They're just too quick to throw black holes around. I strongly suspect black holes are not what astrophysicists think they are. Seems sometimes they want to panic the general public; as if there were somewhere to run if one showed up on the front porch.
You'll remember when someone on CNN speculated if a missing airplane was swallowed by one. No doubt scientists are not nearly that level of stupid, but they might benefit from the population's ignorance.
You're probably right.
If there was a black hole "close by" we'd already be dead.
If there was a black hole close enough to be a real concern (like, only 11 years left) then astronomers would've noticed it long before now - it would've made it's presence known.
We may yet discover one "in the neighborhood." However, "in the neighborhood" in astronomical terms still means so far away humans are unlikely to ever develop a technology that would allow us to go examine it.