MPD Chief Cathy Lanier will address the monthly meeting of the DCCA tonight at 7:30 p.m. at 2118 Massachusetts Avenue NW. The meeting is open to the public. Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans will also be there. Both will take questions from the audience. DCCA asks that questions be submitted beforehand to Robin Diener at [email protected].
What would you ask Lanier? Evans? Here are the questions I would ask.
Questions For Lanier
- DC’s crime rate is much higher than other large U.S. cities such as New York and Chicago, according to FBI crime statistics. Why is this?
- The murder rate in DC is down in 2009, a great improvement. What about other types of violent crime? For example, here in PSA 208, the number of gun crimes is up compared to last year (40 gun crimes year to date compared to 37 for January 1-December 3, 2008).
- Renovated and rejuvenated neighborhoods–such as Logan Circle (think 14th and U Street corridors) and Columbia Heights–seem to attract robberies and thefts-from-autos. Is there a plan to address this issue? (As Willie Sutton supposedly said when asked why he robbed banks, “because that’s where the money is,” these neighborhoods seem to be easy targets for certain types of crimes.)
- How important is it that the Council pass the Omnibus crime bill?
- Recently, a violent crime–a carjacking–was committed by someone who was out, awaiting trial, for another carjacking. Is a carjacking enough to hold someone for pretrial detention? And specifically, is the suspect in the recent carjacking of Sen. Corker’s daughter being held?
- You recently disbanded the Gay & Lesbian Liaison Unit, based on your expert assessment of needs. A revision of crime data has shown a much worse hate crimes situation. Why aren’t you altering your decision regarding the unit?
Questions for Evans
- It’s been reported you plan to reintroduce your anti-gang legislation. What will the language be, and what are its prospects?
- The chairman of the Council’s Public Safety Committee recently wrote a resident in Shaw that crime is “not a legislative problem.” Do you agree that Council has done everything it can do on crime, or can you do more?
- How are you working with businesses to protect residents and shoppers from street crime, particularly on 14th Street and U Street?
Related Postings
- MONDAY at 7:30 PM: Chief Lanier Addresses DCCA; Meeting Open to Public
- Media Notes on Crime
- Borderstan Crime Down 26% in November Over Last Year
- Update: Suspect in 2 Carjackings, U Street Robbery is in Jail
- Borderstan Crime: A Review of the Year’s First 9 Months
- Saturday-Night Vigilante Justice: Victims Catch U Street Mugger
- Council Rejects Emergency Crime Bill; Passes Alternative
- Video: Daytime Robbery of Universal Gear, 1529 14th St NW
