It is very clear that Sampson disagrees with the "broken window" theory on a level but agrees with it to an extent. Since Sampson referred to the "broken window" theory many times in this chapter I felt it necessary to read the article in full. I used the broken window article to provide the challenging piece to Sampson's thesis. Below is the link to the "Broken Window Theory" article.
Sampson states that perception is a big factor in determining the link between neighborhood crime rates, immigration, poverty, etc. When I read the broken window theory I got the same thing. Broken window theory states that the presence of policemen on foot patrol did not lower crime rates at all, but instead it adjusted the "perception" of the people in the area of the foot patrol. Their presence made them "feel" safer even though the crime rates did not change at all. To translate that theory into the looks of environment in a particular area it would assume that damaged buildings, graffiti, etc would generate an "unsafe" perception among citizens but have no real effect on statistical changes in crime rates, poverty, racial divide, etc. So I feel Sampson is wanting to agree just to disagree.
Sampson also raises the question of what causes crime. Is crime caused by drug paraphernalia on the streets, broken windows, racial mixtures, etc? To that question I would answer how a professor of mine did once, laws cause crime. If we made everything legal there would be no crime. To compare, if we had no poverty level or lowered the poverty line then we would have no poverty. If we tie the broken window theory to the idea of what causes crime it means that "nice" or "clean" areas change the perception of crime being present but does not actually change the rates.
Lastly, if we compare the broken window theory to collective efficacy I think they go hand in hand. Sampson breifly touched on the beginning of an idea that he may revisit later, but that to change the pattern or alter the predictive future of a neighborhood it must be a collective process. Meaning that the broken window theory would be a perfect start to get a community to work together and prevent disorder. The percieved safety of a neighborhood through fixing "rundown" areas, thus increasing their perceptions of lower crime. Those perceptions, according to what I understand of Sampson's writing, would predict lower homicide rates in the future.
http://www.lantm.lth.se/fileadmin/fastighetsvetenskap/utbildning/Fastighetsvaerderingssystem/BrokenWindowTheory.pdf
I like how you titled your blog response as perception. In the world we live in often it is only the perception that is important, and quite often reality is thrown out. The belief that more cops on the street and in view of the public makes them feel safe when in fact the crime rate or real safety did not change at all. Perception becomes reality.
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