14 upvotes, 3 direct replies (showing 3)
View submission: "Not afraid of downtown Kzoo" Meetup?
I can say that as a dude I've never felt unsafe in Kalamazoo. If I was a girl? Not so sure. Curious to hear female perspectives.
Comment by BrandonCarlson at 10/03/2025 at 04:52 UTC
5 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Not a female but my partner is; she doesn't use Reddit, but she's given me permission to share on her behalf.
She's been accosted while walking alone downtown. Sometimes by drunk people, sometimes by homeless people, sometimes by seemingly normal-ass people, but ALWAYS by men - once or twice by the mentally ill homeless woman that harasses literally everyone (you know EXACTLY who I'm talking about lol)
Doesn't stop her from going downtown, or considering moving downtown. She LOVES supporting businesses downtown, but she tries to park close to where she's going, limits her time walking alone after dark, and carries "deterrent" in case someone gets violent.
Like I said elsewhere in this thread, neither of us operates on the assumption that Downtown Kalamazoo is *dangerous*, but we're both well aware of the **dangers that certainly exist** - and those dangers exist in *literally* every city in America.
Anyone claiming otherwise has some sort of agenda.
Comment by TallChick105 at 10/03/2025 at 03:06 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
See my comment above to SueBeee if you want my perspective…there’s so much more to say, but maybe what I did say, says enough? Not sure. It’s nice to hear someone say they want to hear our perspective on whether or not we feel safe downtown and when.
Would I sit in that same spot after the sun has gone down. Not a chance in hell which sucks because I’d love to feel safe in my own town at night.
Comment by seachelc at 10/03/2025 at 17:07 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Maybe it’s ugly privilege but I’m a woman and people generally leave me alone 😂