photo courtesy of MPD
Last night the auditorium at Tyler Elementary School was filled with more than 100 concerned residents, anxious to hear a response from MPD and Councilmember Tommy Wells regarding the recent increase of violent crime near Pennsylvania Avenue SE. Chief Cathy Lanier and more than 15 members of the police and housing police force were on hand, as well as representatives of the DC Housing Authority.
Commander David Kamperin said the crime involving the woman whose jaw was broken outside of Harris Teeter should be closed within two or three days, and that detectives have a “good handle” on the robbery and the shooting.
Like many civic meetings, this one went on for a long time with various citizens using it as a platform to air their complaints, rather than asking questions to the community and city leadership present. There seemed to be unanimous support for ridding Potomac Gardens of the iron fence, which has been cited by police as a frequently-used getaway tool that makes it difficult to determine if perpetrators are residents, or individuals who use the property as an escape route. While some residents were asked to come to a point and ask a question, others were not and used the opportunity as a pulpit.
Among the comments were some heartfelt concerns about ending the “inside vs. outside [Potomac Gardens]” dichotomy, and the ire and name calling that has occurred on this blog and in the HillEast listserv. While the theme was largely that citizens need to work together, there were also those in the crowd who expressed their wishes regarding the future of the subsidized housing unit under their breath and not to the forum.
Lanier said that these recent incidents have provided incentive for police to approach the neighborhood differently. Long term, they intend to focus more on the people in question, not the geography. Lanier told NBC 4 in an interview after the meeting, “We can’t point to a housing complex or a block…Potomac Gardens didn’t rob anybody. There are people that we need to be focusing on.”
Wells cited the recently changed DC law that will open the files of criminal offenders and inform law enforcement and the Housing Authority where they live. DCHA will be able to evict families whom have convicted criminals living with them. They will take the short term approach of increasing patrols with beat cops and street clothes officers.
There is already more security at Potomac Gardens, with guards at the gates from 3 PM until midnight, with the intent to stop those who use the entrances as an escape route. There were comments from the crowd that there’s some degree of corruption among management of the property, which is privately managed. Adrianne Todman, interim director of housing, provided the number of the anonymous tip number neighborhood residents can use: (202) 535-2222.
Wells plans to walk-through of the area around Potomac Gardens, focusing on improvements DPW can make to increase lighting and to see evidence of the uptick in activity in the area of the 13th Street open air drug market. Recent neighborhood complaints to the unaware DCHA have recently let to the boarding up of empty apartments without windows.
For more on last night’s meeting, you can watch the clip below from NBC4. As always, we encourage you to share your thoughts in the comments. We understand that this is an emotional issue, but in accordance with our comment policy, offensive and abusive comments will not be tolerated. Please keep things mature and civil so we can have a productive discussion.
What does removing the fence do to improve neighborhood public safety?
I was not able to attend last night’s meeting. Can anyone describe what, (if any), actual concrete plans were described for the immediate improvement of safety in the area of 13th and Penn? How long will the extra police presence in that area last?
I did not have a chance to attend this meeting, and I appreciate the write-up.
Many years ago, during the crack territorial wars, there were a lot more shootings and assaults in the neighborhood of PG. The big iron fence went up in order to make PG a less appealing escape route–a miscreant who runs into a fenced-in PG would be trapped by the fence and captured, the thinking went.
And it worked! There was a dramatic improvement in the crime situation right after the fence went up.
I don’t know what’s happened since. Maybe the side fence gates are no longer secured, so the fence does not serve the purpose for which it was built.
I am glad so many neighbors are raising their voices and getting the attention of the CM, the police and the Housing Authority. It will lead to action, and I hope it is effective action.
The problem with the fence is that it is not secured. Unlike a traditional gated apartment complex, there are no limited access gates that utilize codes or swipe cards. Therefore one can simply duck in behind the walls through one of the wide open entrances, and if they know the layout well enough, kind of just disappear or blend in.
I’m of the opinion that if government is going to provide public housing to those in need, they need to do it as well as a private management company would do it. In a privately managed building or complex, things like open access and broken windows (or even boards) on vacant units would be unacceptable. As we all have a stake in public housing, from those in need who directly benefit from it to improve their lives to those of us who live in the surrounding neighborhood, we should be demanding these things. I’m glad they’re providing security on a temporary basis, but they need these things to happen with or without serious issues.
The problem with Lanier’s assessment that PG doesn’t commit crime, people do… is akin to saying guns don’t kill, bullets do.
I attended and while the sentiment seemed positive, I have a feeling I’ll be there again..at the next meeting…when all this repeats itself down the road.
PG is the problem. It’s a problem for the people stuck living there and for the people living near it.
I was at the meeting and want to be hopeful things will improve. Overall, the residents asked some good questions, but I am not sure we won’t be there next year talking about the same issues. I can say that one PG resident was allowed to go on a completely inappropriate rant about “you people” and how you come in and think things should be a certain way. It was a disservice to the real victim, the woman with the broken jaw.
I also want to point out that these listservs generally talk about Potomac Gardens as opposed to Hopkins because there is a big difference between the two. PG’s building are built like a fortress and fighting crime in this type of design is a losing battle. I am absolutely not saying all of the PG residents need to go (criminals, yes), what I am saying is PG needs to be redeveloped or rehabbed so it is more in line with what we know works (i.e. mixed income like the EYA housing).
This article fails to mention one of the most important developments of the night: DCHA Executive Director Adrianne Todman publicly stated that in the long-term all options, with respect to PG structural and engineering improvements (from tear-down to rehab), are on the table to improve the security of Potomac Garden residents and the surrounding community. This will be conducted over time and include all of the appropriate stakeholders. It is important we as the community all remain involved in this and help make capitol hill safe for ALL of us.
@ Bossman — Actually, the property is privately managed, and that seemed to be one of the inherent issues. It did seem like Ms. Todman was hearing a number of these complaints for the first time. I was especially concerned when a new resident talked about management corruption and frustrations with the guard staff. I didn’t catch what the name of the management company is, but that’s certainly worth looking into.
@anon3 — Yes, you’re absolutely right, the long-term plans for the property was of some focus; I didn’t get into that issue due to lack of space, but tried to captured that sentiment in including Lanier’s emphasis on the importance of focusing on the people not the place when addressing the crimes.
@anon2 — the installation of guards at the gates seems to be their first action, with more street and undercover presence in the area. There was no timetable given, and emphasis was put on the long-term goals. The ability to now identify the minors in question once arrests are made also seemed key to their hoped for reduction in crime in the area, be the kids from PG or even outside the ward. There were a number of references to how the MPD solved a number of the carjacking cases and traced the perpetrators back to Ward 7
I do find it interesting that there are three Anons in eight comments. While there’s no way for THIH to enforce neighbors using real names, it really would increase the value and quality of the conversation if people did identify themselves, much like they’re required to on HillEast.
What is being done by the housing authority to ensure that PG residents are involved in gaining employment so that their children can cease running drugs and polluting the neighborhood? As a resident who lives across the street from PG it’s sad that my tax money is supporting free housing for drug dealers sex offenders and criminals. Yes I’m paying their rent, and then you beat up women and deal drugs out of your homes. DCHA is similarly at fault. Oh and who in their right mind is going to admit to housing a criminal in their home. That law change is useless.
I was quite interested to learn a little about the rent charged to residents. One woman (who said she’d lived there for more than 30 years) said her rent was $1000 a month. She said she raised two sons there, so I’m guessing it’s at least a 2 bedroom apartment.