CRIME RATE SOARS

As the violent crime rate soars, the mayor seems unconcerned.

In Troy, violent crime - which includes murder, rape robbery and aggravated assault -jumped 17.2 percent from 2005 to 2006 and 20.1 percent from 2004 to 2006. In Schenectady, incidents of violent crime increased 11.8 percent from 2005 to 2006 and a whopping 28.4 percent from 2004 to 2006.Conversely, Albany saw a 4.6 percent decrease from 2005 to 2006 and a 7.1 percent decrease from 2004 to 2006.

The best part is, according to Mayor Tutunjian, "this dramatic increase did not cost the taxpayers of Troy anything. We were able to do it through Federal and State grants and not taxpayer dollars." Next week the Mayor will announce an increase in scurvy and rickets.

According to Mayor Tutunjian, "Results matter, not statistics." We're not really sure what that means. We suppose a pitcher with a 8-18 record and a 5.91 ERA could tell his manager that his record doesn't count, results do. He could also be sent down to the minors.

The statistics may not matter to Mayor Tutunjian...but they have mattered to him in the past.

When the Guardian Angels (where are those guys, anyway) made noise about migrating to Troy, the mayor had this to say:

According to Tutunjian, the group is not needed as crime in Troy is down 4.9 percent. He compared the city's murder rate of seven over five years to Albany (44) and Schenectady (33). According to the 2000 U.S. Census, Troy's population was 49,170 at that time. - The Record, June 29, 2005

And when the Cinema Art was raided in the Spring of 2006 (as violent crime surged), the Mayor informed us..."Our streets are safer and cleaner." (The Record, March 4, 2006). Uh...or not, Mr. Mayor.

While we don't expect Harry to know the difference between Harold Robbins and Proust or Boone's Farm and a Romanée-Conti , the ignorance of this administration is quite breathtaking (how can guys like Buell and Mitchell stand it?). Statistics may not mean much to Harry, but they do contain information that is of value. Statistics alone rarely tell the entire story, that is true. They are of value, nonetheless, if analyzed and used properly.

In reality, mayors, governors, presidents and police have little to do with crime rates. Crime in New York State has declined over the past few years. A large part of that is due to the aging population of northeastern states. It's difficult to reach the get-away car using a cane or walker.

Harry is always ready to attribute good news to his wise stewardship of Troy. So we guess he can take the blame as well.

By the way, where is Harry? We can't find him here or even at City Hall.