So as an academic exercise I decided to see if I could apply hard numbers to a single aspect of the debate surrounding the toppling of statues and rather if the removal of such statues have in fact improved those communities.
According to my inquires the city has permanently removed zero statues and plans to return any that have been removed for cleaning or repair, however a further search to include schools and the state capitol building revealed approximately 7 statues, bust or plaques have been removed during this time.
While the city parks department list 5 statues removed a local article dated Dec. 28th, 2020 states that about 12 out of 170 sculptures were damaged I count about 9 statues toppled or removed to include a 120 yr old statue of an elk.
Per an municipal email only two statues have been removed which still gives this city a 1.2% INCREASE per statue.
To date my inquires if any of these have been removed is still pending, however statues on the list is interesting and so as the stated reasoning behind some that were selected.
You see there no single entity keeping track of these monuments and the few that do only track those of their governmental level, City track city statues on city property not state or those on private grounds like campuses.
One would have to prove that the removal is linked to the increase in crime; however, then the reverse is also true and if someone was able to find what I bet is a rare example of a city where crime has decreased and have removed statues one would still have to prove the two are linked.
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