>From my understanding cities like NYC were actually in a really bad shape in 1950s and after compared to now, until around the 90s

>Edit: actually, from what I find in the 1950s there was even ongoing heroin epidemics, in addition to gang warfare, and of course racial inequality

I can confirm the gang warfare (at least in the 1970s and early 1980s) -- there were street gangs every few blocks and the police were (mostly) just considered the biggest and best armed gang -- and for good reason.

I didn't know Verdi Park[0] was called "Verdi Park" until the late 1990s. It was (but not any more) shaped like a triangle which is why I (incorrectly) thought it was actually named "Needle Park" But that was actually because of the heroin.

But all that's changed and has been for more than 20 years. NYC is the safest it's ever been.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verdi_Square