Mayor Michael Bloomberg hasn't had too many opportunities to brag since replacing Rudy Giuliani, but he can puff his chest out a little over this one:

As the second year of Michael R. Bloomberg’s administration comes to a close, New York City remains the safest large city in the United States in 2003. Over the course of the past year, the crime rate continued to decrease from what were already record lows at the end of 2002. New York City has experienced another tremendously successful year in providing safety and security to its citizens with an overall citywide crime rate decrease of almost 6% from last year, and reductions in every borough.

And Houston Astro Andy Pettitte won't be working in a low-crime area any more:

The Mayor was joined at a press conference to discuss the historic achievements today by Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly and Criminal Justice Coordinator John Feinblatt at the 44th Precinct in the South Bronx – an area that has experienced an 11% drop in crime in the last year and an almost 19% drop over the last two years.

Now, if the mayor could do something about the parking situation in Mid-town...