For those of us who remember back 30+ years it is hard to see some of the 'new' things that becoming such a culturally diverse city brings to the table. There's no one trying to scare people - crime is down but it is news that is reported..we can't ignore it or pretend it doesn't happen.
I ride the subways and buses and travel around the city by foot during the day and night and while I keep my head up and eyes open I am generally confident that I am safe.
Gangs that have infiltrated parts of the city with guns/drugs etc. are realtively new and do cause concern. The cases of domestic murders are something that is rampant everywhere. The odd case of an innocent bystander being killed is disturbing for sure. The murder rate has dropped in the last 2-3 years. Guns come across the border quite easily and efforts are being made to clamp down even more to stop them. There are many places across the 49th parallel that are very easy to cross and even at major crossings guns can get across as do drugs. Criminals are very smart. Drug labs are being busted continuously in private homes and it is found that many of the folks at the homes are illegally in the country or are involved in gang life. As the population is so culturally diverse so are the gangs...we have gangs from all over the world here! lol
The pic has been 'enlightened' - the city never looks like that..good grief they'd be able to see it from the shuttle if it was that bright. Many towers turn off the lights when the migratory birds are in the area and for cost cutting measures at other times.
In a survey compiled at :
http://www.mercer.com/referenceconte...ontent=1128060
Toronto is 15th with 5 Canadian cities in the top 25..the first u.s. city comes in at #27.
Criteria for the list are judged by:
Political and social environment (political stability, crime, law enforcement, etc)
Economic environment (currency exchange regulations, banking services, etc)
Socio-cultural environment (censorship, limitations on personal freedom, etc)
Health and sanitation (medical supplies and services, infectious diseases, sewage, waste disposal, air pollution, etc)
Schools and education (standard and availability of international schools, etc)
Public services and transportation (electricity, water, public transport, traffic congestion, etc)
Recreation (restaurants, theatres, cinemas, sports and leisure, etc)
Consumer goods (availability of food/daily consumption items, cars, etc)
Housing (housing, household appliances, furniture, maintenance services, etc)
Natural environment (climate, record of natural disasters)