the perception of crime, pt. 2.

Michael Maw is a grad student who moved to Columbia in 2012, searching for housing close to campus. Maw ended up moving into Ridgeway neighborhood, which is a triangle stretching from Providence Road, Sexton Road and Business Loop 70. Maw knew minimal information about Ridgeway having the past of criminal activity that it does before moving to the neighborhood. Fast forward a little bit, and Maw has now been the president of the Ridgeway Neighborhood Association for a year and a half and knows a lot about the crime in the area.

Maw said he hasn't really felt unsafe in the Ridgeway neighborhood but has recognized the negative perception surrounding it, and has taken part in efforts to remove the negative connotation. However, Maw knows that crime does exist. It can't be ignored and sadly enough, a lot of it does happen in his neighborhood. Here were some of his thoughts:

1. Rental property and the turnover rate with rental property play a significant role. Landlords own property that they do not care for (still figuring the reasoning out), which results in a lot of drug houses. This one is easy: the more drug houses, the more drug deals. So, lack of TLC from landlords. 

2. Rental property and affordable housing is a big deal. In case you didn't know, most student rental properties have inflated prices, costing double or three times as much as it should. These types of affordable rental properties, such as the Ridgeway neighborhood, draw in families with low income. "Poverty breeds poverty," said Maw. So, even if these people living in poverty aren't criminals, they unfortunately have a negative reputation. 

3. There is gang activity but Maw doesn't think it's all residential. In past shootings, the shooters have ended up being from a different part of Columbia, or not even from Columbia at all. Maw said he believes this is due to the easy ways to get out of a neighborhood such as Ridgeway. Maw more thoroughly described the location of his neighborhood and said it's an easy way out for people. There isn't a stoplight, a stop sign, there are eight exit points and traffic can easily speed out. That's where some shootings have happened; where there's an easy way out. It's much easier to catch someone in a suburban neighborhood where there are windy streets and only one in and one out. Those types of neighborhoods don't have many cross streets and when you're in there, you're in there. So, we should consider the fact that Columbia is made up of a lot of inner city neighborhoods, with easy ways in and out.  

"I think with Ridgeway, you've got to know your neighborhoods, what they're going through, know their joys and their sorrows and ultimately, help each other out," said Maw.

Stay tuned.