I worked a couple of winters (1982 & 1984) in an idyllic National Monument in Arizona at the Mexican border, south of Gila Bend and Ajo, and adjacent to the Sonoran town of Sonoyta. Used to cross over several times a week to eat and shop. Used to go on long solitary hikes up into the mountains. No more. Now Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is considered the most dangerous national park to work in. We used to have visitors who came back to the campground every year looking for their favorite ranger naturalists for hikes and evening programs. Now the park just hires law enforcement rangers. You go out into the park away from the main highway at your own risk.

Too bad. It all got pushed east because of the blocking of traffic across the border in California. It didn't go away. It's like trying to clear out the pimps and prostitution in Times Square in New York City. Touristas go there and think it's cleaned up. It just moved a few avenues west and down to places like the Meatpacking District.

Crime rearrangement, not crime prevention.

SRS