Safe in the Bronx -- Really!

We have noticed that when we tell people we're moving to the Bronx, they often respond with something less than enthusiasm, not because they question our motives or calling, but because the only associations many people have with the Bronx -- other than the Yankees, which may well inspire widespread animosity -- is that of a violent, lawless, danger-zone. We tell people that New York is actually a very safe city, one of the safest big cities in America, that we've been there a number of times and have always felt safe there.

Notice how I've used the word "safe" three times already? (Four now, I guess.)

Well, here's some outside confirmation. This story from NPR talks about the declining murder rate in New York City and about who should get the credit. Ultimately, we don't care too much about handing out credit, but the fact remains: New York City is a safe place.

Really!

Freaking Out Our Friends

I freaked out another friend last night. He asked if we planned on staying in our current house when our third child arrives in May. I told him that we were planning on moving, but not because of the baby: We want to move to New York this summer.

“New York? You mean upstate, or the city, or…”

“Um, the Bronx.”

“The Bronx?!”

I could hear the shock in his voice, and his unspoken follow-up, which was either “But it’s so dangerous!” or “Are you crazy?!”

His response, Bethany and I have noted, is not uncommon. Apparently the Bronx has a reputation.

He seemed to recoil for a moment. I had alarmed the coils right out of him.

So I explained what and why and (we hope) when. He asked what kinds of people we would be living among, that is, what the ethnic makeup of the neighborhood would be. I said that it would be mostly Hispanic, though the Bronx’s Little Italy is only a couple of blocks away, and there are a good number of west Africans there too. It is New York City, after all, so there are all kinds of people there.

He also asked about money, and how far along we were in our fundraising. We’re still pretty early in that process, I said, though we have started gathering something called a MOST Team around us (It’s kind of like a prayer team who also acts like an advisory board), and that our church missions committee was fully on board with us, as are our pastor and church staff.

Then we talked about lots of other things: politics, Germany, accordions, hurricanes, and kindergarten.

My friend asked his question because he wanted to know if we were looking for a bigger house once we become a family of five. Ironically, we will likely be getting a smaller place after the baby is born. Funny, huh?