Perception or reality of crime?

There was a Shooting over the weekend in Allentown!!! Shocker. Apparently the victim and witnesses are not cooperating.  Shocker. 

It pains me to ask, is Allentown getting safer?  I feel that there are less shootings this year.  But I am pretty sure not all of them are reported on the news.  Homicides may be down but that isnt the problem that most on social media are concerned about.  People are sick of the double parking, loud music, and dirt bikes.   

Now you won't catch me walking down a dark alley late at night in the city.  That is just asking for trouble.  But have things changed?  Is your preception on crime a reality?  Or is your preception way past the reality that it wouldn't matter what the stats say on crime?

I think the Mayor and Chief Roca need to work on the preception of how bad it is vs the reality.  No stats are going to make people feel safer.  Good luck with that guys. 

For example, remember when the PPL building opened?  There were cops everywhere on every corner. By all the parking decks.  The perception was that with all these cops around, one had nothing to worry about.  Now go to a game or concert.  You will be lucky if you see 5 cops.  Now the perception turns back to feeling unsafe walking to your car after the game.

One can build all the buildings they want.  Put up lights,  speed bumps, bike lanes whatever. Say crime is down, blah blah blah.  If the perception is unsafe the reality will not matter.