Not talking about the county. The city is completely unique architecturally, and I've already acknowledged it has problems. Walk though Charles Village, Remington, across North Avenue, down into Mount Vernon and pay attention to the buildings and businesses around Charles Street. Even the transit isn't bad with the Circulator. (Could be better, yes) Yes DC is safer, never was the point. But if you can't see how fantastically beautiful these areas really are, I don't know what to say.

Canton is the closest in style to DC strip malls and definitely not dangerous, but two blocks over, there is a good bar/restaurant scene.

Waters used to hang out in the Club Charles years ago, and it's that area around Charles Street, I'm sure he's partially referring to.