Back in 2020 Washington, DC was among cities that instituted policing "reforms" amid all the Left's calls to "Defund the Police." Predictably it hasn't gone well for anybody except criminals:
Most of this year's 212 homicides and gunfire have occurred in Northeast and Southeast, especially hurting families and the lives of young people in D.C.'s communities of color.
By the numbers: Violent crime is up 38% in Washington compared to the same time last year.
- The Anacostia and Fairlawn area has recorded 10 homicides so far this year, one of the highest concentrations in the city.
- The Brentwood area in Northeast has seen nine homicides.
- In Adams Morgan, robberies soared 95% from last year.
All of the "woke" approaches to policing have been such disasters that Mayor Muriel Bowser is now trying to do a one-eighty:
SCOOP: D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser plans to unveil an anti-crime package tomorrow morning that would crack down on drug dealing and retail theft — while loosening some recent policing reforms. https://t.co/5pGEwDjGbW
— Cuneyt Dil (@cuneytdil) October 23, 2023
Out: Defund the Police.
In: Get tough on crime!
What a novel concept.
>@axios has the news first. It's a big example of Democratic-led city making U-turn on policing reform. https://t.co/5pGEwDjGbW
— Cuneyt Dil (@cuneytdil) October 23, 2023
Pivot in progress:
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser plans to propose anti-crime measures on Monday that would loosen some reforms enacted after the police killing of George Floyd.
Why it matters: In the heat of a crime wave, it would mark a U-turn for the Democratic city on policing reform, likely pitting Bowser against progressive council members.
Driving the news: Bowser's forthcoming bill would empower police to declare "drug-free zones" across the city for five-day spans, according to a preview of the legislation obtained by Axios. The measure is an effort to outlaw congregating in public spaces for the "purchase, sale, or use of illegal drugs."
- Retail theft would carry stiffer penalties, via a new crime for "directing organized retail theft."
- Wearing a mask while committing a crime would be outlawed again.
Maybe normalizing wearing masks everywhere wasn't a good idea after all.
Mugged by reality https://t.co/RwURlLOdPr
— Nathan Wurtzel (@NathanWurtzel) October 23, 2023
Here's a possible alternate headline:
Arsonist is trying to fight the fire 🔥
— Captain Cook's Wife🇺🇸 (@cptcookswife) October 23, 2023
If only these Dems could learn any long-term lessons from all this. That won't happen of course but dare to dream.
How it started:
https://t.co/EnhOKSyQe8 pic.twitter.com/r5X4ra6wCk
— Scott Jennings (@ScottJenningsKY) October 23, 2023
How it's going:
LIVE: Mayor Bowser Introduces New Legislation to Reduce Crime: Addressing Crime Trends (ACT) Now Act https://t.co/us3On4uX2P
— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) October 23, 2023
And yet so many people in big cities continue voting for Democrats.
