Washington, D.C. is a city that has long spun statistics to the point that they become more fable than fact. It reaffirms the famous view that there are “lies, damned lies, and statistics.” The line is the perfect warning to the unwary about politicians citing statistics. The quote itself is widely misrepresented as the work of Mark Twain or British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, so it seems nothing can be trusted when it comes to statistics, not even quotes on statistics.
That question is again at the heart of a debate following the announcement of President Donald Trump that he would be sending the National Guard into Washington and taking temporary control of the D.C. police. In response, Mayor Muriel Bowser and other democrats denounced the plan and claimed that violent crime is at a 30-year low after dropping by 26% so far in 2025.
However, those statistics were recently challenged after a scandal involving allegations of suppressing crime reports to artificially reduce crime rate statistics. The media is reporting the reduction claim despite only recently questioning those statistics.
The MPD in July suspended Michael Pulliam, police commander for the Adams Morgan neighborhood, for allegedly manipulating crime numbers. D.C. Fraternal Order of Police chairman Gregg Pemberton accused police officials of pressuring officers to falsify statistics to reduce crime rates:
“When our members respond to the scene of a felony offense where there is a victim reporting that a felony occurred, inevitably there will be a lieutenant or a captain that will show up on that scene and direct those members to take a report for a lesser offense. So, instead of taking a report for a shooting or a stabbing or a carjacking, they will order that officer to take a report for a theft or an injured person to the hospital or a felony assault, which is not the same type of classification.”
Pemberton said that the MPD’s statistics were “preposterous… There’s absolutely no way crime could be down 28%. Last year, they suggested that it went down 34%.”
Even accepting some of these statistics, it is hardly anything to celebrate. For example, Washington, DC’s 2024 murder rate was 27.54 per 100,00 people. That is higher than cities like Bogota (15.1), Mexico City (10.6), Islamabad (9.2), and Lima (7.6). It is astronomical when compared to the capitals of close allies like Paris (1.64), London (1.1), and Madrid (0.96).
There are good-faith reasons to oppose this move. I am not convinced that the National Guard deployment is warranted or likely to have a meaningful impact on crime. However, President Trump is within his rights to order the deployment. He may also take temporary control of the police and can notify Congress if he wants to extend that period to 30 days. D.C. is a federal enclave and is thus different from other cities. There is no governor involved in such orders in Washington, which remain under the jurisdiction of the federal government.
What is also clear is that crime remains very high in this city and the reliability of the D.C. crime statistics can be legitimately questioned as we look for solutions for public safety.
OT
“Supreme Court formally asked to overturn landmark same-sex marriage ruling”
– ABC News
_______________
“This can be achieved above all by investing in the family, founded upon the stable union between a man and a woman.”
– Pope Leo XIV
__________________
Full Quote:
“It is the responsibility of government leaders to work to build harmonious and peaceful civil societies. This can be achieved above all by investing in the family, founded upon the stable union between a man and a woman, “a small but genuine society, and prior to all civil society.”[2]
– Pope Leo XIV
__________________
Matrimony, derived from mater, the Latin word for mother, and marriage are institutions that secure and protect the entire family, which is comprised of a man, a woman, and children.
The function of marriage is procreation.
Same-sex marriage produces no children and does not constitute an actual family.
Same-sex constitutes a contrived and artificial family.
Same-sex marriage is nonsensical and absurd.
God bless homosexuals; they must enter into legally binding contracts.
Civil unions for all consenting adults (e.g. couplets). #NoJudgment #NoLabels
Marriage for couples: one man and one woman with an outlook to our [unPlanned] Posterity.
“Civil unions for all consenting adults (e.g. couplets). #NoJudgment #NoLabels
Marriage for couples: one man and one woman with an outlook to our [unPlanned] Posterity.”
That was a proposed solution twenty plus years ago. Get government out of the marriage business, but recognize the legal aspects of a union. That wasn’t good enough for the activists however, they needed to destroy the traditional meaning of marriage, and rub your face in it as well.
Hear, hear.
This preposterous malarkey is about adverse dominion, not reason and logic.
Do you have what it takes to ascend to police command? Will you abandon your pledge to the public and commit it to your superiors? Do you desire to grab onto the ladder that leads to police chief, the most financially lucrative position in policing, the one that transforms you into a political servant, where dreams of double and triple-dipping can come true?
The rules are simple: serve the public propaganda, not facts; elevate color and gender above competence and merit; never let your conscience trump your avarice.
Whoever does the crime statistics in DC, should note the difference in crime rates before and after today.
For those living in the DC region, agree with Trump or not, if you see a NGs on patrol, thank them.
So, are D.C.’s statistics are based on actual charges/convictions? My understanding is that so many violent acts are dismissed, created by minors, or other excuses, and these are unaccounted for — bringing the numbers down and not a true reflection of actual crimes.
“Metropolitan Police Department (DC Police / MPD)”
“DC police commander suspended, accused of changing crime statistics”
“Police union says directive to change offense classifications comes from command staff.”
–By Paul Wagner, News4 Reporter • Published July 18, 2025 • Updated on July 18, 2025 at 10:24 am
“A D.C. police commander is under investigation for allegedly making changes to crime statistics in his district.”
“The Metropolitan Police Department confirmed Michael Pulliam was placed on paid administrative leave in mid-May. That happened just a week after Pulliam filed an equal employment opportunity complaint against an assistant chief and the police union accused the department of deliberately falsifying crime data, according to three law enforcement sources familiar with the complaint.”
“The union claims police supervisors in the department manipulate crime data to make it appear violent crime has fallen considerably compared to last year.”
“Pulliam — the former commander of the 3rd District that patrols Adams Morgan and Columbia Heights — was placed on leave with pay and told he was under investigation for questionable changes to crime data, five law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation told News4.”
“That came about a week after he filed a complaint against Executive Assistant Chief of Police Andre Wright, according to three law enforcement sources familiar with the complaint.”
“News4 reached out to Pulliam for comment. He denied the allegations against him and referred us to the public information officer.”
“Union officials said there is a larger trend of manipulating crime statistics.”
https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/dc-police-commander-suspended-crime-statistics/3959566/
—————————————————————
–Oddball
“Take it easy Big Joe, some of these people got sensitive feelings.”
I have considered any political poll, aka statistical analysis, of any kind to be pure manipulation and therefore hokum. They set out to prove a hypothesis and they do the things necessary to “prove” it and then extrapolate their results to absurdity. Any statistician that tells you otherwise is lying to you.
You can use statistics to “prove” just about anything, it just depends on the subjects that participate in the survey, how the information/questions are presented, how the data is collected, and how the data is compiled; all you have to do is use your imagination.
Consider the following:
A statistical analysis was done to find out what cat poop taste like, and the results showed resounding evidence that cat poop tastes like chicken.
Conditions of the analysis:
They used hungry dogs as the polling subjects, gave half of them small bowls of cat poop and the other half small bowls of chicken pieces, and collected 0-10 rating (0 being negative reactions and 10 being positive reactions) details of how energetically the dogs ate the contents of the bowl in front of them, did they eat it all, did they want more if offered. The results were all 10’s so the statistical analysis was 100% positive in all categories; therefore, the statistics clearly show that cat turds taste like chicken.
Conclusion:
Just because a statistical analysis has been conducted and a conclusion reached, does not mean that what “The Survey Says” represents anything close to actual reality.
The only thing statistics can reasonably show, if they are conducted 100% honestly (which they aren’t) is the possibility of a trend which does not prove that a trend actually exists. In politics, statistical polling trends are treated as if they extrapolate with 100% accuracy across the entire population and that is a bald-faced lie.
I’m reasonably well versed in statistics and I thoroughly reject statistics, that’s probably my all time top bias, and for good reason. All critically thinking people should completely reject all statistics, especially political polls, and make their minds up based on actual facts.
Trump wants the military to take control of D.C. because he has always fantasized about martial law. In D.C. he can do that and rule over the city in any way he wants. Particularly when Congress happily rolls over for him.
“Trump wants the military to take control of D.C. because he has always fantasized about martial law. In D.C. he can do that and rule over the city in any way he wants. Particularly when Congress happily rolls over for him.”
Blue is the color of the sky on Earth. What’s the color on your planet?
@Anonymous
You just keep telling yourself that. That this
Anonymous person was likely born during the Obama years, I can’t blame them entirely for thinking things have always been a mess; that was the point, and clearly it worked on the unenlightened or too young and sheltered to know any better. Settle down, child.
ABC News anchor Kyra Phillips reveals she was ‘jumped’ by a ‘half-dressed’ vagrant in DC: ‘We’re all experiencing it firsthand’
https://nypost.com/2025/08/11/us-news/abc-news-anchor-reveals-she-was-jumped-by-a-half-dressed-homeless-man-in-downtown-dc-co-workers-car-stolen-the-morning-trump-federalized-local-police-were-all-experiencing-it-firsthand/?utm_campaign=nypost&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter
“We can talk about the numbers going down, but crime is happening every single day because we’re all experiencing it firsthand, working and living down here,”
Your delusions. And then there is reality.
Anonymous wrote, “Trump wants the military to take control of D.C. because he has always fantasized about martial law. In D.C. he can do that and rule over the city in any way he wants.”
You have no f***king idea what Trump fantasizes!
Anonymous wrote, “In D.C. he can do that and rule over the city in any way he wants.”
That’s an intentional lie.
Even with the National Guard called out to help the Police, Trump cannot “rule over the city in any way he wants”.
You’re making up lies to troll this blog.
LIAR!
What I see is in your comment is an opinion that’s delusional and based on pure Trump Derangement Syndrome; there are absolutely no facts supporting the opinion, there’s only twisted propaganda, spin, and intentional defamatory lies. Yes, Mr. Anonymous, I’m openly calling you delusional and liar; own it.
Delusion: false ideas or beliefs that someone holds onto, even when there is evidence that they are not real.
Steve,
Great comment!! Thank you for pointing out how delusional our leftist friends really are!! They need serious, professional mental heath!
Witherspoon, a bit emotional are we? Trump has been very open about his admiration for dictators like Putin, Kim Jung Un, Orban, etc. His want for a military parade and his calls for doing a third term pretty much confirm the idea that he would have no problem with ruling D.C. as his personal property.
He doesn’t need the national guard to do what he wants in D.C. Plus D.C. is actually under the jurisdiction of Congress. If they really wanted to clean up crime in the city they would have increased funds for more police and homeless shelters.
Besides everyone knows what Trump fantasizes. He wants to be like Kim and Putin. He greatly admires them.
“Witherspoon, a bit emotional are we? Trump has been very open about his admiration for dictators like Putin, Kim Jung Un, Orban, etc. His want for a military parade and his calls for doing a third term pretty much confirm the idea that he would have no problem with ruling D.C. as his personal property.”
Uh huh. Facts not in evidence, just your unfounded fee-fees.
“He doesn’t need the national guard to do what he wants in D.C. Plus D.C. is actually under the jurisdiction of Congress. If they really wanted to clean up crime in the city they would have increased funds for more police and homeless shelters.”
So DC can attract even more homeless, and have a bunch of do-nothing cops standing around watching them defecate? Great idea.
“Besides everyone knows what Trump fantasizes. He wants to be like Kim and Putin. He greatly admires them.”
The amazing mind reading powers of leftists trolls. You should consider a career as a poker player, you’re wasting your talents here.
You’re free to believe any nonsense delusions that help you sleep at night.
You’re an internet troll and should be banned because of your intentional trolling.
Mother of slain congressional intern praises Trump’s crackdown on crime in DC: ‘Things will change’
https://nypost.com/2025/08/12/us-news/mother-of-slain-congressional-intern-praises-trumps-crackdown-on-crime-in-dc-things-will-change/
There are likely a lot of people out there, to include Democrats, who feel the same way.
Joe Scarborough Reads Text On-Air From ‘Very Liberal’ Person Unloading On ‘Rampant’ DC Crime
“I want to read you a text from a someone … I won’t say their name, but … we’ll just say that they’re very liberal,” Scarborough said.
“He says, ‘This may sound controversial, but I’m not totally opposed to Trump’s National Guard move in D.C. I know he’s doing it for politics, but crime remains rampant,’” Scarborough read. “‘I’ve had too many friends carjacked, shot at. None of us will walk more than three blocks after 8 p.m. 13 year-olds are committing many of these crimes. Quite a change from a decade ago, when things were much calmer.’”
“Well, that actually sounds like the D.C. that I lived in when I lived a block behind the Supreme Court. And, you know, every three days, one of my neighbors was getting held up at gunpoint,” Scarborough said. “I mean, there has been a crime problem in D.C. At the same time, obviously, a lot of concerns: will this look like June of 2020?”
https://dailycaller.com/2025/08/12/joe-scarborough-text-on-air-liberal-person-rampant-dc-crime/
Rubbish! Attempting to get a handle on crime in D.C.. is a worthy endeavor. Having lived in D.C. I can related to the fear and chills that comes over you when you are on the streets. Like many large cities whose politic machine is the Democrat party, crime has been a historical problem. All you have to do is review their actions the last few years: defund the police, no bail, soft on crime DA’s, gun control, demonizing law-abiding citizens, demonizing the police and the list goes on. D.C. is a shit hole and I was glad to leave when I was able to. Until you have been a victim of crime you have no idea what it feels like emotionally, psychologically or physically.
Now this is a good George
No no no. He fantasizes about marital law, not martial law.
A simple typo can alter reality and change the world.
(I guess both are the same in that they require at least the notion of defending and protecting)
OT to ALL: I looked to order a Turley book this morning and was surprised, -FIRST PLACE under “search results,”- to see in bright blue headlines:
“Reduced and Low Priced Books by Jonathan Turley” followed by an https: amazon.com link
I clicked the search box again and a warning “Error” page appeared.
I waited a few minutes and went to a different browser and saw this result:
“Amazon
https://www.amazon.com
Low priced books jonathan turley – Amazon.com Official Site
Find deals and low prices on books jonathan turley at Amazon.com. Free shipping on qualified orders. Free, easy returns on millions of items.
Magazine SubscriptionsSee Customer RatingsEmotional ActivitiesSpanish Book”
——————————————-
The above seem to have both disappeared from search results, irrespective of browser/search engine
Now it says @11:15:
“Amazon
https://www.amazon.com
Shop books jonathan turley – Amazon.com Official Site
Find deals and low prices on books jonathan turley at Amazon.com. Free shipping on qualified orders. Free, easy returns on millions of items.
Good editing, Amazon.
It seems computers are being bombarded with malware. Have back-ups including new devices should contamination occur, Lin.
(I just thought it was funny because it appeared to be some IT geeks who were unhappy with JT and wanted to imply “low sales” of his works and/or cheapen their value. Hopefully, it was not JT that authorized that original wording!)
Seems more like the usual Chinese rip-off merchants. They SEO the crap out of their Amazon (read “Shien/Temu”) slop in order to get to the top of search results.Don’t trust it unless you see a reputable seller.
-Rabble
As a Londoner, I would politely observe that the massive elephant in the room, ignored by Turley, Trump, and indeed most Democrats as well, when comparing DC’s murder rate with London, Paris and Madrid is a certain little Second Amendment. Now I am certainly not going to wag my finger at you Yanks and preach about gun control. Your laws are your business. But, murders in the UK involving a firearm are less than 10%. What we worry about is a certain tendency amongst inner city teenagers, particularly of certain ethnicities, to stab each other in arguments on buses and street corners.
More guns, less crime. The stabbings in London are a major problem, as you correctly acknowledge. Bad guys know they will not be challenged by a good guy with a gun. The mass shooters in America like gun-free zones. Doesn’t stop them from bringing a gun, but they know there won’t be any good guys to stop them.
The Second Amendment’s main purpose, however, is to ensure the citizenry are armed. Crazy men with delusions of grandeur have a harder time establishing authoritarian rule that way. Now someone with a TDS-addled brain will say that describes Trump. But the facts say otherwise: Trump has sought to lower the size and reach of government, dismantling the government-social-media censorship complex, reducing unreasonable regulatory burdens on business, increasing religious liberty, and generally promoting freedom for law-abiding citizens. These actions are the opposite of a fascist, even though low-IQ leftists always refer to him as a fascist.
Exactly, they are not using guns they are using knives. Are you going to take all the knives out of the UK?
Next do throwable poison. That’s the new hotness in the UK, after they gathered up all of the knives.
Napalm?
“Napalm?”
No, they mix up household chemicals and put that in a squeeze bottle in order to spray victims. The results are quite horrific. It would be nice if the victims could defend themselves with a gun or a knife, but in the UK they police everything except crime.
Utter nonsense – a couple of understandably high profile acts of extreme nastiness, but hardly widespread. Civilised countries rely on the police to take down armed offenders, and British specialist firearm officers (who are much more highly trained marksmen than your average US police, let alone gun-toting civvies) have a very good success rate in doing so.
“Utter nonsense – a couple of understandably high profile acts of extreme nastiness, but hardly widespread. Civilised countries rely on the police to take down armed offenders, and British specialist firearm officers (who are much more highly trained marksmen than your average US police, let alone gun-toting civvies) have a very good success rate in doing so.”
Uh huh. Let me know when you start arresting your rapists, instead of arresting those who are complaining about the lack of arrests of said rapists. You’ve become dhimmis in your own freaking country.
“Utter nonsense – a couple of understandably high profile acts of extreme nastiness, but hardly widespread. Civilised countries rely on the police to take down armed offenders, and British specialist firearm officers (who are much more highly trained marksmen than your average US police, let alone gun-toting civvies) have a very good success rate in doing so.”
Uh huh. Let me know when you start arresting your r*pists, instead of arresting those who are complaining about the lack of arrests of said r*pists.
(They were busy arresting the woman who was praying in silence several feet/yards from an abortion clinic. remember that one?) And JT’s post about the “thought police.”
They were threatening to arrest people praying in their own houses if the house was within a certain radius of the abortion clinic. What is wrong with these people?
Sulfuric acid
You are rather missing the point – every knife death is a tragedy, but the number of murders overall in large British cities is still minuscule compared to those in large US cities. You cannot blame it all on illegal immigrants; you have a deep rooted societal problem with violence. Ditto Paris, ditto Madrid.
“You are rather missing the point – every knife death is a tragedy, but the number of murders overall in large British cities is still minuscule compared to those in large US cities. You cannot blame it all on illegal immigrants; you have a deep rooted societal problem with violence. Ditto Paris, ditto Madrid.”
I believe that the commenters here are quite upfront that there is a large native subclass of violent people in large American cities.
Guns are ilegal in Mexico City too. And there is no Mexican Second Amendment. Yet murders are ten times what they are in London. Correlation is not causation my friend.
Dear Londoner, I appreciate your sincerity on this issue. Let me address it kindly.
First, the gun violence in the USA is predominately in certain communities, and as Brindle aptly noted above, violence is a cultural phenomena more than anything else. Certain of America’s subcultures have a problem with a violence. Most American communities do not because their guns serve as a deterrent, not an accelerant. Which leads me to my next point…
Britain has a far higher rate of burglary and home invasion than the USA. That can also be ascribed to differences in gun control.
Finally, and I mean this in all sincerity, Americans don’t own guns primarily to stop crime. They own guns to stop tyrants. Before this generation is buried, most Brits will wish they had had that option.
“They own guns to stop tyrants.”
You are Timothy McVeigh and I claim my five pounds (dollars accepted as well).
I mean seriously, when did the Second Amendment stop a tyrant? Do not say 1776-83 as a) George III was not a tyrant, however much your school books try to claim otherwise, and b) the Constitution did not then exist, let alone the 2A. Perchance you are thinking of your Civil War – the southern states certainly thought they were opposing the tyranny of Lincoln and the Republicans. But that did not exactly end well? So what does that leave? Errrrrm, the nutters at Waco? Four police and 84 cultists dead…
Whew! I guess the gloves have come off. Okay…
American MILITIA forces surrounded the British troops stationed in Boston. Once the Brits could no longer hold their position in Boston, they withdrew to New York and won battles there until their defeat at Saratoga. They then tried a southern strategy, but that failed at Cowpens, where armed locals played a significant role in defeating Banastre Tarleton.
Not sure why you went down that road.
George III was not a tyrant IMHO, but keeping a lid on colonial expansion did not comport with America’s larger destiny. If the Indian Nations still controlled everything west of the Appalachians, Hitler might have won WW II. In fact, the Kaiser might have won the first one. History moves in mysterious ways.
The Taliban thought your hero–Joe Biden–was a tyrant and an infidel. I guess they didn’t get your memo, but they still got hundreds of billions of dollars (about as much in pounds) in Joe’s abandoned hardware.
The globalist/leftists, of whom I suppose you are one, are varying shades of corrupt and completely incompetent. They (you) will be the ruin of Northern Europe. A Franco-type will eventually takeover Britain because globalists/leftists have broken British politics forever. Good luck with that. I have tremendous sympathy for British patriots, but they are outnumbered by you.
“I am not convinced that the National Guard deployment is warranted or likely to have a meaningful impact on crime.”
I think you will be surprized
As a Londoner, I would politely observe that the massive elephant in the room, ignored by Turley, Trump, and indeed most Democrats as well, when comparing DC’s murder rate with London, Paris and Madrid is a certain little Second Amendment.
Can we politely observe that you Brits are now so abjectly corrupt that you now jail your citizens for criticizing terrorists and child groomers as “hate speech” – so your idea of what a functioning justice system looks like is pretty perverted.
As a self-proclaimed member of the Revolutionary War Losers, one would think that you would not embarrass your nation and the low quality public education you received by making such a sophomoric apples and oranges comparison regarding crime. A comparison most likely made out of a hatred of firearms that freed Americans from your fascist Parliament rule that our American Colonists suffered under.
Would you like to attempt to justify your apparent belief that the social demographics of London, Paris, and Madrid are pretty much the same as Washington DC – and thus your comparison is accurate? Same amount of drug gangs, street gangs, law enforcement based on skin color, druggies and street people as a percentage of the city population?
Or would you prefer to attempt to explain why our “Constitutional Carry” states like Montana, Idaho, etc, where families are more likely to have a second AR-15 than a second car, have lower murder rates than all our American socialist gun-banning utopia states.
AND lower murder rates than gun banning Commonwealth Canada’s bordering provinces of BC, Alberta, and Saskatchewan? Shouldn’t those states be running with blood from all the visiting Canadian tourists if your British theories on gun banning have some basis in reality rather than hatred?
You are a sophomoric idiot.
We don’t have sophomores dear boy. You want to talk about losers? How about the USA losing Mr Madison’s War? An utterly futile enterprise by Turley’s great hero that achieved absolutely nothing but Washington in flames and New England’s booming maritime trade ruined. Not of course that you are taught any of that. I had the privilege of serving in HMS President; guess how that name became a permanent Royal Navy fixture… 😃
Uh huh. Do let us know when we need to come over and remove the Tridents before the caliphate takes over. Cheers!
“An utterly futile enterprise . . .”
As you did under a different moniker, you’re ignoring the outcome of the War of 1812: The Battle of New Orleans — where your military was thoroughly routed.
The public perception of safety is more important than any stats collected by police bureaus. The key question is: are you afraid to be out on the street at any time of day? If most answer “yes”, crime is too high. Official stats are prone to game-playing to make the city admin look good. What if the reason crime stats are down is because people are afraid to go out? What if serious crimes are down-classified by the cops to make their org look more effective?
Most shocking are the young age of teens carrying guns, and committing armed robbery and carjacking. That has to stop, and if it takes charging the parent for child neglect, so be it. Parents who have lost control of their teens are the scourge of our society.
Yep, the teens think they’re hot stuff, pbinca.
Crime rate is a total lack of morality. Parents are working and kids raised themselves. They’re functional orphans but mom has to work to pay the exorbitant rent?
The homeless are such and add drugs, alcohol, and schizophrenia, fetal alcohol syndrome and more. They are extremely dangerous.
These are failed products of a failed system. Bowser is used to it. It’s how they live. It’s their culture. Yes, take control of these areas and have a follow up plan. Where are they going?
Then the Epstein teens. Girls have their guns in a manner of speaking and boys have guns and knives.
The cause is systemic lack of morality from lies, deceit or truth, they’re all the same. Then the lauded arrogance of another young person Sidney whatshername and more sanctioned vulgarity.
Humpty dumpty is a cracked egg. The resistance to morality is stunning. Hats off St George (Floyd) RIP.
WHERE did the money go for homeless housing?!? WHERE are the honest people? Yes, clean it up, President DJT.
It seems there are three choices when trying to figure out why the radical left embraces crime and criminals over rank and file citizens. First, their end goal is to sew chaos and anarchy. Perhaps to destroy western civilization and replace it with totalitarian communism. Second, they are imbeciles. Third, they are both.
It is shameful what they have wrought. It is evil. They are hell bent for destruction. They offer no constructive solutions. They have no concept of fiscal responsibility. They seem to be pleased if America fails.
There are three kinds of politicians, those who can count and those who can’t.
If crime is actually down, there’s only one REAL reason: deportations are up.
Good comment!
“If crime is actually down, there’s only one REAL reason: deportations are up.”
Democrats want to fix that too. Remember, elect Hunter in 28 and we’ll invade El Salvador to get back our criminal illegal felons.
Bait?
Why do Democrats love crime so much? Why do they care more about criminals than the victims of crime? It’s just bizarre to watch.
I rarely visit the Capitol as a tourist, and usually experience it from the windows of jets, cabs, hotels, or conference rooms. On a not-too-recent trip several administration’s ago, I noticed that you are never more than a block away from third-world conditions, conditions that are completely self-imposed. At one point I made the mistake of opening a pack of cigarettes in public view. The result reminded me of walking out on a wharf full of seagulls with a tray of French fries.
I think Trump’s actions with the NG may have more impact than you think, Professor, if only for the focus it will bring. Turning on a light is usually enough to make vermin scatter. The key is to keep the light on long enough. That will be bad news for DC’s neighbors, of course, who will likely see a crime surge. When you demolish an infested house, suddenly the homes in proximity have a problem. There is no way around it, and no quick fix.
“There is no way around it, and no quick fix.”
Not electing Democrats would be a good start, however
Washington D.C.’s condition is largelly determined by Congress. They have ultimate control over how the city is run. The mayor has little power over the burdensome regulations and the budget of the city. The District of Columbia is under the jurisdiction of Congress which is now run by Republicans. Democrats also deserve blame for the conditions that have befallen the city.
The Mayor has control over the day-to-day operations and prepares a budget it is really Congress who has the power that overrides the Mayor and they control the rules and regulations of the city. Currently Democrats are not in control of Congress, Republicans are and if they are complaining about high crime and the third world feel of the city that’s on them. Not the Mayor. Congress doesn’t want to deal with the difficult job of making the city better and providing funding to make it happen. They are content on just funding and keeping the parts that matter to them the most. Keeping K street nice and clean and blocked off from the riff raff that constitutes the rest fo the city. Poor folks.
“Currently Democrats are not in control of Congress, Republicans are and if they are complaining about high crime and the third world feel of the city that’s on them.”
It’s like DC Home Rule isn’t even a thing. The actual people who run the city are all extremist Democrats. This is your problem. Nice try to spin this as a Republican issue, however. Three and a half stars for effort.
Oh yes, typical Democrat solution Money Money Money 😂😂😂
National Guards are state organizations, Not being a state, DC does not have one. Which state’s National Guard is Trump going to send into DC?
“National Guards are state organizations, Not being a state, DC does not have one. Which state’s National Guard is Trump going to send into DC?”
https://dc.ng.mil/About-Us/
D.C. National Guard
Took me all of 0.2 seconds. You should try a search engine sometime.
Wrong. DC definitely has an army national guard unit.
WATCH: Washington DC’s National Guard Begins Reporting To DC Armory
Why violent crime is rising in Washington D.C per left wing CBS News in summer of 2024
City Under Siege
A city under siege – so much so businesses are now leaving the District and crime seems to be a major factor
Fox 5 Washington DC
Nov 2023
We certainly can make tighter laws, but those who commit crimes know that the sentencing in some districts are very lenient.
The larger problem, in my view is the lack of moral teaching. There is a right and a wrong. It is not “your truth and my truth.”
Also, video games, movies, music celebrate guns. John Wick kills more people in 5 minutes than all the policemen nationwide do in a year.
Crack, drugs
Yes, correct, Estovir. That’s the future. All sins must be paid.
The very first comment today, by farm4501, brings up an important additional factor not elsewhere discussed:
that some crime numbers may go down–merely because people are afraid to go out- i.e., to leave their abodes for fear of being mugged, robbed, car-jacked, or assaulted/murdered–a dangerous “social disorder” in and of itself.
Bravo farm4501 for calling that into our sphere of consideration!
I kind of remember in 1974 the number one cause of death in DC was gunshot wound. Seems as though nothing has changed.
A news report has stated that a murder occurred right down the street at the same time a demonstration was protesting DJT’s federalization of the metropolitan police. Seems to the period to this column.
Also some columnists on non right wing news shows in D,C. were also discussing their increasing exposure to crime, assaults and carjackings. The brazen character of the acts is disturbing because it appears to me that the criminal element has little fear of arrest or imprisonment. Is any of this a surprise is a large city in the United States these days. I remember a time when trips to places like Chicago, D.C. , Boston, New York were fun and highly anticipated. No more.
It seems strange to me that the Democratic Party is so deaf to this. Simply cleaning up the streets of our major cities could be a real turnaround for their party and it’s right there in front of them. Ready for the taking. They have the political power in the mayors and city councils and all they have to do is act.
Trips to Chicago, DC etc… what century?
I’m so old I remember when NYC was safe and clean. Thanks, Democrats, for “fixing” that horrible problem!
During the last few years of my career, I worked for a major Federal agency and commuted from rural Maryland to DC everyday by train. I loved Union Station – there were lovely shops and newsstands, plus the historical main hall was being renovated. It made for convenient shopping, especially at Christmas. I am no longer living in the DC area and I’ve heard rumors that Union Station has lost it’s luster, so I asked Grok: As of August 2025, Washington, D.C.’s Union Station remains a critical transportation hub but has faced challenges in recent years, with its condition and vibrancy declining compared to the 2011–2017 period you recall. Here’s a detailed look at its current status based on available information:
Current Condition
• Decline in Vibrancy: Union Station, once a bustling destination for dining, shopping, and commuting, has seen a noticeable decline. Many storefronts are empty, and the station has been described as a “shell” of its former self, partly due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which reduced foot traffic and led to business closures. Posts on X from August 2025 reflect public sentiment that the station has become less safe, with issues like homeless encampments, trash, and crime deterring visitors. Some describe it as “filthy” and “unsafe,” a stark contrast to its earlier reputation as a vibrant, iconic place.
• Safety Concerns: Recent posts on X highlight perceptions of increased crime and vagrancy, with users noting the presence of homeless individuals, drug-related issues, and a general sense of unease, particularly compared to the pre-2015 era when it felt safer and more welcoming.
• Operational Status: Despite these challenges, Union Station continues to serve as the nation’s second-busiest rail hub, handling Amtrak, MARC, VRE, Metro, and bus services like Greyhound. It sees millions of passengers annually (pre-pandemic estimates were ~40 million per year), though crowding and outdated infrastructure remain issues.
Recent Improvements
• Track 22 Activation: In August 2025, Union Station opened Track 22, a new passenger platform repurposed from a former train storage track. This $19 million project, partially funded by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and executed by Skanska USA, includes new tracks, a rebuilt platform, and improved accessibility with a new hallway, elevator, escalator, and stairs. It primarily serves VRE and Amtrak trains, including Long Distance and Amtrak Virginia services.
• Management Changes: Amtrak assumed day-to-day management of Union Station in 2024, introducing improvements like a new ticket waiting area, additional seating, new retail and dining options, and a streamlined boarding process to reduce wait times.
• Restoration Efforts: The Union Station Redevelopment Corporation (USRC) completed conservation and restoration of 40 Legionnaire statues in 2019, preserving the station’s historic Beaux-Arts aesthetic.
Ongoing Redevelopment Plans
Union Station is undergoing a massive $8.8–$9 billion overhaul, with a target completion date of 2040. The project, led by the FRA and USRC, aims to transform it into a modern multimodal hub while preserving its historic character. Key elements include:
• Infrastructure Upgrades: Plans involve modernizing tracks and platforms, tripling train capacity, widening platforms, and adding a new train hall, H Street concourse, and bus facility. An underground parking and pick-up/drop-off area will replace the current above-ground garage, reducing parking spaces from 1,600 to a more community-friendly number (closer to the District’s recommendation of ~300).
• Improved Accessibility and Experience: The redesign focuses on better passenger circulation, ADA compliance, and integration with surrounding neighborhoods. New entrances and exits aim to cut wait times significantly (e.g., from 30 minutes to ~5 minutes for exiting).
• Funding Progress: A $82 million FRA grant was secured in 2025 for improvements, and the project is a top contender for federal infrastructure funds from the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Mayor Bowser allocated $215 million in her FY2022 budget for H Street Bridge replacement to support the redevelopment.
• Community Concerns: Initial plans faced pushback for prioritizing too many parking spaces, which could exacerbate traffic and pollution. Revised plans scale back parking and emphasize pedestrian-friendly spaces and retail to revitalize the station as a destination.
• Design and Timeline: The project is in the design and engineering phase, with construction expected to start by 2027. Grimshaw Architects, Beyer Blinder Belle, Arup, and VHB are leading the design, balancing modernization with historic preservation.
Challenges
• Stakeholder Complexity: The project involves multiple entities (FRA, Amtrak, USRC, Union Station Investco, Akridge, DDOT), complicating decision-making. A 2022 lawsuit by Amtrak to gain full control via eminent domain remains unresolved, though stakeholders claim cooperation.
• Funding Gaps: While some funding is secured, the full $9 billion cost requires additional sources, likely a mix of federal, local, and private investment.
• Community Engagement: Local residents and Ward 6 ANC commissioners have criticized federal planners for initially ignoring community input, particularly on parking and traffic impacts. Revised plans reflect some responsiveness, but ongoing advocacy is needed.
Comparison to 2011–2017
During your commuting years, Union Station was likely at a peak of vibrancy, with active retail, dining, and a safer, cleaner environment. The decline began post-2015, accelerated by the pandemic’s impact on ridership and businesses. Current sentiment suggests it’s less welcoming, with safety and cleanliness issues overshadowing its historic charm. However, recent improvements (e.g., Track 22, new retail) and the ambitious redevelopment plan signal efforts to restore and surpass its former glory, though completion is years away.
Conclusion
Union Station is functional but struggling with outdated infrastructure, reduced commercial activity, and safety concerns compared to its 2011–2017 state. Recent upgrades like Track 22 and management changes show progress, and the $9 billion expansion project promises a modern, efficient hub by 2040. However, challenges like funding, stakeholder coordination, and community integration remain. For now, it’s a work in progress, far from the “nice” place you remember but with potential to become a world-class facility if the redevelopment succeeds.
If you’d like me to dig deeper into specific aspects (e.g., safety data, retail status, or project timelines), let me know!
As of August 2025, Washington, D.C.’s Union Station remains a critical transportation hub but has faced challenges in recent years, with its condition and vibrancy declining compared to the 2011–2017 period you recall. Here’s a detailed look at its current status based on available information:
Current Condition
• Decline in Vibrancy: Union Station, once a bustling destination for dining, shopping, and commuting, has seen a noticeable decline. Many storefronts are empty, and the station has been described as a “shell” of its former self, partly due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which reduced foot traffic and led to business closures. Posts on X from August 2025 reflect public sentiment that the station has become less safe, with issues like homeless encampments, trash, and crime deterring visitors. Some describe it as “filthy” and “unsafe,” a stark contrast to its earlier reputation as a vibrant, iconic place.
• Safety Concerns: Recent posts on X highlight perceptions of increased crime and vagrancy, with users noting the presence of homeless individuals, drug-related issues, and a general sense of unease, particularly compared to the pre-2015 era when it felt safer and more welcoming.
• Operational Status: Despite these challenges, Union Station continues to serve as the nation’s second-busiest rail hub, handling Amtrak, MARC, VRE, Metro, and bus services like Greyhound. It sees millions of passengers annually (pre-pandemic estimates were ~40 million per year), though crowding and outdated infrastructure remain issues.
Recent Improvements
• Track 22 Activation: In August 2025, Union Station opened Track 22, a new passenger platform repurposed from a former train storage track. This $19 million project, partially funded by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and executed by Skanska USA, includes new tracks, a rebuilt platform, and improved accessibility with a new hallway, elevator, escalator, and stairs. It primarily serves VRE and Amtrak trains, including Long Distance and Amtrak Virginia services.
• Management Changes: Amtrak assumed day-to-day management of Union Station in 2024, introducing improvements like a new ticket waiting area, additional seating, new retail and dining options, and a streamlined boarding process to reduce wait times.
• Restoration Efforts: The Union Station Redevelopment Corporation (USRC) completed conservation and restoration of 40 Legionnaire statues in 2019, preserving the station’s historic Beaux-Arts aesthetic.
Ongoing Redevelopment Plans
Union Station is undergoing a massive $8.8–$9 billion overhaul, with a target completion date of 2040. The project, led by the FRA and USRC, aims to transform it into a modern multimodal hub while preserving its historic character. Key elements include:
• Infrastructure Upgrades: Plans involve modernizing tracks and platforms, tripling train capacity, widening platforms, and adding a new train hall, H Street concourse, and bus facility. An underground parking and pick-up/drop-off area will replace the current above-ground garage, reducing parking spaces from 1,600 to a more community-friendly number (closer to the District’s recommendation of ~300).
• Improved Accessibility and Experience: The redesign focuses on better passenger circulation, ADA compliance, and integration with surrounding neighborhoods. New entrances and exits aim to cut wait times significantly (e.g., from 30 minutes to ~5 minutes for exiting).
• Funding Progress: A $82 million FRA grant was secured in 2025 for improvements, and the project is a top contender for federal infrastructure funds from the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Mayor Bowser allocated $215 million in her FY2022 budget for H Street Bridge replacement to support the redevelopment.
• Community Concerns: Initial plans faced pushback for prioritizing too many parking spaces, which could exacerbate traffic and pollution. Revised plans scale back parking and emphasize pedestrian-friendly spaces and retail to revitalize the station as a destination.
• Design and Timeline: The project is in the design and engineering phase, with construction expected to start by 2027. Grimshaw Architects, Beyer Blinder Belle, Arup, and VHB are leading the design, balancing modernization with historic preservation.
Challenges
• Stakeholder Complexity: The project involves multiple entities (FRA, Amtrak, USRC, Union Station Investco, Akridge, DDOT), complicating decision-making. A 2022 lawsuit by Amtrak to gain full control via eminent domain remains unresolved, though stakeholders claim cooperation.
• Funding Gaps: While some funding is secured, the full $9 billion cost requires additional sources, likely a mix of federal, local, and private investment.
• Community Engagement: Local residents and Ward 6 ANC commissioners have criticized federal planners for initially ignoring community input, particularly on parking and traffic impacts. Revised plans reflect some responsiveness, but ongoing advocacy is needed.
Comparison to 2011–2017
During your commuting years, Union Station was likely at a peak of vibrancy, with active retail, dining, and a safer, cleaner environment. The decline began post-2015, accelerated by the pandemic’s impact on ridership and businesses. Current sentiment suggests it’s less welcoming, with safety and cleanliness issues overshadowing its historic charm. However, recent improvements (e.g., Track 22, new retail) and the ambitious redevelopment plan signal efforts to restore and surpass its former glory, though completion is years away.
Conclusion
Union Station is functional but struggling with outdated infrastructure, reduced commercial activity, and safety concerns compared to its 2011–2017 state. Recent upgrades like Track 22 and management changes show progress, and the $9 billion expansion project promises a modern, efficient hub by 2040. However, challenges like funding, stakeholder coordination, and community integration remain. For now, it’s a work in progress, far from the “nice” place you remember but with potential to become a world-class facility if the redevelopment succeeds.
If you’d like me to dig deeper into specific aspects (e.g., safety data, retail status, or project timelines), let me know!
I would humbly suggest that their root problem is not a decrease in “vibrancy” but instead a sharp increase.
Are you trying to compete with John Say?
This was a pure fascist authoritarian move. The crime rate in DC is down, similar to other US cities. Putting the federal police and military on the streets of DC to enforce petty crime has no justification.
And other cities are next, and there is not even the fig leaf of legality for those.
“This was a pure fascist authoritarian move. The crime rate in DC is down, similar to other US cities. Putting the federal police and military on the streets of DC to enforce petty crime has no justification.
And other cities are next, and there is not even the fig leaf of legality for those.”
Oh noes, you better rise up in insurrection in that case!
Then why is the DC police union supporting Trump’s move? Something doesn’t add up for you, and I’m just going to have to assume that you’re lying as usual.
I thought unions were evil in Republican circles. Could the union be making stuff up so they would remain relevant in Trump’s view? They could be sucking up to Trump because D.C. police are controlled and funded by Congress.
“I thought unions were evil in Republican circles. Could the union be making stuff up so they would remain relevant in Trump’s view? They could be sucking up to Trump because D.C. police are controlled and funded by Congress.”
Haven’t you noticed, the unions are all tilting right these days. The Teamsters, for example. Your conjecture as to the motive of this particular union is just is pure pablum. You must really need your conspiracy theories to feel important.