And the changes at the N.Y.P.D. collided with other trends, like the consolidation of the crack market and the easing of a demographic bump which had made for a lot of young New Yorkers, to push crime lower.
Joseph Conway, a spokesman for Mr. Pataki, said the governor could point to "a record drop in crime, lower taxes, more jobs, a cleaner environment and record investments in education and health care".
After federal law prohibited housing discrimination, successful blacks began to leave the inner city for many of the same reasons whites did: in search of better schools, less crime, lower taxes and a leafier landscape.
On Tuesday, as he announced that he would leave office after his term runs out at year's end, Mr. Gulotta ticked off all the positive things he wished he had been given more credit for: lower crime, lower unemployment, rising home values, low office vacancy rates.
At times he reminisced about his family and his life, while at others he borrowed from the script of his annual State of the City speeches to credit his administration for the sharp declines in crime, lower welfare rolls and other achievements.
Prevalent abandonment can make neighborhoods targets for crime, lower property values, create a cycle of neglect and expose residents to health risks.
