"Welcome to Fear City" was a provocative pamphlet distributed in 1975 by New York City police and firefighter unions to warn tourists about rising crime amid a fiscal crisis. Created during a time when New York City was teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, the pamphlet was subtitled “A Survival Guide for Visitors to the City of New York” and featured a grim cover with a hooded skull. It listed nine stark guidelines for staying safe, including advice like “stay off the streets after 6 p.m.” and “never ride the subway for any reason whatsoever.” The campaign was a direct response to massive budget cuts announced by Mayor Abe Beame, which threatened tens of thousands of city jobs—including thousands of police and firefighter positions. By distributing over a million copies at airports, hotels, and bus terminals, the unions aimed to pressure city officials by highlighting the dangers of reduced public safety. Though controversial, the pamphlet became an iconic symbol of 1970s urban decay and the tensions between labor unions and city leadership.
