Sharraxaadda
I am a resident of Ward 6 (specifically, 6D07). There is an inordinate amount of extremely violent crimes occuring here that is ripping the community apart and causing people to arm themselves in self defense. This despite a very large police district station nearby, which is pretty much ineffective. It seems to do little, if anything, to address (let alone prevent), this outbreak of crime.
There is supposed to be a huge redevelopment in this area, yet it is so dangerous here that nobody wants to walk the streets at night. Please help.
3 Faalladas
sb (Martida)
Actually if you look at the crime map (crimemap.dc.gov) for this area (I did the 1500 feet from 240 M St. SW, the address listed in the report) you'll note that violent crime is down 17% in the past year compared to the year before.
Could it be lower? Sure. I hope it is. It is already tons lower than Dupont, Columbia Heights, H St., etc (and quieter areas like Hill East) and so I'm not sure how "inordinate" is defined. I also have noted the police (MPD, Metro, and DC Housing Authority forces) patrolling a lot and they've been nice and professional when I've dealt with them (not as a crime victim--most recently, because I lost my wallet and wanted to see if it had been turned in!).
I don't think crime is "ripping the community apart" (I know lots of people in the neighborhood! We do fun things like go to the SW Arts Fest this weekend and fundraise for a new playground!) and I'd walk the streets at night here with no more hesitation than any other primarily residential neighborhood in DC.
Concerned Citizen (Martida)
Respectfully speaking, statistics aside, you must be walking with blinders on. The examples below come from text alerts I receive, our condo association warnings, and personal experience.
Examples:
1. For 5 weeks in a row this summer, two men armed with a silver handgun violently robbed residents in various parts of SW at the beginning of the workday, posters have been placed, they still have yet to be caught
2. Just two weekends ago, there were 3 violent incidents at the Carrolsburg complex involving gangs throwing stones, a young man robbed and beaten, and another elderly resident chased by mobs
3. This past week there were 2 separate incidents of throngs of youth openly yelling at passersby and threatening them, one in front of Station 4, the other a few nights later in front of CVS
4. In the past two weeks, there have been a string of robbery through intimidation at the Bank of America trailer, where the robbers use the piles of stones nearby as weapons.
These are facts, not assertions. It is dangerous as hell there, I walk around armed now because of it.
Doug (Martida)