member of parliament Washington DC The city passed a sweeping crime-fighting bill on Tuesday, days after the capital's business leaders sent a letter to Mayor Muriel Bowser and councilors warning of an “alarming increase in violent crime across the city.”
Secure DC Omnibus Amendments Act of 2024 – Contains over 100 proposals. fight crime, The bill, which includes increased penalties for gun violence and added penalties for organized retail theft, was passed by the D.C. Council in a 12-1 vote late Tuesday, according to FOX 5 DC.
Mayor Bowser issued a statement after the bill passed, praising Councilwoman Brooke Pinto and other City Council members for their work on the crime bill.
“The passage and implementation of Secure DC is an important step in the work of building a more secure DC by rebalancing the public safety and justice ecosystem with a focus on safety and accountability.Today. , I am grateful to all those who made their voices heard and demanded action.'' Councilman Pinto's leadership and common-sense legislation that listens to community concerns and recognizes the importance of accountability in our ecosystem Thank you to all City Council members who voted in support of . But we will not tolerate violence, and we will not tolerate criminal acts that destroy our sense of security and our ability to build thriving communities. The provisions passed on an emergency basis last summer are already in place. “It will have a positive impact on crime trends. Together, we can continue to fight crime and build a safer, stronger DC.”
Councilman Pinto echoed Mayor Bowser's sentiments, calling it a positive step forward for the city.
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Washington Metropolitan Police Department officers investigate a shooting that occurred at the Potomac Avenue subway station in Washington, D.C., on February 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Senator)
“City Council passage of my Secure DC Act is a clear signal that DC is united in its efforts to meaningfully and sustainably improve public safety by preventing crime, ensuring accountability, and improving government coordination and response. Sending a message,” City Councilor Brooke Pinto wrote to X. Following the ruling, I used to be on Twitter.
This comes after Washington, D.C. had its highest number of homicides in 25 years last year, with 274 people killed overall and a 39% increase in violent crime. Bowser said these numbers He said it has so far declined in 2024, Fox5DC reported. She plans to sign the bill into law.
“We shouldn't let criminals take over our neighborhoods,” the Democratic mayor reportedly said Saturday. “We need to reduce crime significantly further and that is our message.”
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Washington, D.C., police are searching for three people who stole $36,000 worth of merchandise from a Moncler store on January 18, 2024. (Metropolitan Police Department)
Last week, more than 70 business groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Retail Federation, sent a letter to Bowser and lawmakers calling out the “pressing issue” of “crimes that threaten not only our communities but also our safety and prosperity.” urged them to take action. But also our employees and their families. ”
“Washington, D.C., is rapidly becoming a national outlier in crime growth, and the trends are alarming: The national homicide rate decreased by 15% from 2022 to 2023. murder rate Major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, and Phoenix all experienced declines of more than 10%. “Homicide has increased by 35% in Washington, D.C.,” reads part of the letter, which was obtained by Axios.
“Our organization is primarily based in the downtown business district, where horrific acts of violence have occurred over the past several months,” the letter added, adding that the council is “predominantly based in the downtown business district, where horrific acts of violence have occurred over the past several months. “We need to take immediate action to target small groups.” Responsible for most of these violent crimes. ”
The D.C. Council website states that the Secure DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2024 “eliminates or extends the statute of limitations for certain serious crimes,” “makes misdemeanor arrest warrants extraditable, and requires GPS records to be recorded.” becomes clear.” Pretrial Services Agency possession may be granted to prove the guilt of a defendant in a criminal case or other judicial proceeding. ”
“Protection for the elderly and children will be strengthened, and protection for victims of sexual and domestic violence will also be strengthened,” it said.
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Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is expected to sign the “Secure DC” crime-fighting bill. (Getty Images)
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“To combat crime, we need to make clear that if you make our streets less safe and bring violence to our communities, you will be held accountable,” Bowser said in February, according to FOX 5. We know we need to send a message.”
