It has also been a proving ground for the city's drug dealers and prostitutes.

Quality of life in Area 4 has been declining this year: through June, drug arrests were up 81percent, and reported street robberies doubled.

On Sept. 9, the city held a community meeting in the neighborhood, attracting dozens of angry residents and a handful of the city's top elected officials. And even though he felt he knew his city, councillor Timothy J. Toomey was astounded at what he heard, he said.

"I was very surprised that drug sales could be taking place on the same corner....and[the residents said] the drug dealers were having breakfast on Mass. Ave. It was kind of amazing," Toomey said.

For the neighborhood caught in a crime wave, the anger toward the police commissioner apparent at the meeting is no surprise.

But Watson, entering his third year as Cambridge's top cop, is no more popular elsewhere--not with most city officials, not with some residents, and not even with many of his patrol officers.

And morale in the police department is low, according to police officers and city officials.

They point toward two other reasons for the funk at 5 Western Ave.