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New York City Used To Be A Terrifying Place [PHOTOS]https://www.businessinsider.in/new-york-city-used-to-be-a-terrifying-place-photos/in-1976-2383-arrests-were-made-for-prostitution-citywide-of-these-1165-were-girls-between-the-ages-of-15-and-20-/slidelist/21047450.cms2021-07-26T12:45:43+05:30

New York City Used To Be A Terrifying Place [PHOTOS]

Jul 26, 2021, 12:45 IST

In 1976, 2,383 arrests were made for prostitution citywide. Of these, 1,165 were girls between the ages of 15 and 20.

There were an estimated 40,000 prostitutes in New York City in the 70s, many with a sad story. This picture shows a hotel where a 15-year-old prostitute died in 1975.

Authorities were of little help. In this picture, Sydney Biddle Barrows, the "Mayflower Madam," celebrates with champagne after pleading guilty to promoting prostitution in return for a $5,000 fine and no prison sentence.

During the 70s, the New York City Planning Commission estimated the city had about 245 stores with "adult uses," like adult movie theaters, massage parlors, adult bookstores, or peepshows.

By the mid-70s, an estimated 200,000 people abused heroin in New York City.

Cheap and destructive crack also spread rapidly through the city in the 80s.

Dysfunction in the NYPD didn't help the city's drug problems. This picture shows detective Frank Serpico (with beard) is his famous 1971 testimony about widespread corruption, as officers bought drugs, took bribes, and paid prostitutes on duty.

Fiscal problems forced the NYPD to lay off 50,000 employees in 1975. In the next five years, as cuts continued, the police force would shrink by 34%, while serious crime increased by 40%.

The financial crisis coincided with the blackout of 1977, which led to looting and arson throughout the city. 1000 fires were reported.

1,600 stores were looted, contributing to a $300 million tab for the city.

In a little more than 24 hours, police arrested 3,700 people.

David Berkowitz, known as the "Son of Sam" serial killer, also terrorized New York City the year of the blackout. He murdered six people and injured seven during a 13-month blood-lust ending in 1977.

A couple of years later, parents had cause to fear for their kids. Etan Patz became the first "kid on a milk carton" in 1979. He disappeared in SoHo after a short walk to the school bus stop.

The city's budget problems affected the Transit Authority, too. The organization cut much of the subway's maintenance to save money, leading to a build-up of graffiti.

Much of New York City's crime happened on the subway in the late 70s. The Lexington Avenue Express landed the nickname the "Mugger's Express."

Turn-style jumping was common during those years, giving thieves a chance to mug people without having to pay high fares.

Bernhard Goetz, who shot four youths in a subway train in 1984, became a symbol for paranoia New Yorkers felt about getting robbed or attacked.

Much of the tension and fear was related to race. One man was killed and another was beaten in a string of racially motivated attacks in Howard Beach, Queens in 1986.

A female investment banker was raped, beaten, and left to die in Central Park in 1989. Four black males and one Hispanic man were later falsely charged with the crime.

The decline of New York City was chronicled in pop culture by movies like "Death Wish" (1974), "Taxi Driver" (1976), and "Escape From New York" (1981 — pictured).

The number of murders in New York City peaked peaked in 1990 at 2,245, but then the tide began to turn.

High profile crimes pressured Mayor David Dinkins to hire more police officers. One of the worst was the 1990 murder of 22-year-old tourist Brian Watkins, who was killed when four teenagers attacked his family on the subway. This photo shows a memorial for Brian in Flushing.

Source: New York Times

High profile crimes pressured Mayor David Dinkins to hire more police officers. One of the worst was the 1990 murder of 22-year-old tourist Brian Watkins, who was killed when four teenagers attacked his family on the subway. This photo shows a memorial for Brian in Flushing.

Source: New York Times

In 1990, Mayor David Dinkins proposed a $1.8 billion plan to "fight fear," which involved hiring around 8,000 new police officers.

Dinkins also hired a police commissioner with a fresh outlook on stopping crime. Lee Brown (left), sworn-in as the city's police commissioner in 1990, subscribed to the idea of "community policing."

Mayor Rudy Giuliani, elected in 1993, subscribed to the similar "broken windows" theory of crime, which held that minor things like vandalism were gateways to more serious crime.

By 2001, crime had fallen 56% in New York City. More and better policing helped, as did the booming economy and the national decline of hard drugs.

It's not just New York ...

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New York City Used To Be A Terrifying Place [PHOTOS]

In 1976, 2,383 arrests were made for prostitution citywide. Of these, 1,165 were girls between the ages of 15 and 20.

There were an estimated 40,000 prostitutes in New York City in the 70s, many with a sad story. This picture shows a hotel where a 15-year-old prostitute died in 1975.

Authorities were of little help. In this picture, Sydney Biddle Barrows, the "Mayflower Madam," celebrates with champagne after pleading guilty to promoting prostitution in return for a $5,000 fine and no prison sentence.

During the 70s, the New York City Planning Commission estimated the city had about 245 stores with "adult uses," like adult movie theaters, massage parlors, adult bookstores, or peepshows.

By the mid-70s, an estimated 200,000 people abused heroin in New York City.

Cheap and destructive crack also spread rapidly through the city in the 80s.

Dysfunction in the NYPD didn't help the city's drug problems. This picture shows detective Frank Serpico (with beard) is his famous 1971 testimony about widespread corruption, as officers bought drugs, took bribes, and paid prostitutes on duty.

Fiscal problems forced the NYPD to lay off 50,000 employees in 1975. In the next five years, as cuts continued, the police force would shrink by 34%, while serious crime increased by 40%.

The financial crisis coincided with the blackout of 1977, which led to looting and arson throughout the city. 1000 fires were reported.

1,600 stores were looted, contributing to a $300 million tab for the city.

In a little more than 24 hours, police arrested 3,700 people.

David Berkowitz, known as the "Son of Sam" serial killer, also terrorized New York City the year of the blackout. He murdered six people and injured seven during a 13-month blood-lust ending in 1977.

A couple of years later, parents had cause to fear for their kids. Etan Patz became the first "kid on a milk carton" in 1979. He disappeared in SoHo after a short walk to the school bus stop.

The city's budget problems affected the Transit Authority, too. The organization cut much of the subway's maintenance to save money, leading to a build-up of graffiti.

Much of New York City's crime happened on the subway in the late 70s. The Lexington Avenue Express landed the nickname the "Mugger's Express."

Turn-style jumping was common during those years, giving thieves a chance to mug people without having to pay high fares.

Bernhard Goetz, who shot four youths in a subway train in 1984, became a symbol for paranoia New Yorkers felt about getting robbed or attacked.

Much of the tension and fear was related to race. One man was killed and another was beaten in a string of racially motivated attacks in Howard Beach, Queens in 1986.

A female investment banker was raped, beaten, and left to die in Central Park in 1989. Four black males and one Hispanic man were later falsely charged with the crime.

The decline of New York City was chronicled in pop culture by movies like "Death Wish" (1974), "Taxi Driver" (1976), and "Escape From New York" (1981 — pictured).

The number of murders in New York City peaked peaked in 1990 at 2,245, but then the tide began to turn.

High profile crimes pressured Mayor David Dinkins to hire more police officers. One of the worst was the 1990 murder of 22-year-old tourist Brian Watkins, who was killed when four teenagers attacked his family on the subway. This photo shows a memorial for Brian in Flushing.

In 1990, Mayor David Dinkins proposed a $1.8 billion plan to "fight fear," which involved hiring around 8,000 new police officers.

Dinkins also hired a police commissioner with a fresh outlook on stopping crime. Lee Brown (left), sworn-in as the city's police commissioner in 1990, subscribed to the idea of "community policing."

Mayor Rudy Giuliani, elected in 1993, subscribed to the similar "broken windows" theory of crime, which held that minor things like vandalism were gateways to more serious crime.

By 2001, crime had fallen 56% in New York City. More and better policing helped, as did the booming economy and the national decline of hard drugs.

It's not just New York ...

Check out how much safer the rest of America has become >