D.C. Crime Wave Threatens Decades of Investment

From Shaw to Capitol Hill, crime is destroying past gains and endangering future earnings. Is “Defund the Police” to blame?

Photo by Colin Lloyd on Unsplash.

“We Just Stood There and Screamed,” blared an unflinching portrait of violent crime in Washington, D.C. written by Scott Calvert and published by the Wall Street Journal on October 6, 2023.

“Violent Crime Is Surging in D.C. This Year,” found Calvert, presenting a mix of first-hand horror tales and bitter statistics.

The surge in crime in D.C. has longtime residents feeling nostalgic for the days when gentrification was their main concern.

“In gentrified Shaw, where trendy restaurants dot blocks with condos listed for more than $1 million, unusually high levels of gun violence have longtime residents feeling under siege,” Calvert wrote. “As some businesses struggle and think of leaving a prominent developer warns a massive investments is ‘going down the tubes.’”

Two recent, high-profile incidents involving Democratic Party lawmakers on Capitol Hill have left D.C. residents feeling even more desperate about the worsening situation across the city.

This week, Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) was carjacked at gunpoint. A few months ago, Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) was forced to use a cup of hot coffee to defend herself after…