Federal Homeland Security resources through the state were made available to Boston and eight surrounding cities in 2004, totaling $60 million in FY 2004 and 2005 – still requiring the diversion of local funds.
The Metropolitan Mayors Coalition – ten cities coordinated by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (Boston, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Medford, Quincy, Revere and Somerville) – works with UMass's Center for Emergency Preparedness. The Boston Mayor's Office of Homeland Security coordinates plans with both City departmernts and neighboring cities and towns.
The Boston Metro Area (CMSA) ranked 10th lowest for violent crimes per capita among the 50 largest metro areas in the US in 2004, an improvement from its ranking of 15th in 2002. Violent crime in Boston increased by 3% between 2002 and 2004 compared to an average 3% decrease nationally and in the Northeast.
Reported violent crime in Boston increased by 3% between 2002 and 2003, while property and quality of life crimes decreased by 3%. Between 1993 and 2003, violent crime in Boston declined by 38%.
Reported violent crime decreased or held steady in all but five Boston neighborhoods, and is as much as six times higher in some neighborhoods than in others.
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