CBS 5 - KPHO 'Avoid Ghetto App' riles AZ businessman

'Avoid Ghetto App' riles AZ businessman

Microsoft is taking a lot of heat for an application that tells you what areas to avoid if you don't want to end up in what its creators call a bad neighborhood.

It's called the "Avoid Ghetto App," or at least it was until earlier this month when Microsoft changed the name after receiving a lot of backlash.

Critics say the application fails to show the full picture of a neighborhood. Alan Parsons is one of those people. He is the owner of Parson's Family Restaurant near Northern and 59th Avenue in Glendale. Parson's worries that soon his customers may be advised to eat elsewhere. That's because the app would likely flag this neighborhood.

The application works by linking up with a smartphone's GPS. It sends out an alert when you are headed into a so-called questionable neighborhood. Microsoft spokespeople said the alert is based solely on crime statistics.

"I really do think it's unfair. We've been here since 1982 and we have hardly had anything happen at this restaurant since 1998," said Parsons.

According to the Glendale Police Department a total of 76 crimes have been reported in the neighborhood near Northern and 59th Avenue since the start of the year. That gives it one of the highest crime rates in the city. However, a closer look shows most of those crimes were theft and other non-violent offenses. Statistics show there was only one aggravated assault, one robbery and no homicides.

"It picks small things out and says it's crime-ridden. That's not right. That's wrong," said Parsons.

Still, others we talked to think the app provides valuable information and would use it.

Brad Turrant said, "I would like to know and be more aware that things might happen in this neighborhood."

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