The Missing Middle Podcast The Hidden Tax on City Living: How Crime and Disorder Undermine Density
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Jan 21, 2026 Urban living is increasingly feeling unsafe, with rising crime affecting daily life. Personal stories of car break-ins and streetcar disturbances illustrate a growing sense of disorder. Data reveals a staggering surge in transit assaults, challenging the push for denser, walkable communities. The hosts discuss how public trust is essential for urban density and note the political divide on addressing safety concerns. Solutions range from justice reform to improved mental health services, emphasizing that visible enforcement can restore a sense of security.
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Car Break-Ins And Store Entry Controls
- Mike Moffatt describes repeated attempts to break into his car and a recent rummage that stole breath mints and gum.
- He also recounts stores limiting entry like nightclubs due to robberies, which surprised him when getting his daughter's phone fixed.
Daily Transit Encounters Fuel Fear
- Sabrina Maddeaux shares hitting disorder on her daily streetcar commute, from open drug deals to random assaults and intoxicated passengers.
- She says the constant incidents leave commuters constantly on alert and reasonably scared.
Transit Violence Rising Faster Than General Crime
- CBC and Investigative Journalism Foundation data show transit assaults rose far faster than general crime in many metros.
- Sabrina Maddeaux believes reported numbers undercount incidents because many commuters don't report problems to transit security or police.