Trump Takes Over D.C.

Residents in one Washington, D.C., neighborhood lined up recently to protest increased law enforcement as National Guard troops were sent into the city. The action comes following President Trump’s unprecedented announcement that his administration would take over the city’s police department for at least a month.

The Republican president has said crime in the city was at emergency levels that only federal intervention could fix — even though District of Columbia leaders pointed to statistics showing violent crime at a 30-year low after a sharp Covid-based rise.

Once again, it’s President Pompous who is incorrect. Based on FBI data for 2024, of the 200 most populated cities in the U.S., Washington D.C. ranks 38th in highest crime rate – which includes violent crimes such as murder and rape, as well as property crimes such as theft. If DC is at emergency levels that only the federal government can fix, then why not the 37 cities that rank higher?

The answer is simple. Under the U.S. Constitution, the U.S. Congress holds exclusive jurisdiction over the District of Columbia. This is so despite the Home Rule Act of 1973 that created a local government for the District. This local government consists of a mayor, and an elected council with 13 members. The Council passes laws and ordinances within the restrictions provided. The U.S. Congress must approve all legislation passed by the Council prior to its enactment. The law does allow a sitting president to take over the police force for 30 days. Anything beyond that time frame requires approval from Congress, which, arguably, has enough Republican sheep to do his bidding.

On Wednesday, agents included Homeland Security, DEA, and the National Guard. About twice as many arrests were made than on a normal day. Council member, Christina Henderson, however, categorized the arrest reports as “a bunch of traffic stops”. She stated, “I’m looking at this list of arrests and they sound like a normal Saturday night in any big city."

Her comparing a Wednesday to a Saturday made me curious, so I investigated. One would think that Friday/Saturday weekend rates would be higher than weekday crime rates. Not true. Mondays and Tuesdays have the highest crime rates, Sunday the lowest, with the rest being basically equal.

Trump, in the pompous manner he always exudes, suggested he would call on Congress for endless extensions. “… but we’re gonna want extensions. I don’t want to call a national emergency. If I have to, I will,” he said.

Can this country, please, quit voting for presidents in their late 70’s who are slowly losing their minds in one fashion or another? To those of us who have spent any time around dementia patients, Biden obviously showed early signs in 2000. Trump, on the other hand, has delusions of hyper-authority. One can only hope 2028 gives us two reasonable options, but experience states otherwise.

Source: Associated Press