Washington, D.C
NRCC takes aim at House and DC Democrats over rising crime rates
EXCLUSIVE — House Republicans’ campaign arm is calling attention to the rising crime levels in Washington, D.C., placing blame on years of failed Democratic policies and a progressive city council.
Washington, D.C., has faced an uphill battle over the last few years when it comes to crime, with the pandemic ushering in a wave of violence that continues to ravage the district’s once-flourishing downtown area. Recent sharp upticks in juvenile offenses and carjackings eventually forced Mayor Muriel Bowser and the D.C. Council to take another look at what the district can do to bring down criminal activity — but House Republicans say it is too little, too late.
A recent National Republican Congressional Committee memo obtained by the Washington Examiner claims that Washington, D.C., leaders are not only “ill-equipped” to handle the district’s increasing crime rates but also “directly contributed” to the problem.
“The failure of D.C. Democrats to keep crime under control has turned the city into a place hostile for residents, businesses, and tourists,” the memo stated. “House Democrats have directly contributed to the ruination of America’s capital city. If applied nationally, the policies supported by House Democrats would bring similar chaos to the whole country.”
In 2020, the D.C. Council approved a $15 million slash in police funding, following a growing trend across major cities in the nation after the Black Lives Matter movement that led to increased support for defunding the police. The council drew national attention a few years later when it overhauled its criminal code in 2022 to reduce offenses and penalties for homicide, robberies, and carjackings — the first time in 100 years that such changes had been made.
The criminal code, like all legislation coming out of the district, is subjected to federal oversight. In February and March, the House and Senate voted to overturn an overhaul of the criminal code, with 173 House Democrats voting in support of the Washington, D.C., law. It marked the first time in 30 years that Congress has repealed a local law passed by the D.C. Council. The council did pass a separate police reform bill that improved police accountability, banned chokeholds, and increased de-escalation training for law enforcement officers.
Though the criminal code overhaul was overruled by national lawmakers, Washington, D.C., is still seeing a rise in homicides, robberies, and carjackings. In 2023, motor vehicle theft increased 82%, robberies increased 67%, and homicides increased 35%. Within the first week of 2024, there have been more than 125 carjackings and 44 robberies.
A House Republican operative told the Washington Examiner that because the D.C. councilmembers trend “pretty far to the left” with virtually no institutional checks, the district serves as a “great example of what happens when you give Democrats completely unmitigated, total absolute control.”
“What’s happened in D.C. is ultimately what they would, if Democrats could, end up doing to most American cities in most American states,” the operative said.
Washington, D.C., is not receiving much support from its attorney general either. Juvenile crime has risen substantially in the district, and there is a lack of strong policies to detain or prosecute them. Washington, D.C., Attorney General Brian Schwalb has come under fire for declining to prosecute several juvenile cases, leading to many of them becoming repeat offenders and escalating to more violent crimes. He also pushed back against Bowser’s “tough on crime” act last summer.
Some of the D.C. councilmembers’ stances on crime are catching up to them. D.C. Councilman Charles Allen is now facing a recall effort led by Jennifer Squires, a former government worker, who said that the representative of Ward 6 should be more dedicated to curbing crime. The recall organizers need to collect signatures from at least 10% of registered voters in Ward 6 to move forward to a special election.
Ward 6 is the largest in the district, spanning the neighborhoods of Downtown, Penn Quarter, Gallery Place, and Chinatown — all areas with increased crime rates. Allen guided the crime laws that Congress blocked in March and also supported the controversial police reform bill in 2020 that was largely opposed by the D.C. Police Union.
In the wake of high-profile crimes, Bowser introduced new legislation in October to support “safe and effective policing” that has been criticized by conservatives for missing the mark. The new legislation would ban criminals from wearing masks, declare drug-free zones, and create new penalties for organized retail theft.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The Democratic mayor has also faced recent criticism for her lack of appropriate crime responses after the Washington Wizards and Capitals announced that the organizations would move to Virginia due to the rising criminal activity in the Gallery Place neighborhood.
“Extreme Democrats’ radical policies turned our nation’s capital into a hot bed of soaring crime, causing residents to flee their neighborhoods for safer communities,” NRCC Rapid Response Director Ben Smith said in a statement to the Washington Examiner. “Now, extreme House Democrats want to export the same failed policies across the country. Only House Republicans are working to stop them.”
4 things to know about the weather:
- So Many Clouds
- Not Too Much Rain
- Milder For The Weekend
- Warmer Days Next Week
The dividing line between the 50s and the 70s is a cold front that has been wedged right down into our area by high pressure anchored over New England. East winds will bring our air off the ocean and Bay and both of those bodies of water are COLD this time of year.
Afternoon highs will stay in the 40s near the Bay, should reach the low/mid 50s near DC and could be near 60° west of Fredericksburg.
Very little sunshine today but not too much of a rain chance. Clouds, fog and 40s for all tonight.
Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to check the weather radar on the go.
A developing storm over the Ohio Valley will finally begin to push that high pressure away tomorrow. Our afternoon highs will be dependent on how soon our wind can turn around to the Southwest.
Plan for a cloudy and chilly Saturday morning with a big jump in temperatures by mid-afternoon. Northern and Northeastern Maryland will remain cooler, but the rest of the area should pop above 70° for the first time this year.
The aforementioned storm will send a front through our area Saturday night. That front will bring a round of showers along with it. Showers will be likely Saturday evening and night.
The majority of that rain chance will be ending before noon on Sunday and the return of a little sun on Sunday afternoon should warm most areas to near 70° once again.
The first few days of next week will feel more like May than March. Highs on Monday should be near 75° and both Tuesday and Wednesday could top 80°. That warm pattern won’t last long, but it sure will feel good.
QuickCast
TODAY:
Mostly Cloudy
Coolest Along, East Of I-95
Isolated Showers
Wind: East 5-15 mph
Chance of Rain: 20%
HIGHS: 48° to 62°
TONIGHT:
Cloudy And Damp
Isolated Showers
Areas Of Fog
Wind: East 5-10 mph
Chance Of Rain: 20%
LOWS: 40° to 45°
SATURDAY:
Partly To Mostly Cloudy
Breezy And Warmer
Isolated Showers
Wind: Southwest 10-20 mph
Chance of Rain: 20%
HIGHS: 65° to 75°
SUNDAY:
Partly Sunny
AM: Showers Likely
PM: Dry For Most
Wind: Northwest 5-15 mph
Chance of Rain: 40%
HIGHS: 64° to 72°
MONDAY:
Sun And Clouds
Nice And Mild
Light Breeze
Wind: Variable 5 mph
Chance of Rain: 0%
HIGHS: 66° to 72°
Sunrise: 6:33 Sunset: 6:06
Average High: 53° Average Low: 36°
Stay with Storm Team4 for the latest forecast. Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to get severe weather alerts on your phone.
4 things to know about the weather:
- Grab the umbrella
- Big temperature ranges
- Thunder possible Thursday night
- Warmer days on the way
Heads up commuters! For Thursday morning, there will be some thick fog in spots with some rain possible, especially around the Mason-Dixon line. The fog should clear out by 10 a.m.
Throughout the day, some sunshine should develop with highs warming into the low 60s. Those in Northern Maryland could see some showers throughout the day but those near the D.C. area will stay relatively dry except for a stray shower or two.
Some rain and evening storms by 8 p.m. will impact the area Thursday night. Although it’s a bit unusual for this time of year, don’t be surprised if you hear thunder Thursday evening.
Warmer temperatures coming this weekend
These next few days will come with some major forecast challenges.
Much, much warmer air is just to our south and cold, high pressure is moving into New England. The front separating the 40s from the 70s will be laying right across our region for the next two to three days.
So keep in mind, when you’re looking at the forecast highs in the text below, that it will be warmest in Fredericksburg, VA and coolest in northern Maryland.
Friday’s weather will be similar as a front system remains just over the area, separating chilly air to the north and warmer air to the south. There might be a stray shower or two, too.
For the weekend, Saturday looks to be the warmer of the two days with highs in the low to mid 70s. Some rain overnight Saturday will lead to cooler temperatures on Sunday.
Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to check the weather radar on the go.
QuickCast
THURSDAY:
Mostly Cloudy
Stray Shower Possible
Big Temperature Range
Wind: Southeast 5 mph
Chance of Rain: 40%
HIGHS: 62° to 72°
THURSDAY NIGHT:
Cloudy And Chilly
Rain Likely
Some Thunder Possible
Wind: Northeast 5 mph
Chance Of Rain: 70%
LOWS: 44° to 54°
FRIDAY:
Mostly Cloudy
Cooler For Most
Isolated Shower Or Two
Wind: East 5-15 mph
Chance of Rain: 20%
HIGHS: 52° to 68°
SATURDAY:
Partly Sunny
Breezy And Warmer
Isolated Shower
Wind: Southwest 10-20 mph
Chance of Rain: 20%
HIGHS: 66° to 78°
SUNDAY:
Mostly Cloudy
Cooler
Few Showers Possible
Wind: Northwest 5-15 mph
Chance of Rain: 20%
HIGHS: 64° to 72°
Sunrise: 6:35 Sunset: 6:05
Average High: 53° Average Low: 36°
Stay with Storm Team4 for the latest forecast. Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to get severe weather alerts on your phone.
WASHINGTON (7News) — D.C. taxpayers may be confused by back-and-forth between the D.C. City Council and Congress over taxprovision. The city’s financial officer sent a letter to Mayor Muriel Bowser and D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson, that said the District’s tax laws will not change, despite recent actions by Congress.
7News spoke to director of Tax Policy at the Center for American Progress Corey Husak to explain the complicated tax policy.
“The short answer is, nothing changes. Filing Season can continue as it has been, continue as planned, and according to the laws as we understood them in January,” said Husak.
“If you’ve already filed your taxes, you don’t have to change anything. And if you want to file your taxes, the rules are still the same as they were on the books before,” said Husak.
RELATED | DC Council Chairman talks taxes, budget, bodycams, federal surge
Chief Financial Officer Glen Lee’s revenue estimate issued Friday does not include an estimated $180 million expected this fiscal year from the city’s decoupling law, “due to the uncertainty of the associated revenue as a result of Joint Resolution 142,” according to a released letter.
“The CFO was in a tough spot here. If he agreed with Congress, then businesses and overtime workers will get bigger refunds. But if he agreed with the Mayor and the Attorney General, then families with children and lower income workers would get bigger tax cuts,” said Husak.
SEE MORE | Development of new Commanders stadium scrutinized at DC oversight hearing
“We as District residents can’t control, you know what happens in the courts, what happens in, you know, what Congress does in the future,” said Husak. “But for now, the CFO has said, you know this is, this is a law as it stands, and the law that I’m going to enforce so, you know, file your legally obligated taxes, and maybe in the future, there’ll be a surprise.”
WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW
7News spoke to director of Tax Policy at the Center for American Progress Corey Husak to explain the complicated tax policy (7News).{ }
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