Mexican consulate issues a warning about rising crime in DC
Jack Elbaum
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On Tuesday, the Mexican consulate tweeted out a warning about rising crime in Washington, D.C. It read: “Attention Mexican community: The city of Washington, D.C. is experiencing a significant increase in crime in areas previously considered safe. Take precautions.”
https://twitter.com/ConsulMexWas/status/1683630725906440192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Think it’s unreasonable? Think again. The Washington Free Beacon points out that “Although Mexico is known for its lawlessness, its homicide rate is not much higher than Washington, D.C.’s. In 2021, the district saw 23.52 homicides per 100,000 people. Mexico saw 28 per 100,000 in 2018.”
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More importantly, data released by the Metropolitan Police Department show that, as of July 26, every category of violent crime has spiked this year in D.C.
Sex abuse is up 24%, assault with a dangerous weapon has risen 5%, robbery has skyrocketed by 61%, and murder, which is down in most of the country, is at its highest in 20 years in D.C. and has gone up 17% since last year.
The story is much the same when it comes to non-violent crime. Vehicle theft is up 117%, miscellaneous theft is up 24%, and arson has risen by 300%. In fact, the only type of crime that is down this year is non-violent burglary, which has dropped by a measly 6%.
In recent weeks, a translator for the U.S. Army in Afghanistan who subsequently worked as a Lyft driver in D.C. was murdered while in his car after being surrounded by four young men. There was also a mass shooting that injured nine, including two kids, on July 4.
Interestingly, there seems to be not nearly enough urgency among anyone in charge in D.C. about what has emerged as a serious issue.
Yes, the D.C. Council approved an “emergency” public safety bill earlier this month, but it will have little effect on crime. It has a few good provisions, such as one that gives “judges more flexibility in holding people with past violent offenses in jail pending any trial for new violent crimes, including juveniles” and “expand[ing] an existing subsidy for residents and businesses who buy security cameras.” However, the bill does not go nearly far enough. We know what reduces crime: Beefing up police presence and actually prosecuting crimes. While the bill partially addresses this, it puts its central focus elsewhere.
It is time for D.C.’s leadership to step up, put aside its tendency toward soft-on-crime policies, and actually take serious action to tackle the crime problem. It may not be fashionable; it may not make one popular with far-left Twitter activists; it may ruffle some feathers. But it is what is needed nonetheless.
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Jack Elbaum is a summer 2023 Washington Examiner fellow.