re: Are there any decently safe areas in North BR?

There are plenty of good spots between I-110 and the river.

The area between Gov. and Florida is really nice from Acadian to Lobdell.

The rest is pretty much a garbage fire unless you go far enough north to be in Central or Zachary or East enough to be practically in Denham. Some of the areas off of N. Sherwood aren't too bad as the Vietnamese and Hispanics are keeping those neighborhoods afloat.