Washington, D.C
Congress must act to stop DC’s reckless crime ‘reforms’
![Congress must act to stop DC’s reckless crime ‘reforms’](https://thehill.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/ccf7f0e7d04e4d22b72683a933950ce1.jpg?w=1280)
Few points pique the bipartisan pursuits of legislators on Capitol Hill, however the compelled passage of a reckless legal justice “reform” act in Washington, D.C., must be considered one of them. The Revised Legal Code Act takes such a profound step backward within the pursuits of public security that even D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser — herself a proud progressive — vetoed the laws earlier than it was practically unanimously overridden by the D.C. metropolis council on Jan. 17. Thankfully for residents and guests to the nation’s capital, Congress has the authority to proper this impending improper and reject the implementation of the act.
This act seeks to effectuate a veritable want record of progressive legal justice reforms. These reforms embrace decreasing penalties and accountability for legal perpetrators, together with those that commit violent felonies like carjacking and theft, eliminating “three-strikes” provisions, and ending practically all mandatory-minimum sentencing. Nonetheless, these “reforms,” which is able to take impact in 2025, won’t cut back crime or make D.C. safer, as evidenced by the failed implementation of comparable progressive legal justice insurance policies in different American cities.
Amid a several-year interval of rising crime charges, not simply in D.C., however in cities all through the nation, selecting to pursue a soft-on-crime, criminal-first/victim-last method to public security just isn’t solely irresponsible — it’s reckless. Bowser acknowledged this actuality earlier this month within the lead-up to her formal veto. “Anytime there’s a coverage that reduces penalties, I feel that sends the improper message,” Bowser mentioned. “That takes the main target off utilizing weapons or possessing weapons, and I feel that’s the improper solution to go.”
Regardless of the mayor’s thought of objection, town council believed that passing this coverage was the very best plan of action for D.C. For many metropolis governments, remaining passage of laws ends the story — however D.C. is completely different.
Due to Washington, D.C.’s distinctive standing because the nation’s federal district, acts handed by town’s authorities are topic to congressional assessment by each america Home of Representatives and america Senate. This assessment interval lasts between 30 and 60 days, relying on the character of the act. Because the D.C. metropolis council’s web site explains, “Throughout this era of congressional assessment, the Congress could enact into legislation a joint decision disapproving the Council’s Act. If, in the course of the assessment interval, the President of america approves the joint decision, the Council’s Act is prevented from changing into legislation.”
Members of Congress have a sacred duty: to “set up Justice, insure home Tranquility, present for the frequent protection, promote the overall Welfare, and safe the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity…” as outlined within the preamble of the Structure. Whereas Congress goals to do that for the nation as an entire, it has restricted authority to immediately affect legal justice or public security coverage within the states, that are outdoors of their federal purview. As a result of D.C. is a federal district, nonetheless, Congress not solely has the authority however the duty to stop the implementation of the D.C. metropolis council’s newest misguided “reforms.” In different phrases, Congress ought to kill this legislation as a result of it’s in public curiosity to take action. If that’s inadequate motivation, members of Congress who reside a part of the 12 months in D.C. ought to stop the act’s implementation as a result of it’s of their self-interest to navigate their very own neighborhoods in peace, free from the predations of an emboldened legal class. If this can’t encourage bipartisan settlement, maybe nothing can.
Scott G. Erickson, a former police officer and senior official on the U.S. Division of Homeland Safety, at present serves because the Director of the Heart for Regulation and Justice on the America First Coverage Institute
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Washington, D.C
No charges in case of man who died after fight outside DC restaurant
![No charges in case of man who died after fight outside DC restaurant](https://images.foxtv.com/static.fox5dc.com/www.fox5dc.com/content/uploads/2024/06/1280/720/arlington-fight.png?ve=1&tl=1)
Family presses for justice after charges dropped in case of man who died after fight outside DC restaurant
D.C.’s top prosecutor has declined to press charges in a death investigation involving two men who got into a fight outside of a restaurant.
WASHINGTON – D.C.’s top prosecutor has declined to press charges in a death investigation involving two men who got into a fight outside of a restaurant.
They say the evidence wasn’t there but the family of the man who died disagrees and is continuing their search for justice.
It was 2 a.m. on Feb. 2 when a fight broke out between a man and 41-year-old Virginia Tech Executive Vivek Taneja. It was all caught on camera,
Prosecutors say it’s unclear whether it was a punch or him falling to the ground but Taneja would later die from his injuries.
FOX 5 obtained video of the fight through the U.S. Attorney’s Office. In it, Tanaja is seen sitting in a courtyard with two women.
Then, a man in gray, who the Washington Post is reporting was a former Arlington police officer, is walking and then stops and starts talking to the three of them.
It appears a verbal altercation begins, with the two women trying to separate the men. Then, punches are thrown. Taneja winds up unconscious on the ground, unconscious.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Victim dies after assault in Northwest, death ruled as a homicide: police
In a letter announcing that they’re declining to press charges, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, who called this death tragic, indicated they believe it was Taneja who threw the first punch in the scuffle and didn’t think charges applied, adding that they’d have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the other man was not acting in self-defense.
While the U.S. Attorney says they investigated this thoroughly, family, and attorneys representing Vivek Taneja have requested a different team of prosecutors review the case.
They also challenge the conclusion that Taneja threw the first punch, and think more investigating needs to be done to add additional context to what happened leading up to the video.
The U.S. Attorney’s office declined further comment beyond the letter notifying that they weren’t pressing charges.
FOX 5’s David Kaplan will have more at 10 p.m. and 11 p.m.
Washington, D.C
Woman stabbed in Northeast DC
![Woman stabbed in Northeast DC](https://www.dcnewsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/12/GettyImages-926719206-1-1-2-2-2-1.jpg?w=1280)
WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said a woman was stabbed in Northeast D.C. early Sunday morning.
Police said that at about 1:40 a.m., they were dispatched to the 4000 block of Minnesota Avenue for the report of a stabbing.
Police said she had non-life-threatening injuries and was conscious and breathing.
MPD said the victim chose not to be taken to a hospital for further treatment.
Washington, D.C
Sponsored: Collaboration wins: Community leaders unify in Washington, D.C.
Each day we lead efforts to champion and promote the projects, products and people in our communities and throughout the region to support economic resiliency and growth.
We are a region rich with stories, like our aviation history that began with the Wright Brothers living here, to world-renowned education institutes producing great authors and athletes, to welcoming immigrants who’ve been at the foundation of many of our communities.
There is no shortage of stories that allow us to champion and promote the region.
Our stories came in handy earlier this month when we brought a regional delegation of business and community leaders to Washington, D.C., to advocate and promote our region and the communities within.
Some ask, “Why do you do this together?” or “Why stand behind another’s priorities that don’t directly impact your particular business or community?”
The simple fact is that the business community faces many common challenges, and, more importantly, has the same goals. We all want to see our communities thrive, our businesses grow and our workers and future workers succeed.
In public policy advocacy, there is power in numbers.
Together, we are represented by four federally elected officials, who are members of 11 powerful congressional committees, including Finance, Small Business, Appropriations, and Energy and Commerce.
Together, the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance and Greater Iowa City Inc. represent more than 4,000 business members that collectively employ over 100,000 workers.
We went to Washington with one unified bipartisan voice and message: championing each other’s projects and priorities to uplift our entire region.
As a group, we advocated for policies that will allow our region to attract and retain a skilled workforce and our businesses to remain competitive, including pushing to increase Pell Grant funding so more students have access to high-demand post-secondary degrees and training, including the trades.
We sought support for a joint grant application between the Eastern Iowa Airport (CID), Kirkwood Community College and Coe College to further their innovative efforts to build the aviation workforce pipeline.
We shared stories of how Collins Aerospace, as well as their local small business suppliers, will benefit from visa reform that will increase the number of high-skilled workers coming to our region.
Our region has proven that strong public-private partnerships have contributed to the growth of our communities, including new investments to plan for increasing our populations.
We urged continued support for crucial Eastern Iowa infrastructure projects that spur economic development and further our ability to remain competitive, including Forevergreen Road expansion, the Burlington Street Bridge replacement and completing Tower Terrace Road.
The return on investment of this trip goes beyond financial or monetary outcomes to the rich relationships we continue to build. We spent considerable time talking with our diligent and dedicated federal staff, hosted a reception promoting our region to 75 D.C.-based professionals with a connection to Eastern Iowa, and built stronger connections with each other.
Time is your friend when you travel as a group. Normally, you don’t have the chance to spend so much “off-time” with the mayor of a neighboring town, or see a small businessperson share a conversation with a university official at the Congressional Baseball Game for Charity or meet a recently retired Marine who attended our celebratory reception and is interested in returning home to Iowa.
Two quick days in our nation’s capital brought all that and more. We welcome all who wish to join our efforts. By showcasing our region as cohesive and collaborative, we will continue to achieve great things and have even more stories to tell.
Nancy Bird is president and CEO of Greater Iowa City Inc. Doug Neumann is the executive director of the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance.
Opinion content represents the viewpoint of the author or The Gazette editorial board. You can join the conversation by submitting a letter to the editor or guest column or by suggesting a topic for an editorial to editorial@thegazette.com
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