Disorder, Not Crime, Drives Urban Avoidance

People often respond less to aggregate crime statistics than to visible disorder—graffiti, tent encampments, open public urination, loud public nuisance. Those visible cues change whether people ride transit, accept dense housing near stations, or feel comfortable in downtown commerce. — Shifting the debate from violent‑crime rates to visible disorder reframes policy choices (policing, sanitation, assimilation programs, transit siting) and changes which metrics and enforcement tools are prioritized.