Most potential home buyers in the Atlanta area routinely check crime map data to be better informed and to protect their families before placing bids on homes.
However, both Realtor.com and Redfin.com have removed their crime map data on their sites in an effort to reduce “blatant racism.”
The websites typically sourced their crime data from the Atlanta Police Department or Spotcrime.com.
High crime areas in Atlanta are usually in majority minority neighborhoods. But some areas on crime maps that are historically hot — indicating violent crime incidents — are also gentrifying rapidly.
Neighborhoods in Cascade, West End and Mechanicsville areas of Atlanta that were once crime-ridden are gentrifying and majority white. But those areas are still glowing hot on some crime maps.
In a statement, David Doctorow, CEO of Realtor.com, said the crime map has been removed in order “to rethink the safety information we share on Realtor.com and how we can best integrate it as part of a consumer’s home search experience.”
Redfin’s chief growth officer, Christian Taubman, also announced the crime map data was removed.
The news was met with skepticism from potential homebuyers and multiple listing services who rely on crime map data to inform their clients.
“If you are looking for a new home, a place to raise your children, to prosper, to grow old, and through it all to be safe, how is ignoring the truth of the existence of crime in any given neighborhood something that will help end that crime?” wrote Gopusa.com.
