Murders soar in wake of Katrina refugees [Houston]

The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 1/1/06 | Jacqui Goddard

[saquin]

The city of Houston is appealing for emergency funding to help to fight a huge crime wave following the arrival of refugees from hurricane-hit New Orleans.

The murder rate in the Texan city leapt by 24 per cent last year, with the toll for November and December up by 70 per cent on the same period in 2004.

There were 324 murders in Houston in 2005, compared with 263 in 2004. Of the 2005 tally, 51 occurred in November and December - up 21 on the same period of 2004.

The police department has not monitored precisely how many can be attributed to those evacuated after Hurricane Katrina, but says that at least 12 homicides in the past four months have involved evacuees either as victims or perpetrators.

While stressing that they cannot lay all the blame at the door of hurricane evacuees, the police chief and the mayor suggest that the influx of as many as 150,000 extra people has been a contributory factor.

The issue is highly sensitive as the majority of the hurricane's victims were drawn from New Orleans's black underclass.

Harold Hurtt, the police chief, said: "We are beginning to see more involvement in violent offences by the evacuees who came here from Louisiana."

Bill White, Houston's mayor, is now appealing to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for $6.5 million (£3.8 million) to help to strengthen his police department.

The city is experiencing an opposite trend to New Orleans, where police say they have never seen things so quiet, with only two killings in four months.

[freedumb2003]

Harold Hurtt, the police chief, said: "We are beginning to see more involvement in violent offences by the evacuees who came here from Louisiana."

HOW DARE YOU ACCUSE BLACKS OF.. oh wait, you were just stating statistics.

NEVER MIND, I HAVE A RACE CARD HERE AND BY GOD I AM GOING TO PLAY IT!

[Westlander]

Should anyone be surprised ?

[Farmer Dean]

Some of New Orlean's best and brightest thugs came to town.Now there will be a fight to reallocate the best drug turf,etc.

[mewzilla]

Bill White, Houston's mayor, is now appealing to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for $6.5 million (£3.8 million) to help to strengthen his police department.

Houston should bill Ray Nagin. Or have him send out some of NOLA's cops to police their own since those cops have so much time on their hands now.

[doctorhugo]

"The city is experiencing an opposite trend to New Orleans, where police say they have never seen things so quiet, with only two killings in four months."

Hey! No surprise there. All the rabble headed for free housing, food, etc. in Houston and settled in gettin' comfortable defraudin' the system, as per their norm modus operandi, and since they've got enough $s for booze...violence and murder are on the rise.
Surprise, surprise..to no-bah-dee!!

[Calvin Locke]

I'm surprised Hurtt is stating facts. Without all the PC garbage, that is.

[keithtoo]

Poverty doesn't cause crime - but crime definitely causes poverty.

[USNBandit]

Or have him send out some of NOLA's cops to police their own

How do we know the crimes aren't being committed by the runaways from the NOLA PD?

[kittymyrib]

There was a double murder and suicide last night of Katrina evacuees in the Dallas area reported on Fox this morning. No wonder NO is so quiet...their criminal class was dumped on Texas. Rick Perry better get rid of this scum quickly because his "compassionate conservatism" could come back to bite him in the '06 election if this becomes well-publicized.

[Beagle8U]

Gee Whiz by golly.....When drug dealers invade the territory of established drug dealers, they often start killing each other.

Someone should write that down and make a note of it, it would save them being confused in the future.

[LdSentinal]

The city is experiencing an opposite trend to New Orleans, where police say they have never seen things so quiet, with only two killings in four months.

New Orleans. The safest city in America thanks to Karl Rove's weather machine./s

[LOC1]

Relax everyone, these scumbags are about to enjoy the hospitality of the Texas Department of Corrections.

Texas cops and courts aren't like those in Louisiana. Texas has executed more people than any other state, and Harris County, where Houston is located, leads the way.

This will be a very short term problem.

[Eagles6]

"The issue is highly sensitive as the majority of the hurricane's victims were drawn from New Orleans's black underclass."

Does this patently false statement invalidate the entire article?

[sit-rep]

You see this?

[Petronski]

What conclusion do you draw?

[Ditter]

Texas does execute criminals but they will still sit on death row for 10 or 12 years but at least they aren't going to get out.

[upchuck]

The issue is highly sensitive as the majority of the hurricane's victims were drawn from New Orleans's black underclass.
....
The city [Houston] is experiencing an opposite trend to New Orleans, where police say they have never seen things so quiet, with only two killings in four months.

It appears 2+2 still equals 4.

[El Gato]

The issue is highly sensitive as the majority of the hurricane's victims were drawn from New Orleans's black underclass.

The majority that had to be put up long term at public expense perhaps. The majority that continue to look for a hand out, rather than a hand up. Perhaps that too. But plenty of middle class folks, both black and white, were also victims.

[manwiththehands]

Didn't Mayor Nagin say he wanted everyone to come back to NOLA? Maybe he should send the buses this time.