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   From: yourdime@outlook.com   
      
   Washington, D.C.'s crime rates have continued to skyrocket despite its   
   city council chairman proclaiming earlier this year there is no crime   
   crisis in the nation's capital.   
      
   Democratic D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson told the House Committee   
   on Oversight in late March that while there are considerable concerns   
   regarding crime, residents should not worry.   
      
   "With regard to crime, yes, there is considerable concern," Mendelson   
   said. "But while perception is important, the reality is less concerning.   
   Let me be clear: People should feel safe, and it is a problem that many   
   residents of the district don't.   
      
   "I know this belies the common belief — and when it comes to crime, how   
   people feel is important — but there is not a crime crisis in Washington,   
   D.C."   
      
   VIOLENCE SOARS AMID DC POLICE CRISIS AS 5 KILLED IN JUST 1 DAY   
      
   The hearing came after months of disputes between Congress and the D.C.   
   council over crime proposals. It also occurred just days after a staff   
   member for Republican Sen. Rand Paul was severely injured after being   
   stabbed by a man who had recently been released from prison.   
      
   But months after his comments from the March hearing, crime statistics   
   paint a much different picture than Mendelson's reassurances about the   
   "reality" of where the city stands.   
      
   BIDEN SIGNS LEGISLATION NULLIFYING DC CRIMINAL CODE CHANGES   
      
   According to data from the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, almost all   
   crimes have soared from this time last year. As of Aug. 18, the nation's   
   capital has experienced a 63% increase in robberies, a 27% increase in   
   homicides, a 14% increase in sexual abuse and a 4% increase in assault   
   with a deadly weapon.   
      
   Violent crimes as a whole have skyrocketed 38%, the data shows.   
      
   The city has also witnessed property crimes increase by 29% over the past   
   year, including a 167% increase in arson, a 115% increase in motor vehicle   
   theft and a 3% increase in burglaries.   
      
   The crime stats over the past year are also trending in the opposite   
   direction they had been from 2021 to 2022. During that time, there was a   
   dip in every crime category besides motor vehicle theft, which saw an 8%   
   increase, according to the data.   
      
   "I was not denying the importance of public safety," Mendelson told Fox   
   News Digital. "The increase in crime is of course, a concern. But back in   
   March when I testified, Congressman Comer was suggesting a ‘crisis’ to   
   justify taking away the District’s Home Rule. I don’t agree with that. In   
   fact, Congress has gotten in the way of our efforts to fight crime by   
   under-resourcing local prosecutions, cutting local police funding, and   
   interfering with our ability to control illegal cannabis sales."   
      
   Democratic D.C. Councilmember Trayon White Sr. has also sung a much   
   different tune than Mendelson. White said in early August it might be time   
   to bring in the National Guard as the city continues to be hammered by   
   crime.   
      
   "The crime is out of control and getting worse by the day," White said at   
   a press conference earlier this month. "We must declare an emergency   
   regarding the crime and violence in our neighborhoods and act urgently. It   
   may be time to call on the National Guard to protect the children and   
   innocent people that are losing their lives to this senselessness.   
      
   "I am tired of burying our children. We are too comfortable with the state   
   of our city. We must take action to gain control and protect our   
   residents. Law enforcement is only one part of how we combat public safety   
   issues. It will take all of us to heal our community."   
      
   This story has been updated to include Mendelson's comment.   
      
   https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dc-continues-experiencing-soaring-crime-   
   despite-its-council-chairman-saying-there-is-no-crime-crisis   
      
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    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)