CRIMEWATCH BLOG: Businesses Are Closing Because of Crime in the City
We are sad and outraged after hearing the owner of the Malden Mini-Mart will be closing his doors soon.
The owner no longer feels safe with break ins and recent armed robberies. At the age of 69 he said he needs to "relax" now. From what we are hearing, others will follow him. Without mentioning any names, we have spoken to three store owners this week, and all say they are having second thoughts of renewing their leases and taking their business (and revenue) to another city. A safer city.
Small businesses make up the foundation for larger businesses to move in. If the larger ones see that the smaller ones are having issues of any kind, they will not invest into the city. Leaving Malden with empty store fronts and a possibility of more crime (Look up Broken Windows Theory). Building apartment buildings in place of what was once a store does not fix the issue. In fact it makes it worse, over-crowding an already crowed city.
Let's be honest, you place 40 people in a medium-sized bathroom and in time, you will have issues. Residents can help without putting themselves in harms way - and that is by being aware.
If you see something strange, you call the police and let them sort it out. Do not over think it - go with your gut. You can call anonymously. Watching out for these small businesses is not only is the right thing to do, but also helps the city's growth in the long run.
A small amount of people feel that Malden Crimewatch scares and panics people. We are no different then any other neighborhood crime watch operating in this county. We want to bring awareness on issues so the residents and store owners can be more vigilant. Would it be better if the residents did not know and we all fed them a false sense of security? In our opinion a false sense of security is a crime in itself.
We like to look back on how Chinatown cleaned up. Many years ago, you could not walk down many of the streets in Chinatown without meeting a prostitute or drug dealer. And you were lucky if you did not get mugged while visiting. But the PEOPLE worked close with the Boston Police and city government and together they made it what it is today.
Is it 100%? No, but it is a safer place then it was before. People feel safer and business increased. It was a team effort on everyone's part. If Chinatown can do it, Malden can too.
The people do not want to wait until we are labeled "The Combat Zone" before something is done. We need community awareness - not just meetings to talk about what has already happened, we need a city-wide campaign on what we can do to prevent it from happening. Being proactive is more then just a word - follow it with actions.
So, we challenge everyone that works or lives in this city to be aware and vigilant. Call the police if you see something strange, hold people accountable and together we can make Malden a better city. This is OUR city after all. And we all know what a voice can accomplish.
Of course, this is only our opinion.
J
12:26 pm on Friday, April 6, 2012
I like this, but let's not go overboard and start calling the cops every time someone we don't like walks through our neighborhood. The last thing this city needs is to be overrun by busybodies.
Michael Genzale
12:39 pm on Friday, April 6, 2012
That's not what we want. But what we been teaching for three years is if you see something suspicious, call. Do not get yourself into a dangerous situation.
Anon
12:24 pm on Saturday, April 7, 2012
Does anyone here know what a negative feedback loop is and how a story like this might feed into it?
Chris Caesar
4:02 pm on Saturday, April 7, 2012
Anon, maybe I'm too much in weekend mode right now, but I'm not sure what you mean.
Anon
6:16 pm on Saturday, April 7, 2012
Chris,
It goes back to the eyes on the street idea. People read an article like this, become more and more afraid the shop at local shop or walk around town, thus giving more and more opportunity to those looking to cause havoc with as few witnesses as possible.
I have no problem with factual, real news articles like the ones you write yourself, but these sensational fear-mongering 'blogs' instill an irrational terror in people who would otherwise react calmly and rationally to the realities of living in a city.
And yes, those people do start look elsewhere, driving down the perception and value of a safe (by most urban area standards) city, which then attracts a poorer (and thus more desperate) population, which then...
Lisa
11:31 am on Sunday, April 8, 2012
I believe the Malden Crimewatch people are looking to make Malden a better place.Which urban standards are you referencing? Melrose is a city does it have the same urban standards? Mladen is a mess and in reality will only get worse if nothing is done.
Lydia
9:49 am on Monday, April 9, 2012
Who shops in Malden anyways? This city isn't safe, hasn't been for a long time. You get mugged coming of the train.
DannyBoy
10:08 am on Monday, April 9, 2012
Lydia, you're right about the shopping part. The only decent shop worth patronizing in Malden Center is Sparks, that's about it. Pretty sad, isn't it?
Diana
9:52 am on Monday, April 9, 2012
Huh. I've gotten off the train every day for 25 years without getting mugged. Perhaps you're doing it wrong?
Meggle
10:47 am on Monday, April 9, 2012
I moved to Malden in 2010 after graduating college in Troy, NY. Honestly I feel safer in Malden. The sketchiest thing to happen to me was some high dude offering me weed, and someone stealing the spare change out of a friend's car. If I had read what people say on message boards about Malden before I moved here I don't think I would ever leave my house! People are very paranoid/afraid here, and I think that helps feed into the perception of Malden as a dangerous place. If people work themselves into a fearful frenzy and don't go downtown or wherever anymore, of course you won't have businesses there... But far from what everyone seems to think, I see plenty of people walking around Malden and walking downtown. Sometimes I think we all live in different maldens...
Lydia
10:49 am on Monday, April 9, 2012
Diana, I'm not doing anything wrong, maybe you're just oblivious to the situation around the T station. DannyBoy, we used to have Grant's and Jordan Marsh down Malden Square, those were good stores. Now all you see is Dollar Stores and Nail Salons. Ohh, let's not forget about the bars.
Diana
11:11 am on Monday, April 9, 2012
Of course not, being oblivious is a good way to get mugged. Seriously though, maybe my threshold for feeling "threatened" is higher than most people's, but I've never felt unsafe at the T. It is, after all, directly across the street from the MPD and generally has a significant MBTA police presence as well.
That said I agree about the lack of worthwhile retail in Malden Square, I don't think I've been into any store there other than CVS in over a decade. No, wait... I think I bought some emergency flip-flops at Payless once.
DannyBoy
11:18 am on Monday, April 9, 2012
Lydia, I wasn't living in Malden when Grant's and Jordan Marsh were still open, so I couldn't use those as a point of reference.
Diana, my wife and I browsed Payless a few times, before it closed its doors. She also shopped at Lady Grace, before that also closed shop. Too bad we don't have any other retail options in downtown Malden nowadays!
Bobby James
1:59 pm on Wednesday, April 11, 2012
2 bars do not a slum make - nightlife, restaurants, entertainment draw business and culture to a city. Why do people still reference Jordan Marsh and Grant's? Both have been gone for over 30 years. Time to let go.
AnnieOMalden
12:46 pm on Monday, April 9, 2012
Diana, I'm not sure what time you go through the T but I go to Boston about 5pm and return anytime from 11pm-last train. I am not afraid on the T. It is when we get back late at night and leave the station. It is very poorly lit around the area. I have been on a campaign to get the T and the city to light those lights that are there but burned out or not switched on. The Mayor in one of his chats (March 27?) was going to get right on those lights along Commercial St. and Florence St. The back part of the station is also poorly lit. The ones in the park were fixed before but are just not enough. The T has several of their overhead lighting not on or burnt out. If you were to drive by the station at night I wouldn't think it was a T station! You and I know there is a police station across the street, but could anyone else? It's like the best kept secret! Officers have told me the Asian population is a particular target when they leave the T. Poor lighting adds the dimension of allowing people to lurk in shadows and not be observable by those cameras this city loves to put up. Just like the "broken windows" theory, poor lighting is another piece in the puzzle. What does it take to get the lights fixed? I know Everett is having the same problem with National Grid and wonder if we could partner with them to put more pressure on NG to fix our lighting?
Cheech
11:02 am on Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Annie, are you ever happy with anything?
AnnieOMalden
12:16 pm on Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Cheech: Ha,ha,ha! LOL I guess I won't be happy until I get my one free trash barrel! It wasn't until the trash tax was shoved down our throats did I start to pay attention to how things in this city were run. What an eye-opener! If you are one of the "friends and family" I guess you don't want to hear it from the regular citizens who are footing the bill for the cozy deals made at our expense.
You do realize these officials are there to serve US and it is up to US to tell them what WE want or don't want. I have been sitting in on meetings for the past 4 years and have seen plenty of smoke and mirrors. My only hope is with this new admin we can put a lot of that behind us and move forward in an open and transparent way.
Cheech
12:26 pm on Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Where did Deb go? She has such a love for Malden that she stormed out of a council meeting and has never been seen again.
AnnieOMalden
1:27 pm on Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Cheech: You and I both know that sometimes you can't fight City Hall and the deck was stacked against her. She just couldn't beat the system that is in place now. You know that, though, don't you?
Cheech
1:40 pm on Wednesday, April 11, 2012
She had some interesting supporters that's for sure.
stella
9:32 am on Friday, April 13, 2012
Cheech, The election is over so get over your negativity.As far as interesting supporters both teams had very interesting people.
AnnieOMalden
2:00 pm on Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Cheech: I guess you could say the same about Gary's camp as well! LOL Don't you know politics makes strange bedfellows?
AnnieOMalden
5:23 pm on Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Michael: Gene Pinkham's pal, Cheech, brought her into this...I actually was wondering the same thing when he started to bash her. Let's all move on people!
Gene Pinkham
2:40 pm on Friday, April 13, 2012
Well now that I have been brought into this. I do remember Jordan Marsh. It left town because while Malden was building a big cement blockage in the middle of a main street in 1975. Surrounding cities were looking into the 80's by building Malls.
Meggle
6:51 pm on Friday, April 13, 2012
Mmm.. so many of those malls are closed and run down, now.
whatsup
5:21 pm on Friday, April 13, 2012
No more dollar stores/cvs/bars/nail saloons/and shops selling durags / or so called crappy multicultural shops selling junk.
Look at the shops at the next city. melrose downtown or even wakefield downtown.
Its high time to decide if we want to be more like everett/revere or transform to a city like belmont/lexington
robert wilson
5:28 pm on Friday, April 13, 2012
It's quite obvious that some people here have never been in a dangeroius city, Malden does have it's problems but not near as bad as some are saying, they can be addressed and taken care of, Live in Detroit or Chcago or Baltimore for awhile. We are a small city and things can and will be done to make things better, having been born and raised here and have confidence.