Business owners and community leaders in Washington, D.C. neighborhood Shaw are speaking out against the recent surge in violent crime that has left residents feeling terrorized. A deadly shooting over the weekend resulted in two deaths and five injuries, with the suspect still at large.
Rachelle Nigro, the Advisory Neighborhood Commission chairwoman for Shaw, expressed the frustration felt by residents who have been plagued by violence for decades. “It’s just a continuous tragedy,” she told The Washington Post. “How much can this community take?”
Cedric Maupillier, owner of French bistro Convivial, echoed these sentiments, blaming city leaders for not taking a tougher stance on crime. He shared how the violence in the neighborhood has impacted his business, driving customers away and causing employees to quit.
In response to the outcry from business owners and community leaders, lawmakers in the district passed the Secure DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2024, a comprehensive anti-crime bill aimed at cracking down on violent crime and theft. Despite the passage of the bill, some, like Maupillier and advisory neighborhood commissioner Sheena Berry, remain skeptical about its effectiveness in addressing the root causes of crime.
Mayor Muriel Bowser defended the district’s efforts to combat crime, citing a decrease in both violent crime and overall crime according to police data. However, concerns persist among residents and business owners who continue to feel the impact of the ongoing violence in their community.
As the city grapples with these challenges, the need for effective solutions to address the root causes of crime remains a pressing issue for all involved.
