Summer in the City...not so safe!

Hiya Phoenix. I am a native Calgarian and I have to be honest here...I don't feel at all safe here anymore. I have a teenage son and am trying to raise him with morals and dignity. Please tell me how is a person to supposed to do that with all of the violence here now. Yes, we have always had violence to some degree Phoenix but NEVER as bad as it is these days. Granted we do have over 1 million people here now but that is no excuse really is it? My heart aches every time I see the news. I am almost expecting another random shooting somewhere every time I turn the local news on. It will be a really super sad day if somebody innocent gets caught in the crossfire of it all. I feel like leaving my native city behind most days now and moving to the mountains - it seems like that may be the only place left where one can escape the violence... Thanks for letting me gripe about this Phoenix. This has been bothering me for a while now. :-(

I live in the Beltline and am noticing a difference in the neighborhood. Today I walked down 17th Ave and saw a drug transaction taking place. Soon after this I was approached by a young man who begged me for a dollar so he could buy drugs. This was in the middle of the day, it makes me wonder what happens here at night.

. That being said, if I'm ever anywhere in the city alone after dark, I phone a friend just to chat, until I get home, just so somoene would know right away if anything did happen to me.