Monthly Archives: September 2015

CM Allen Meets With Barracks Row Stakeholders on Eastern Market Plaza Safety Concerns

Crime Stats Down in PSA 107 – Violent Crimes Persist Near Eastern Market Metro

by Larry Janezich

Last week, Barracks Row merchants took the initiative to deal with crime near Eastern Market Metro Plaza and the conditions which support and result from that activity.  Merchants organized a meeting on Monday, September 21, at Hill’s Kitchen with Council Member Charles Allen and Barracks Row stakeholders, including merchants, neighbors, several ANC6B Commissioners and Community Connections –  (located at 801 Pennsylvania Avenue, the facility is DC’s largest non-profit provider of mental health care and addiction treatment for the city’s residents).  Although MPD was invited to attend, they did not.

Hill’s Kitchen owner Leah Daniels, who helped organize the meeting, said, “The business owners had a successful meeting with Council Member Allen, neighbors, and representatives from Community Connections about the ongoing problem of vagrancy, crime, and feeling of insecurity in the area. We look to continue the conversation and look to have MPD join us on our next meeting.”

Asked for comment, Allen told CHC, “I met with several local business and resident leaders regarding public safety concerns around the Eastern Market Metro Plaza. It was a very frank and productive conversation about the ongoing frustrations and crimes in the area. I will be reconvening the group in a few weeks to review some action plans by MPD, as well as steps local service providers are putting in place to improve safety and accountability.”  ANC6B Commissioners Oldenburg, Hoskins, and Hagedorn were present at the meeting as well.

Residents have raised the issue of feeling unsafe on Barracks Row and the extended Eastern Market Metro Plaza at the past several PSA 107 meetings.  Capitol Hill Corner has been urging ANC6B to be more active in coordinating an effort among community stakeholders to address crime.  To date, ANC has only sent a letter to MPD requesting a meeting to work on building better relationships and suggesting 1) MPD update the ANC on crime occasionally, 2) a spring public safety meeting in anticipation of the increase in crime that comes with warmer weather, and 3) improving the description of crimes on the MPD crime maps.

A look at the MPD crime map shows that violent crime in PSA 107 dropped to five incidents during the past 30 days (August 30 – September 29) from 13 incidents in the previous 30 days (July 29 – August 30), but four of the most recent incidents occurred near Eastern Market Metro.  (An ugly day-time assault of a Good Samaritan who intervened in a dispute between teens near the corner of Pennsylvania and 8^th Street, SE, on September 22^nd, does not appear to be indicated on the crime map.)

Violent Crime PSA 107 Past 30 Days

Violent Crime PSA 107 Previous 30 Days

The five incidents of violence include one case of sex abuse and four robberies without a gun.  (It’s not possible from the information given to determine which crimes occurred where, but it seems likely the four robberies occurred near the Metro stop.)  The previous 30 days saw 3 robberies without gun, 4 robberies with gun, 4 simple assaults, and 2 assaults with a deadly weapon.

Non Violent Crime in PSA 107 Past 30 Days

Non Violent Crime in PSA 107 Previous 30 Days

There was also a drop in nonviolent crime in PSA 107 to 87 incidents in the past 30 days, down from 124 incidents in the previous 30 days.  The 87 incidents include 3 burglaries (down from 5), 38 thefts (down from 64), 37 thefts from auto (down from 45), and 9 stolen autos (down from 10).   Again, a close look at the crime map shows many of these nonviolent crimes are clustered around Barracks Row.

Here’s a link to the MPD Crime Map:  http://crimemap.dc.gov/

PSA 107 will meet Thursday, October 1, at 7:00pm in Southeast Library, lower level.

The clouds opened up about 9:30 pm tonight to allow a view of the Lunar Eclipse from Capitol Hill

Lunar Eclipse Viewed from Capitol Hill circa 10:25pm,

The Week Ahead… Moving Bus Stops – 2^nd RFK Stadium meeting – Excavation of CSX Tunnel Starts

by Larry Janezich

Monday, September 28

1. ANC6B Planning and Zoning PUD Subcommittee meets at 7:00pm at Hill Center.

Agenda:

Informational presentation on IPG PUD for Bowie’s/Signature site

Consolidated list of suggested benefits and amenities concepts for multiple ANC6B PUD projects

Discussion of draft package for 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, PUD

2. ANC 6A Community Outreach Committee (COC), meets at 7:00pm at Maury Elementary School, Multi-Purpose Room, 1250 Constitution Avenue, NE (Enter from 13th Street).

Agenda:

Update on Grant Application

Grant Outreach and Communication

Grant Training Session

3. DDOT/ANC6D/ANC6B Virginia Avenue Streetscape Community Meeting at 7:00pm, 200 I Street, SE.  Presentation will include proposed greenway from 2^nd Street to 9^th Street, connecting Garfild park and Virginia Avenue Park.

Tuesday, September 29

1. ANC6B Executive Committee meets at 7:00pm in Hill Center to set the agenda for the October 13 regular meeting of the Commission.

Wednesday, September 30

1. Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee (EMCAC) meets at 7:00pm, North Hall, Eastern Market
2. DDOT Open House/community meeting from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the SE Library, 403 7th Street SE, to receive community input on the proposed consolidation of [Update: (Circulator – see link below)] bus stops, including the following:

Northbound

• M Street SE at 4th Street SE: Consolidate to 600 M Street SE
• 8th Street SE at E Street SE: Consolidate to 8th Street, SE at Pennsylvania Avenue SE
• Pennsylvania Avenue SE at 5^th Street SE (Seward Square): Consolidate to Pennsylvania Avenue SE at 3rd Street SE
• 8th Street SE at G Street SE: Consider future consolidation to 8^th Street SE at L Street SE if low ridership persists

Southbound

• Pennsylvania Avenue SE at 5^th Street SE (Seward Square): Consolidate to Pennsylvania Avenue SE at 8th Street SE and/or Independence Ave at 2^nd Street SE
• 8th Street SE at D Street SE: Consolidate to Pennsylvania Avenue at 8th Street SE
• M Street SE at 4th Street SE: Consolidate to 600 M Street SE
• 8th Street SE at G Street SE: Consider future consolidation to 8thStreet SE at L Street SE if low ridership persists.

See DDOT announcement here:  http://bit.ly/1LIna7g

3. RFK Stadium Redevelopment Citywide Community Meeting, 6:00pm at Walter E. Washington Convention Center, West Salon (Street Level), 801 Mount Vernon Place, NW. This is the second of two community meetings seeking input for FRK Stadium redevelopment and planning inclusive of DC Armory, Maloof Skate Park and the Festival Grounds.  Events DC requests RSVP here:  https://rfkcommunity2.splashthat.com/  For CHC’s report on the first meeting, see here:  http://bit.ly/1QIAA2Q
4. CSX VAT meeting at 7:30am at the courtyard Marriott Hotel, 140 L Street, SE. Excavation work for the first new CSX tunnel is expected to begin in the 400 block of Virginia Avenue during the week of September 28.

Thursday, October 1

1. ANC6C Transportation and Public Space Committee meets at 7:00pm, at Kaiser-Permanente Capitol Hill Medical Center, 700 2nd Street, NE.

Agenda not available at press time.

2. Police Service Area (PSA) 107 meeting 7:00pm, SE Library, 403 7th Street, SE, lower level
3. Friends of Southeast Library (FOSEL) meets at 5:30pm, SE Library, 403 7^th Street, SE, lower level

Future Home of the Lincoln Park Kitchen and Wine Bar

106 13^th Street, SE., formerly Park Cafe, formerly Ninnella – appears to be seguing into the Lincoln Park Kitchen and Wine Bar.  Not much information is available yet, other than FB page here: https://www.facebook.com/lincolnparkkitchen?sk=photos

The Week Ahead….

by Larry Janezich

Monday, September 21

1. ANC6A Transportation & Public Space Committee meets at 7:00pm at Capitol Hill Towers (900 G Street, NE).

Among items on the agenda:

Presentation from DDOT on progress of rulemaking regarding resident-only parking.

Events DC plan to construct a playground on the 2000 Block of C Street, NE.

2. ANC6B Business Meeting: 7:00pm, 1100 4th Street, SW, 2nd Floor

Among items on the agenda:

Square 700 (1200 Block of South Capitol St. SE) residential building presentation

DC Water headquarters at non-historic pumping station

Randall Recreation Center funding

Proposed WMATA bus service changes

Saturday, September 26

1. PSA 106 Meets at 10:00am, at 900 5th Street, SE.
2. The Sherwood Neighborhood Volunteers are hosting the Second Annual Sherwood Day starting at 10 am at the Sherwood Recreation Center (640 10th Street, NE). Fun, family-friendly, community-building activities, including a moon bounce and face painting, going until at least 2 pm.

RFK Stadium. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

Hill East Residents/CM Charles Allen Question Use of RFK for Future NFL Stadium

DC’s Convention and Sporting Authority Solicits Neighbors’ Input on RFK Site

by Larry Janezich

Officials from Events DC declared “we messed up,” to a crowd of over 100 Hill East residents gathered to discuss the future of the 190-acre RFK site last night at St. Coletta’s School.  The self-deprecating admission, along with the officials’ answers to pointed questions raised by residents, gave some attendees the sense that city representatives were paying lip service to residents in public, while off stage plans are being made to move an agenda forward regardless of the desires of the neighbors most affected by the development.

Events DC, the city’s convention and sporting authority formed years ago by Councilmember Evans, admitted to neighbors of the RFK parcel that the organization should have reached out to the community much earlier in the process of their concept development study for RFK.

They did so last night in part to respond to concerns raised by Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen, who represents residents of the Ward 6 neighborhoods bordering RFK, though the stadium itself falls in Ward 7.  Allen broke away from a city council hearing on crime to address the meeting, receiving the loudest applause of the night when he said that he did not think a new NFL stadium was “the best use” of the RFK site.

After attendees broke up into small working groups to brainstorm, residents questioned the constraints to future development cited by Events DC in its opening presentation.  ANC6B Commissioner Brian Flahavan was applauded when he dismissed the idea that the city’s current lease with the National Park Service for the land, set to expire in 2038, dictated a stadium use for RFK.  “The city renegotiates leases with the federal government all the time,” Flahavan said, and pointed out that a compelling community vision for the land was a prerequisite to successful disposition.

Based on reports from the various working groups, the desirability of community green space, especially sports fields, was a major point of agreement among residents.  A few mentioned remediation and restoration of the Anacostia waterfront; a new Metro stop; and a Central Park-like space, with pedestrian walkways intersecting parks and public performance areas.

During the question period later in the evening, a couple of residents probed whether Events DC, which receives a portion of its budget from stadium proceeds, was a neutral party to study the future disposition.  Brian Flahavan rose once again to point out that, in PowerPoint slides enumerating the organizations Events DC had conducted interviews with to discuss potential future uses, the Washington professional football team was not listed.  He asked whether this meant that Mayor Bowser was conducting her own separate discussions with the group; officials acknowledged that she was.  ANC6B Commissioner Nick Burger then questioned the ultimate value of seeking neighborhood input when Events DC was not engaged with the Mayor’s preferred tenant for the site.  Former ANC6B Commissioner Francis Campbell inquired whether any of the sports teams or universities that Events DC had engaged had the financial ability to develop a stadium in the next 2-5 years, and Events DC representative Max Brown responded with a simple “no.”  Former ANC6B Commissioner Ken Jarboe posed another pointed question when he asked whether city officials were contemplating any other parcel of land for a professional football stadium.  Events DC officials once again gave a simple response of “no.”

Last night’s meeting was the first of two meetings hosted by Events DC held on the future of RFK.  The second meeting will be held on September 30 and will be posted on CHC’s feature “The Week Ahead,” on Sunday, September 27.

Violent Crime in PSA 108 from August 17, 2015, to September 16, 2015

Violent Crime in PSA 108 from July 18, 2015, to August 16, 2015

Property Crime in PSA 108 from August 17, 2015, to September 16, 2015

Property Crime in PSA 108 from July 18, 2015, to August 16, 2015

Comparing Recent Crime Stats in Hill East  (PSA 108 Meets Tonight)

MPD Crime Maps and Statistics Paint a Very Fuzzy Picture

by Larry Janezich

A comparison of violent and property crime for the past 30 days with the previous 30 days in PSA 108 shows that the numbers of violent crime has increased slightly, while the number of property crimes dropped significantly.*

The violent crimes fell into two categories – robberies and assault; robberies (with and without a gun) were the most frequent offense.  Three instances of violent crime occurred in the 1500 block of East Capitol in the last 30 days, but it is unclear from the crime maps which crime had been committed.

The property crimes fell into four categories – burglary, theft, theft from auto, and stolen auto, with theft being the most common.  The significant drop in property crime came in the category of theft.  It’s possible the drop is connected to the new records management system – in any event, what the drop actually means is difficult to determine, given the broad definition of what constitutes “theft” (see MPD crime definitions below).

While the MPD crime maps and accompanying explanatory text can paint a broad picture of the general nature of crime and where it occurred, a look at the MPD definitions of crime** from the same website shows how difficult it is to determine exactly what happened and where.  In addition, the default comparison of crime data on the crime maps is the previous 30 days compared with the same period for a year ago.  While this information is interesting, of much more import to residents is crime data for the past 30 days compared with crime data from the previous 30 days – and even the previous 30 days before that – to get a snapshot of how crime is trending over the past 60 to 90 days.

PSA 108 meets Thursday night at 7:00pm at Liberty Baptist Church, 527 Kentucky Avenue, SE.  More information on the details of what happened and where should be available there.  The MPD Crime Map can be found here:  http://crimemap.dc.gov/

*On Sunday, August 23rd, the MPDC implemented a new records management system called Cobalt. The offense categories presented within this application have remained the same; however, all statistics are subject to change due to a variety of reasons, such as changes in classification, the determination that certain offense reports were unfounded, or late reporting.

** MPD Crime Offense Definitions

Abbreviated definitions of DC Index Offenses per DC Official Code Statutes, Title 22: Criminal Offenses and Penalties (Please note these will not match the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) definitions; these are specific to District of Columbia Criminal Statutes)

Homicide:   Killing of another purposely, or otherwise, with malice aforethought.

Sex Abuse:   Engaging in or causing another person to submit to a sexual act by force, threat or reasonable fear, involuntary impairment of the person’s ability to appraise or control his or her conduct, rendering that other person unconscious or under conditions wherein a reasonable person would not believe that consent was freely and knowingly given. The most serious sex abuse categories are included in the reports of DC Code Index Violent Crimes: Sexual Assault and on the Crime Mapping Application. The figures reported in this category include First Degree Sex Abuse, Second Degree Sex Abuse, Attempted First Degree Sex Abuse and Assault with Intent to Commit First Degree Sex Abuse against adults. Data in this format is available online from 2011.

Robbery:   The taking of anything of value from another person by force, violence or fear.

Assault Dangerous Weapon (ADW)/Aggravated Assault:   Knowingly or purposely causing serious bodily injury, threatening to do so, or knowingly engaging in conduct that creates a grave risk of serious bodily injury to another person.

Arson:   The malicious burning, or attempt to burn, any structure, vessel, vehicle, railroad car or property of another.

Burglary:   The unlawful entry of a structure, vessel, watercraft, railroad car or yard where chattels are deposited with the intent to commit any criminal offense

Burglary-1:  Burglary of a dwelling or other building that is occupied at the time of the event.

Burglary-1 Armed:  Committing the act of burglary by use of, or threat of, any dangerous or deadly weapon.

Burglary-2:  Burglary of a dwelling or other building that is not occupied at the time of the event.

Motor Vehicle Theft:   The theft of any self-propelled, motor driven vehicle that is primarily intended to transport persons and property on a highway.

Theft:   Wrongfully obtaining or using the property of another with the intent to deprive the owner of the value thereof.

Theft-1:  Theft of another’s property valued at $1000 or more.

Theft-2 Armed:  Theft of another’s property valued at less than $1000.

Theft F/Auto:   of items from within a vehicle, excluding motor vehicle parts and accessories.

Theft/Other:   A broad inclusion of Theft offenses including embezzlement, theft of services and fraud/false pretenses. The Theft/Other category excludes theft of items from a motor vehicle or the motor vehicle itself.

Robbery – Pickpocket:   A Robbery committed by the sudden and stealthy seizure of a wallet or other item from the body of a person. Since no overt force is used this offense will be classified as a theft.

Robbery – Snatch:   A Robbery committed by the sudden and stealthy seizure of a purse, wallet or other item from another person’s possession, in his/her presence and without the use of overt force. Since no force is used this offense will be classified as a theft.

Race Relations Forum Panelists, (l-r), Denise Krepp, Dr. Douglas Powe,, Jr., Kelly M. Matthews,. and Ward 6 CM Charles Allen

The Week Ahead…and Saturday’s Forum on Race Relations in our Community

The Need Is Evident for Broader and Deeper Community Involvement

by Larry Janezich

Race​ Relations in our Community​:  ​Saturday’s Forum at Liberty Baptist Church

Pastor Anthony Owens of Liberty Baptist Church, launched the “Forum on Race Relations in our Community” on Saturday, at Liberty Baptist Church, by telling the 50 or so attendees that in the aftermath of the recent racially motivated attacks on churches in South Carolina, the Church has been called upon to speak out in an effort to understand the origins of prejudice.

There followed a wide-ranging discussion among the panelists who included Councilmember Charles Allen, Dr. Douglas Powe, Jr., Professor, Wesley Theological Seminary; Denise Krepp, ANC6B 10 Commissioner; and Kelly M. Matthews, owner and principal of MBA Services, LLC.  The forum moderator was Carmen Jones Mitchell, attorney and member of Liberty Baptist Church.

A long discussion of the broad nature of factors contributing to or concerning race relations set the context for a more specific discussion about race relations in our community.

There was a consensus that gentrification and the clash of perspectives between long-time community residents​ and new arrivals was a major factor in contributing to racial tensions in our community.  As one​ panelist pointed out, in such an atmosphere, it’s easy for residents to​ misunderstand or​ lose respect for each other.  ​Several participants expressed a desire to continue a more focused discussion and exchange, including more participation from audience members.

Despite CM Allen listing the ANCs among those civic associations with the potential to promote racial harmony and community building, other than panelist Denise Krepp, only ANC6B Commissioners Brian Flahaven and Nick Burger attended the Forum.  It did not appear that representatives of other civic or social welfare organizations such as the ANC6B’s Hill East Task Force or the Community Action Group (CAG) were in attendance.

It seems clear that for a meaningful dialogue on race relations to take place, it will require much greater participation by community civic organizations and community stakeholders, as well as greater coordination among members of the Capitol Hill faith community.  Asked for his reaction to the forum, Pastor Owens told CHC, “I thought the forum was thought provoking on how we harbor some prejudices.  Obviously, there’s a need for continued dialogue, which I’m open to the community for suggestions.”

In addition to providing a community service by hosting this event, Liberty Baptist Church also serves as the regular site for PSA 108 meetings​.

The Week Ahead…

Monday, September 14

1. ANC6D meets at 7:00pm in the DCRA Meeting Room, 1100 4th St. SW, 2nd Floor, for its regular September meeting.

Agenda:  Not available at press time

Tuesday, September 15

1. CHRS Board of Directors meet at 6:30pm at Capitol Hill Townhomes, 750 6^th Street, SE.

Agenda not available at press time.

Wednesday, September 16

1. ANC6A Economic Development Committee meets at 7:00pm at Sherwood Recreation Center, Corner of 10th and G Streets,. NE.

Among items on the agenda:

901 H Street, NE.  Extension of Zoning Commission order to permit redevelopment of H Street Connection site with mixed-use retail and residential structure.

1336 Emerald Street, NE.  Variance from the lot size requirements, the rear yard requirements, the court requirements, and the nonconforming structure requirements, and a special exception from the height requirements, to construct a third-story addition to an existing two-story, one-family dwelling, and a new shed in the R-4 District.

1313 to 1323 Linden Court, NE.  In connection with the planned redevelopment of alley lots, applicant seeks a use variance to permit a commercial use on one of the lots, and area variances from the lot occupancy requirements, the rear yard requirements, the alley width requirement for buildings on alley lots under, and a special exception from the height requirements.

2. RFK Stadium Redevelopment Community Meeting

Events DC will host the first of two community meetings to seek community input for Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium (RFK Stadium) Campus redevelopment including DC Armory. The goal is to walk the audience through the RFK study process and to obtain their feedback for moving forward.

6:00pm – 9:00pm, St. Coletta of Greater Washington, 1901 Independence Avenue,. SE.

Thursday, September 17

1. PSA 108 meets at 7:00pm at Liberty Baptist Church, 527 Kentucky Avenue, SE.

Some 60 residents turned out for last night’s ANC6A meeting and education forum at Miner School. Councilmember Charles Allen – standing – attended and discussed his efforts to restore funding for Ward Six school to the city’s budget.

Eastern High School Principal Answers Questions on Flash Mob Robbery

by Larry Janezich

Thursday night, ANC6A held an education conference as part of its regularly scheduled September meeting in an effort to get the ANC more involved in community schools.  Some 60 residents attended the meeting held ​in Miner School.  Also in attendance were CM Charles Allen and Ward 6 State Board of Education Member Joe Weedon​,​ and the principals of most of the Capitol Hill Schools​, a​mong them​ ​Eastern High School Principal Rachel Skerritt.

Skerritt delivered a presentation on the general performance of Eastern High school, focusing on individual programs.  In passing, she mentioned the “rocky start to the football season,” referring to the brawl that broke out among students from Eastern and Ballou High Schools which started in the stands and continued into the streets and around the Stadium-Armory Metro stop.  She assured the community that the school was working closely with MPD and was fully prepared to manage behavior of students and guests as the season moves forward.  She also offered that the school encourages calls to the school from residents regarding the behavior of students, and noted that residents have been surprised at the follow-​up the school has provided regarding their concerns.

During the question and answer period following her presentation, Skerritt was asked if she could provide an update on the alleged participation of Eastern High School students in a flash mob robbery of the Barracks Row 7-11 and, given her previous statement about encouraging residents to call about student behavior off campus, why during  just such a call on the 7-11 incident,​ the caller had been left with the feeling that the concerns were being dismissed, with the reply, “There’s nothing we can do – this is after​-​hours and off the school grounds.”

After being alerted to the incident, CM Charles Allen last week asked representatives of 7-11 to provide video from surveillance cameras to Eastern High to help ascertain whether Eastern High students were involved.  Skerritt said the school had received the video and that it would be viewed by staff who would be ready to identify any Eastern High students who were involved.  She said, “If we can get a clear view it will be easy to follow up” with DPS discipline.

She also said she had had a “strong conversation” with the staff member who had received a call from a witness to the 7-11 incident, and related that the staffer was “mortified” that the caller felt Eastern High had not been responsive to the caller’s concerns.  The staffer, Skettitt said, told her the call had come at 4:15 pm and that the staffer had advised the caller to call the police.  (The 7-11 event occurred at about 3:30pm – the caller alerted Eastern High to the event upon reaching home.)

Skerritt said that the call to the staff “did not get to me,” and that she told staff that in the future she wants to know about such calls.  In addition, she said, staff will think about what else we can do, including more “collective messaging” to reinforce the idea among students that the school is accountable for them until they get home.

Councilmember Charles Allen followed up, saying that students are representative of Eastern High 24 hours a day.  He added that he was​ confident that the principal w​ould​ take ​care of the situation.​​

The 7-11 in the 400 block of on Barracks Row was the scene of a flash robbery last Thursday.

Flash Mob Robbery of Barracks Row 7-11 Last Week

by Larry Janezich

According to an eye witness, last Thursday, September 3, at about 3:30pm, 10 to 15 youths in their teens wearing khaki pants and white shirts converged on and entered the Barrack Row 7-11 en masse.  Some wore insignia – tags – on their shirts depicting an “E” with a wreath around it, possibly indicating an affiliation with Eastern High School.  The group was jovial and laughing and began filling their bags and pockets with candy bars and bags of chips.  While clerks and others in the store stood stunned by the shameless behavior, and perhaps cautious because of the number of youths, the group strode casually out, chatting and laughing, “with impunity,” as an observer put it.

A clerk behind the counter called 9ll, but response was slow, and the eye witness furnishing this account left the store before police arrived.

Reportedly, the attitude of the 7-11 employees was a shrugged shoulders resignation.  “It happens,” one employee was reported to have said, his attitude saying the unstated:  it’s the cost of doing business here.

From Wikipedia:

The term “flash rob” or “flash mob robberies”, a reference to the way flash mobs assemble, has been used to describe a number of robberies and assaults perpetrated suddenly by groups of teenage youth.  Bill Wasik, originator of the first flash mobs, and a number of other commentators have questioned or objected to the usage of “flash mob” to describe criminal acts, however, in a number of reported cases, flash mobs have turned violent or led to criminal activity.

J.O. Wilson Elementary School at 660 K Street, NE Photo credit:  Google Maps

Detail of PSA 104, including K Street and J.O. Wilson School

Map of MPD First District PSAs

Near NE Residents Express Outrage at Prostitutes Ply​ing​ Trade on Elementary School Grounds

by Larry Janezich

A dozen residents of nearby NE showed up at PSA 104 last night to express outrage at the ongoing solicitation of sex by prostitutes in and around the 200 block of K Street, NE.  Residents say that the portico and grounds of J.O. Wilson Elementary School at 660 K Street, NE, are being used for illicit sex and that children attending the schools are confronted with used condoms – and worse – on their way to school.  One resident told Lt. B. Christian of the Narcotics and Special Investigations Division (NSID) that “condoms and latex gloves on streets and school grounds are not acceptable.”  All of the residents present last night wanted city officials to respond more forcefully to the use of school grounds to have sex.  One K Street resident told of arriving home late to find prostitutes in front of his house and being ignored when he asked them to move away.

Residents and police both characterized the trade as male prostitution and in connection with that, presenting distinct patterns – namely in the aggressive behavior of the prostitutes and nature of the detritus left on the street and school grounds.  Lt. Christian said that the ten undercover members of his 16 person Task Force had made 117 arrests in two months and said he hoped continuing pressure would deter prostitutes and their customers.  The Task Force is charged with enforcement of sex trafficking across the city.  He said that 85% of the arrests have been of customers – that it’s harder to arrest prostitutes because a conversation offering sex for money is necessary for an arrest, and the vice officers quickly become known to the prostitutes.  Christian did not say what leads to the arrest of customers for solicitation, whether through surveillance techniques or use of undercover officers being approached by customers for sex, but recent Washington Post coverage has reported on sting operations on K Street, NW, and around Thomas Circle resulting in numerous arrests.  Christian said that a lot of jurisdictions “go the public shaming route”, publishing the names or photos of sex customers, but any such effort in DC would require a law passed by the City Council​ and would likely raise troubling questions​.

​This particular sex market, like others, has proved resilient in the face of enforcement efforts.  ​Prosecution of solicitation and prostitution crimes comes under MPD’s Narcotics and Special Investigations Division.  Prostitutes and their customers are both subject to misdemeanor charges and both carry the same penalty – a fine of $500 and/or 90 days in jail for the first offense.  A misdemeanor charge is not subject to a jury trial, and is decided by a judge.

Assistant US Attorney Doug Klein, who was present at last night’s meeting, says that the prostitutes are relentless – they go back in business right after being arrested.  Detention is subjectively decided by a judge, but, Klein noted detaining prostitutes is not as high a priority as detaining felons.

​Unlike the sale in illicit drugs, the law stipulates no special penalty for prostitution in or around school grounds.​

Asked what residents could do to lobby the City Council to help MPD address the problem, Christian allowed that getting more government agencies involved is certainly a start.  One resident spoke up, saying, “We’ve been complaining forever.  The Mayor and Chief Lanier are both aware of this problem.  The police are working very hard, but it’s not working.”  Asked if he would commit to develop a plan to address the problem and present it at next month’s PSA meeting, Christian replied, “No.  My plan is what I’ve been doing.  Planning is up to the​ First District Command Staff.  The only thing I can guarantee is that we’ll be out there.”