Downtown Indianapolis: The Power of Perception

This article illustrates the power -- and importance -- of perception:

- Only 33% of respondents in a university-sponsored survey say they feel safe in downtown Indianapolis at night.

- The article quotes Indianapolis Metro police Sgt. Paul Thompson as saying, "I don't know what group of people they surveyed, but I can say this -- statistically, crime is very low in the downtown area."

If Sgt. Thompson's statement is accurate, this is a situation in which the public's perception of downtown Indianapolis is not aligned with reality. This is the kind of perception that can have a substantial economic impact, even if statistics prove it to be inaccurate. If people don't feel safe in downtown Indianapolis at night, they are less likely to spend time (and money) there after the sun sets.