Rise of the Commenter Scare Patrol
To some Louisville is more "skid row" than city on a hill...
Gabe Duverge
“The Highlands needs help.”
That was the thesis from a reddittor responding to Derby City Chop Shop’s public complaint about issues they’re having in their Highlands location. On Thursday, the popular barbershop aired their long running grievance with a neighboring consignment store that certainly appears to be attracting drug activity.
DCCS describes a very difficult situation that nobody would wish on a business owner. The concern has evolved into police intervention and now has reached a fever pitch of copper A/C lines being cut out. But even more worrisome than a well-respected business going through this trouble, is what has become a familiar response from the community.
Scroll through the comments of the DCCS post and you’ll see escalating calls for concern. Folks describing the neighborhood in ways that sound more war-zone than walkable. Some call the long vibrant Highlands as “rotting,” “Skid Row”, “unrecognizable,” and more...
The same type of activity can be found across local Facebook groups, Nextdoor apps and other digital gathering places. The occasional unsavory person or happening leads to a treatise on an area that’s supposedly declining under our noses.
But spend just a few minutes on the Google machine and it’s hard to find the evidence to support any of that.
Recently released figures from Louisville Metro Police department show that crime in the Highlands’ 5th District is declining. The first half of the year saw the lowest level of violent crime since 2015 and the lowest level of property crime since before 2014.
Yes, Louisville has a very real issue with homicide and violent crime rising across the city. That’s something we all must grapple with and try to solve. But those problems aren’t “drifting into the Highlands” and other more affluent areas.
These older skewing commenters love to make a mountain out of a molehill. When St. Matthews residents were noticing their cars being rummaged through earlier this year, they refused to admit that it was mostly due to not locking the vehicle. “Most modern cars have a latch in the trunk that can unlock the electric mechanism…21st century thieves know how to use that.”
In these groups, fireworks become gunshots. People walking around the street at night become potential thieves. A car who spends too long on a street becomes a child kidnapper.
Sure, overreactions are the annoying reality of most social media comment sections. But in some corners of the internet, these comments are seen by folks weighing whether they want to visit or even move here. These Yelps, Trip Advisors and even random tweets can have a real impact on how our community is perceived far outside the city limits.
It’s even harder to reckon with these complaints when you compare them to the actual issues facing some in nearby communities. A resident of the Highlands or St Matthews may worry about a sketchy van on their street corner. While a family in the West End has real worries of walking to the bus without getting caught in a drive-by. The stakes in these places are completely different, but the sentiment voiced by those living in relative safety makes them seem as if they’re equal.
Unfortunately, there doesn’t appear to be an end in sight for this world of worry generated by overly-concerned citizens. But there are those working to set the record straight.
Scroll down the original reddit comments and you’ll find citizens advocating for a different message. “I and other residents get so tired of hearing these because it's blatantly false.” Want to help improve the image of the Highlands and other neighborhoods? “Invest in your neighborhoods!”
That’s action we all can take.
Local Links
A cop, shotgun in hand, interrupts a family breakfast. The police are in search of marijuana plants, but hey found only Christmas lights. This WFPL investigation into LMPD’s Air Unit reveals more guesswork than crime fighting. GD
LGBTQ athletes in Kentucky grapple with their identities in unfriendly surroundings every day. Danielle Lerner of the Courier-Journal’s look into how the state’s athletes deal with adversity is required reading for any local sports fan. Just hours after this was published, Governor Bevin signed onto a Supreme Court brief arguing that gay students are exempt from Title IX rights. CH
For decades, many mentally ill defendants are unable to stand trial but legally cannot remain hospitalized. The result is individuals who may be a harm to others walking free. WDRB shines a light onto a scary loophole. GD
The now famous plight of the Blackjewel miners could become a trend. Not one coal company in Kentucky has posted a bond required by law to protect wages. The Herald-Leader tries to get answers. CH
Few people are hurt more by the Chinese Trade War than Farmers. But Kentuckians in the fields are sticking by Trump. Murray State’s NPR station takes a look at the conflict and the program started to help farmers get by. GD
Tim Sullivan is on one on twitter and I’ll be reading this tweet all election season long. CH
Important Video of the Week
Jeff Greer’s look at the genesis of “L’s Up” is a fun look at the now beloved hand sign. It also reminded me of this hilarious promo video from John L Smith’s reign at the head of UofL football.
No better time to crank this baby back up than the start of football season.
Outside the Snyder
If you’re reading this newsletter on your phone, you could have illegal Colombian gold. Check out this standout episode of the standout NYT series, The Weekly. CH
When you bought your Ring video doorbell, I bet you didn’t know you were inviting police to review what the camera sees. The Washington Post offers an important look at the Amazon subsidiary’s 400+ deals with police forces across the country. GD
Chile is the world’s second largest producer of lithium. Mining for the battery metal is leading to environmental problems on a massive scale. The BBC reports. CH
Something completely different now. When you say sky I say…”Here I am…I get older all the time…” And if you played Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, you know exactly what I’m talking about. The Ringer’s oral history of the seminal sports game is a must read for any millennial. GD
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See ya next week!