullying will no longer be tolerated.” (Scibak’s district includes South Hadley.)

Additionally, the Graduate School of Education at the University of Buffalo this week opened the Jean M. Alberti Center for the Prevention of Bullying Abuse and School Violence.  Alberti, a clinical and educational psychologist in Chicago and UB alum, told The Buffalo News, “Bullying abuse is child abuse by children.  If we don’t allow abuse by adults, why do we allow it by children?”  The Washington Post reports that “about one-third of students aged 12-18 say they are bullied in some fashion.” Continue reading »

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Friends show their support through a crisis in all kinds of ways. Some bring casseroles, some send nice notes to cheer you up, and if you’re Jason Sucharski, some grow beards.

Jason Sucharski’s son, Chase, was born months early, weighing only one pound and 7 ounces when he arrived in July. While he was being treated in the NICU at Sisters Hospital in Buffalo, Continue reading »

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