The chairman of the District of Columbia Council told Congress on March 29 that the city is not in the midst of a crime crisis.
“With regard to crime, yes, there is considerable concern. But while perception is important, the reality is less concerning. Let me be clear: People should feel safe and it is a problem that many residents of the district don’t,” Phil Mendelson, chairman of the Council, testified before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee.
“I know this belies the common belief—and when it comes to crime, how people feel is important—but there is not a crime crisis in Washington, D.C.,” he added.
City officials at the hearing said Congressional oversight had impeded progress and is less and less relevant as governing the city has become more complex.
“Ultimately, one may not agree with the entirety of the district’s proposal, but maintaining the status quo—what has been ranked as one of the worst criminal codes in the country—makes us less safe,” said Ward 6 City Councilman Charles Allen.
Republicans countered that even President Joe Biden viewed the revised code as too soft on crime. They said the new code reduced mandatory sentences and would foster the perception that Washington is a city that goes easy on criminals.
Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) disputed Mendelson’s claim.
“DC clearly has a crime crisis,” Comer said.
Greggory Pemberton, chairman of the DC Police Union, presented statistics that contradicted Mendelson’s contention that crime is decreasing.
According to Pemberton’s numbers, in the last six years, murder increased 75 percent, armed carjackings increased 227 percent, and armed robberies jumped 46 percent. Pemberton also confirmed that 48 percent of public school students have not returned to the classroom since schools re-opened after the pandemic.
At the same time, due to what Pemberton presented as anti-police policies, “The direct result is a mass exodus of police officers from the department.
“Since the beginning of 2020, the MPD [Metropolitan Police Department] has lost 1,194 officers, one-third of the department. 484—nearly 40 percent—of these separations were resignations; employees who just walked away from a career with MPD,” according to Pemberton’s written statement.
The hearing comes just days after a staffer for Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) was attacked in broad daylight and stabbed multiple times. His alleged assailant had reportedly just been released from prison.
Mendelson called the attack on Paul’s employee “horrible.” But, he said, the federal courts handle all criminal prosecutions for the city.
A Second Hearing Is Planned
Some members of Congress said the real issue is that city leaders are not allowed to govern as other legislatures do. They pointed out that the city must run like a state, dealing with state-level issues such as federal funding and tax policies while maintaining schools, streets, utilities, and other city services.They say that granting Washington statehood and full representation in Congress would improve things in the city.
“The Constitution did not foresee a vibrant urban area called the District of Columbia,” said Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.).
Comer said a second hearing would be held in May to discuss these issues with Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser.
