Opinion | Secure D.C. is just a start. Here’s how to make D.C. safe and vibrant.

But we’re not done listening, and we’re not done finding ways to fulfill government’s greatest responsibility: to provide for the safety and well-being of all our residents.

Both the public safety emergency legislation I introduced and shepherded to passage last summer and the Secure D.C. omnibus I introduced and passed into law this year were shaped by residents’ concerns.

I’ve met with thousands of D.C. residents, held hearings on more than a dozen pieces of legislation I introduced and moved forward, conducted public safety walks in all eight wards to hear neighborhood-specific needs and feedback, and discussed needs identified by community organizations. I’ve collaborated with the attorney general’s office, U.S. attorney’s office and our D.C. courts and met with local and federal leaders across the District and country to determine the efficacy of a wide range of potential initiatives.

I heard the same message in living rooms, at houses of worship, on sidewalks and inside community centers. Everyone demanded safety and action. Collectively, we all wanted to send a clear message that we cannot, and will not, tolerate the gun violence or crime trends that have been devastating our communities. And we knew we needed a dynamic and multifaceted response to address all the factors that make residents feel unsafe.

That’s why Secure D.C. includes initiatives to prevent crime and end cycles of violence by investing in our public spaces and creating job training programs to support citizens returning from incarceration; to ensure accountability for violent crime and gun violence by strengthening charges for carjacking and firearms use and allowing pretrial detention for violent crimes; and to facilitate reliable and effective government response to resident needs by increasing data-sharing, transparency and resources.

But the work is far from over. I hear both the residents’ calls for continued responsiveness to crime and those calling for long-term investments in our communities. And I want them to hear this: We can and must do both. And we will.

We can make sure our kids get to school safely and invest in literacy training for our teachers who support them in their classrooms. We can refuse to tolerate gun crimes and carjackings when they happen and stand up well-coordinated violence intervention, de-escalation and restorative justice programs to stop the next cycle of violence before it starts. And as we make our public spaces safe, we can provide access to programming and recreational spaces so that our communities can experience not just baseline security but enrichment and joy.

The District has a bright future. Our communities demand and depend on it. And are working hard to get there.

The writer, a Democrat representing Ward 2, is chairwoman of the D.C. Council’s Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety.

In the wake of the enactment of Secure D.C., the dialogue on public safety must shift toward solutions that not only ensure accountability for offenders but also prioritize residents’ well-being and tackle the catalysts of crime. We can reduce incarceration and lower crime rates simultaneously.

The cost of punishment — particularly through incarceration — is exceedingly high. In comparison, preventive initiatives such as early-childhood education, mentorship, employment opportunities and mental health services typically require a fraction of the cost and yield significant long-term societal benefits beyond reducing crime.

We should fully fund initiatives such as the Metropolitan Police Department Cadet Corps, which hires District residents between the ages of 17 and 24 for uniformed civilian jobs while also helping them pay for college courses. Efforts such as the Cadet Corps and initiatives to prioritize responsive and proactive community policing are essential to enhancing public safety.

Expanding employment opportunities, particularly through programs such as First Source, can provide individuals with viable alternatives to criminal activity. And establishing resource hubs in Ward 7 in collaboration with agencies including the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency, Pretrial Services Agency and the Court Support Services Division can help prevent relapse into criminal behavior. Intervening at the right time in people’s lives is crucial for breaking the cycle of crime and for successfully reintegrating returning citizens into society.

Prevention efforts not only have the potential to disrupt the intergenerational cycle of repeat offenders but also offer a path toward positive youth development. There’s a shortage of uplifting and productive activities for D.C. youths, often leaving them vulnerable to the influences of crime. Drawing from my extensive experience as a youth advocate with the Ward 7 Education Council and State Board of Education, I have witnessed the remarkable potential of our young people when provided with the right guidance and opportunities. Early identification of risk, coupled with targeted interventions, is vital in averting criminal behavior. Preventing disengagement from education and providing beneficial alternatives can effectively decrease youth recidivism.

Despite the use of the recent uptick in crime to discredit criminal justice reform, D.C. is ready for a more effective approach. By prioritizing prevention, rehabilitation, investing in early intervention and providing support systems, we can break the cycle of crime and foster positive youth development.

Eboni-Rose Thompson, Washington

The writer represents Ward 7 on D.C.’s State Board of Education.

The Post’s April 4 front-page article “Bill from D.C. mayor targets youth violence and truancy” discussed Mayor Muriel E. Bowser’s plan “to address a crisis among young people in the District.” She is right to be concerned. Last year, 106 children and teenagers in D.C. were shot. Sixteen of them died. Carjackings in the city nearly doubled in 2023, and the average age of those arrested for carjacking was 15. Guns were used in the commission of half of these crimes. And 37 percent of all D.C. school students last year were truant.

The mayor’s plan to get tougher with violent juvenile criminals is commendable. But I want to also applaud her for wanting to hold parents accountable if their children do not go to school. Fine the parents or put them in jail if their children are habitually truant. It’s the law, but, as The Post reported, no such penalties have been imposed in D.C. “in recent years.”

Recently, we learned that three D.C. individuals had been arrested and charged with the horrific beating to death of an elderly man with disabilities. The suspects are three girls ages of 12 and 13. According to The Post, all three had long-standing truancy issues. One of the girls reportedly did not attend a single day of classes this year. During their court hearings, The Post reported, “the girls’ parents sat in the back of the courtroom.” It appears that these parents, and many others in D.C., have for too long taken a back seat when it comes to raising their children.

The writer is president of Citizens Behind the Badge.

Don’t make crime someone else’s problem

The Post’s March 18 editorial, “Crime is falling almost everywhere except D.C. Who’s responsible?,” argued that “crime in Washington isn’t just the mayor’s problem, or the council’s. All of those with power to improve the situation owe the city more.” I would like to add some people and organizations with the power to make a difference to The Post’s list.

1. Parents and guardians. Some children are out of control, and adult supervision at their homes is either too lax or absent. Parents and guardians must be strongly encouraged to seek professional help for their wayward kids if they need it.

2. Schools. Parental engagement needs to be strengthened. There are schools that have no viable parent-teacher associations or equivalent organizations. Schools and the communities they serve should partner to develop more co-curricular and extracurricular activities to help students expand their interests and find their passions.

3. Churches. There are nearly 800 places of worship in D.C. Many youths see the inside of these houses of worship only when there are funerals. The pastors need to be more involved in community activities and open the doors of their churches to community for more than worship services.

4. Advisory neighborhood commissions. The members of the commissions should be more involved in organizing constructive and safe activities for our youths. The ANCs should recruit high school students to serve as interns and receive community service hours toward graduation.

5. Civic associations. Some D.C. civic associations are older than home rule. These organizations can play critical roles in establishing a sense of community place, pride and tradition. Unlike ANCs, which are governmental entities with restrictions, civic associations can operate with more flexibility. Unfortunately, there are east-of-the-river neighborhoods that have no civic associations and associations that are struggling to stay afloat or are poorly led.

6. The community at large. The code of silence in our community is killing people. There are many people who have information that could close homicide cases but will not come forth even though they can do it anonymously.

I realize that, like The Post Editorial Board, I am engaging in finger pointing. I feel that at the community level, if we are to engage in finger pointing, we should form a circle. We must all challenge one another to do more. We particularly owe that to the children.

Philip Pannell, Washington

The writer is executive director of the Anacostia Coordinating Council.