Opportunity DC in the News: Supporting Commonsense Public Safety Legislation

In 2023, Washington DC saw an alarming increase in crime. In response, the DC Council recently advanced the Secure DC omnibus package, which contains over 90 pages of public safety measures to increase accountability for crime, break cycles of violence with targeted interventions, and enhance inter-agency coordination to stop crime before it happens. Opportunity DC supports Secure DC and is advocating for its passage publicly.

On February 3rd, 2024 the Washington Post published an article, giving an overview of Secure DC. In it, they cite Malcom Fox, Executive Director of Opportunity DC, who explained the consequences of the District's current crisis:

“Crime is alarming District residents and undercutting D.C.’s economic comeback following the pandemic. Restaurants and retailers have had to hire security to protect their customers and employees. Workers are reluctant to return to their offices because of carjackings and gun violence. Without a significant course correction, D.C. will lose employers and residents to neighboring regions.”

Later that week, DC News Now aired an interview with Malcom to understand how crime has impacted local small businesses and why Opportunity DC supports this legislation.

“Employers are really concerned about crime here in the District. They’re concerned about the safety for their workers, for their customers... This bill will do a lot of things, from improving accountability, making it easier for different government agencies to coordinate with one another and addressing some of the root causes around crime. This is something that the vast majority of residents in Washington, D.C. want to see passed, and we have polling that supports that.”

Recent data confirms that people are altering their habits due to crime. In a recent poll, 66% of DC voters were found to have taken steps to enhance the safety of their home, vehicle, or workplace in the last year; 54% of residents had changed their day-to-day activities due to concerns about crime; and 40% of residents say they or someone they know has been a victim of crime in the last year.

Finally, DCist published an article laying out the amendments and key legislative provisions after Secure DC passed its first reading. The author noted that "residents and business groups have urged the council to pass the bill. More than 100 business leaders, from small restaurants to large trade groups, sent a letter to the council last month in support." You can read that letter, which Opportunity DC circulated, here.

Opportunity DC will continue to partner with civic leaders and DC residents to support solutions for a safer and more prosperous District.