But what other than the people makes the area unsafe? The only way the area can become safe is if different people live in it. So it would seem their stated aims differ from their real ones...

That sounds like a problem that should be solved by some means other than fighting against safety, beautification, etc.

Say, pushing for a strong housing authority to ensure mixed-income housing.

A strong housing authority would be socialism. Converting urban housing from rental units to affordable condos is un-American.

I'm partly joking, of course, but you'd be surprised at the epithets and viciousness that can be thrown around if someone dares disturb the very, very classist segments of the population who participate mostly loudly in municipal governments.