I don't think the issue he is addressing is 'safety and stability' - in the common sense. Families, for example are a lot 'less stable'. So are many communitie

I don't think the issue he is addressing is 'safety and stability' - in the common sense. Families, for example are a lot 'less stable'. So are many communities - at least in the Western world. On the community level - consider a place like Detroit - which is an example of many, smaller cities esp. in the rust belt. That kind of community blight can wear on people.