NYC VIOLENT CRIME RATES BUCK NATIONAL TREND, AND GO UP

In all regions, the country appears to be safer. The odds of being murdered or robbed are now less than half of what they were in the early 1990s, when violent crime peaked in the United States. Small towns, especially, are seeing far fewer murders: In cities with populations under 10,000, the number plunged by more than 25 percent last year.

The news was not as positive in New York City, however. After leading a long decline in crime rates, the city saw increases in all four types of violent lawbreaking — murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault — including a nearly 14 percent rise in murders. But data from the past few months suggest the city’s upward trend may have slowed or stopped.

THIS IS BLOOMBERG'S FAULT; HE'S DONE NO HEAVY LIFTING SINCE BECOMING MAYOR, AND HAS JUST LET THINGS DECLINE.

I WISH RUDY WOULD RUN AGAIN.