Living in Houston can be really frustrating at times.

It's not just the sticky and hot weather by the beach, but the crime and gang issues spread throughout the city can be suffocating.

Honestly, I think it's largely due to the inaction of public officials. Despite the terrible security situation, the city hall always says the same thing: "We are working on it." But I really don't know where that effort is.

These days, youth gangs in Houston are a serious problem. In the past, you only had to be careful in certain areas of downtown, but now their influence is spreading to suburban neighborhoods. Gang graffiti can be seen near schools, and seeing teenagers gathering in strange groups on the streets makes me uneasy.

This is not just a youth problem. Underneath it lies unemployment, lack of education, and the incompetence of the city government. Without proper opportunities, kids are flowing into gangs.

Drug dealing, car theft, robbery, violent incidents... it's really a daily routine of crime news. The police say they are understaffed, and they always claim that the budget is lacking while just repeating to citizens to 'be careful.' Meanwhile, city council members and politicians are just holding meetings and taking photos. The crime rate is much higher than the national average.

Of course, the police department says they are creating youth programs and collaborating with the community. But honestly, it feels like a show. They should have done these things before crime increased this much, and now they are trying to package it as 'we are doing well,' which is even more infuriating. Youth gangs are already spreading to the suburbs, and they are only responding after the fact, so there are no effective solutions.

There are so many things to be careful about when living in Houston. Checking the neighborhood safety map is basic, and I never walk alone at night. Leaving a bag in the car means it's just a matter of time before someone breaks the window and steals it. In a city like this, saying the word 'safety' feels like a luxury.

And the government always makes the same excuses. "It's a big city, so it can't be helped." "It's because the economy is tough."

But even within Texas, cities like Dallas and Austin manage urban safety much better. Ultimately, what has happened to Houston is a structural problem. The city has grown rapidly, leading to chaotic urban planning, and while the population has increased, the public safety system has remained stagnant.

Now, citizens need to take action to ensure their safety and share information with each other. Relying on the government could lead to falling victim to criminals. Neighbors are creating group chats to share sightings of suspicious people, installing CCTV, and avoiding alleys at night has become the norm.

Houston as a city has many opportunities. There are many large corporations and a strong economy. But if the crime rate doesn't drop, it doesn't matter for businesses or anything else. People will ultimately leave for safer cities. We have seen many Koreans move to Dallas and Austin.

It's time to truly remove the shadow of crime that clings like sticky humidity.

If Houston cannot shake off the stigma of being a "gang city" and a "dangerous place at night," the people living here will have to seriously consider whether they should continue living here.