SERIES MAKES MURDER LOOK LIKE 'THEIR PROBLEM'

Re: "Cycle of death: How New Orleans became the nation's murder capital,"
Page 1, Feb. 8.

This story cites crime statistics in order to back up sweeping
generalizations about homicide victims. It is not, however, the statistics
that alarm me. It is the accusatory tone of the piece that I find
insulting, as should the family of every homicide victim in the city, not
to mention the many young African-American men without criminal records.

Reporters Steve Ritea and Tara Young wrap up New Orleans' crime problem in
a tidy bow, citing experts such as Peter Scharf, who is quoted as saying
that the problem is "lack of centralization of the drug market."

Could the drug market itself be the problem? Our failing education system?
I don't know; rather than exploring other causes, the reporters seem
satisfied with Scharf's explanation.

Equally enraging are the statistics at the top of page A-9. It can hardly
be called balanced reporting if approximately one-eighth of the page is
dedicated to a single statistic -- that 87 percent of murder victims had an
arrest record -- while only two small paragraphs are dedicated to the
"exceptions," or the victims apparently deemed "innocent" by your staff
reporters.

Attempting to underscore the "their problem" rather than "our problem"
aspect of the piece by saying that most murder victims have criminal
records, even though it is statistically correct, is irresponsible as well
as insulting. The implication is that murder victims would be out
committing crimes if they weren't dead.

Certainly, Ritea and Young can back up their story with statistics and
expert opinions. I have no issue with the facts, only with the way they
have been presented.

Christen L. Hardy

New Orleans