Disappointment and disbelief describes the reaction of Corpus Christi leaders and residents to the city’s #12 ranking in Work and Money’s Most Dangerous Metropolitan Areas To Live in the U.S. list.
“I didn’t know it was that bad to be honest,” resident Austin Fogle said.
The article with the list on Work and Money’s website says that staff members used violent crime data from the FBI’s annual Crime in the United States report that the agency released in September.
“The violent crime category in the FBI’s report includes murder and non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault – all of which involved force or the threat of force,” the article, written by licensed attorney and Work and Money writer C. Pierson said.
The crimes in the FBI report happened in 2017 when the article says Corpus Christi saw 6.5 murders and non-negligent manslaughters per 100,000 people. The article says the city also saw a total of 232 rapes and 1,590 aggravated assaults. When those rates are compared to all other metropolitan areas in the country with more than 300,000 people, Corpus Christi landed in the twelfth spot on the most dangerous list.
“I wouldn’t get that impression,” tourist Chris Rhodes said of the ranking. “I wouldn’t agree with that from my impression of Corpus Christi.”
City leaders were similarly skeptical.
“Depends on how they gather their information to make these reports and over what period of time,” Corpus Christi Mayor Joe McComb said. “I feel safe to get out in the city any time.”
