Washington, D.C., under Democrat control, has witnessed a surge in homicides, surpassing 200 before October for the first time in 25 years.
The spike in violence has raised concerns among local leaders, drawn Congress' attention, and left residents questioning the city's safety, The Washington Post reported.
Local authorities disclosed that the city has logged 209 homicides this year. On Sept. 26, 2022, the death toll was 155.
"Southeast Ward 8 and Ward 7 is out of control, and the mayor [Muriel Bowser] should be ashamed of herself," Paul Trantham, the commissioner for one of Ward Eight's Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, told ABC7 News. "She shouldn't be able to sleep at night with the stuff going on in our city."
Rising violence in has prompted residents to liken the city to a "war zone," leading businesses to secure merchandise due to theft. The city council reacted with an emergency bill in July and introduced four more bills in September for additional crime-fighting funding.
The city also is grappling with a police officer shortage, losing 1,100 since 2020, with only 114 recruited by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPDC) in fiscal year 2023 while losing 298 employees, the Daily Caller reported.
The city also is dealing with policing challenges after a 2022 city council bill that curtailed police authority. In May, Congress also approved a measure to repeal the bill, but President Joe Biden vetoed it, citing the D.C. law as "commonsense," as stated in a White House press release.
"[T]his resolution from congressional Republicans would overturn commonsense police reforms," Biden said. "The Congress should respect the District of Columbia's right to pass measures that improve public safety and public trust."
Crime victims in 2023 range from 10-year-old Arianna Davis, hit by a stray bullet on Mother's Day, to 71-year-old Eddie Curtis, found shot in August, according to the Washington Post.
"We're in a state of emergency," said D.C. Council member Trayon White Sr. of D-Ward 8.
He also urged the district government to increase funding for rental assistance programs and expand access to substance abuse and mental health treatment for young people.
"Just like we take the COVID-19 pandemic seriously, we've got to take this pandemic of violence in D.C. seriously," White said. "Until we get there, more blood will be spilled on the streets."
Homicides in D.C. have surged by 24% compared to 2022, with overall violent crime registering a 37% increase, according to MPDC data.
Jim Thomas ✉
Jim Thomas is a writer based in Indiana. He holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science, a law degree from U.I.C. Law School, and has practiced law for more than 20 years.
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