July 18, 2006
Morning Roundup: Yes, It's Hot Enough For Me Edition
So yesterday was pretty miserable, huh? When temperatures in the shade come just short of triple digits, you know we've hit the part of the D.C. summer that sends Capitol Hill and the rest of the city's transient population scurrying off to their August vacation getaways. We wish we could say the worst is over. But...
Heat, Air Quality To Get Worse: Amidst some banal man-on-the-street meteorology (alternate headline: "Some Dislike Heat, Others Don't"), the Post tells us that today's forecasted high temperature will be slightly higher than yesterday's — that's right, it'll be an even 100F in the shade. Poor air quality will come along with the heat: tomorrow is expected to be a code red day. Residents are encouraged to avoid using engines unnecessarily. To aid in that effort, Maryland and Virginia metrobuses won't be charging a fare.
Mayor's Crime Plan Proceeds: Yesterday we mentioned Mayor Williams' plan to ask for a special session of the city council, with the aim of passing emergency legislation within two weeks. WTOP now reports that his plan is proceeding quickly: the mayor is expected to introduce his legislation tomorrow afternoon. Its provisions will reportedly include moving the curfew for juveniles up by two hours to 10 p.m., increasing the number of active surveillance cameras in the city, better notification when juvenile criminals are released, and changes to how and when bail is offered to repeat offenders. But although the legislation has come quickly, its passage may not: the Post reports that some of the measures may face opposition from council members.
Va. Gang Activity Declines: NBC4 brings good news from Virginia. Apparently the regional gang task force's efforts over the past three years are now paying dividends, reducing the number of annual gang-related crimes to 1400, down from a peak of 1700 (which, admittedly, occurred during the task force's first year on the job).
Briefly Noted: D.C. prisoner escapes during transport (in presumably cool-looking black jumpsuit)... Maryland has tainted beef and tainted heroin, may be getting more expensive cigarettes... House allocates $1.5 billion for Metro, provided that Va. and Md. match it... Police had murder suspects' addresses prior to Georgetown slaying... Crime emergencies seem to actually work...
This Day In DCist: One year ago we were writing about efforts to legalize same-sex marriage in Maryland, the new stadium's potential for delays, and D.C.'s plentiful running options.
Image posted to DCist Photos by Flickr user alex.DC
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Does anybody else here think that crime may be up in the District because the gang reduction program in NOVA is working? It stands to reason that the gangs would have to go somewhere and DC is really close by. Or am I totally out of my tree on this one?
TC
I really wonder if the reason why this crime emergency seems to be working now is because it is so hot outside. Once the heat breaks, it will be interesting to see if there is any correlation.
Actually, high temperatures mean more crime, not less.
My experiences as a kid in Chicago was that the hotter the weather -- the worse the crime. That's why the city would do all it could to cool of residents: open the fire hydrants and all the city pools where open and running with extra staff, even getting people over to the lakefront to cool off.
On another note, it's disconcerting that only Maryland and Northern Virginia are participating in the free transit. All of the 12 or so transit agencies in the nine county San Francisco Bay Area have what are called "Spare the Air" days -- and all of them provide free transit. Admittedly, part of the reason is that the Bay Area Air Quality Management District gets fined for too many days of high ozone levels by the EPA, so the financial incentive is there to get people out of their cars on code Orange days. So free transit is actually the cheaper alternative. I guess the feds aren't putting that (specific) kind of pressure on DC.
Actually, heat brings up crime because criminals apparently don't like staying inside in the heat. Crime does not pay for a/c. However, I imagine that there are fewer tourists walking around outside.
It's July, the tourists aren't going anywhere. Those pastey bastards have had thier vacations planned for months, they're not cancelling on account of heat. Keep in mind a lot of them come from places hotter than DC. Just because DC residents think they'll wilt in the heat doesn't mean people from other parts of the country will act like babies too.
Any actions required by the each jurisdiction's SIP plan would likely be included for all three jurisdictions, as the non-attainment area is designated as the "Washington, DC-MD-VA" area. The area includes many counties in VA and MD, shown here: http://www.epa.gov/oar/oaqps/greenbk/gnca.html#8842. Each jurisdiction can come up with their own strategies but when the area includes multiple jurisdictions they generally work together.
EPA Region 3 doesn't appear to have the SIPs online, so it's hard to comment further.
TC-
In my part of the 3rd district, most of the muggings and theft from auto are comitted by people coming down 16th, 14th, and Ga. Ave from Maryland. It's easy to come down those roads into the more affluent areas of the 3rd district, make a few quick hits, and then leave again. I'm also of the understanding that this is the case in Brookland.
Apparently criminals don't like messing with the Key Bridge anymore than you or I.
BrodyV-
Thanks for clearing that up. I was thinking that the cops were making more arrests in NOVA, thus making life for criminals easier in DC proper. Plus it is the peak time of year for "Those pastey bastards" to migrate to DC from the criminal parts of the nation. So maybe a combination of those two events is helping spike the crime rate.
TC
Correct, DC-MD-VA all coordinate on the SIP via the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.
http://www.mwcog.org/environment/air/
California is unique as the state is split up into several air control districts, which coordinate SIP planning. I don't think any other states use this approach, or at least not very many do.
The Bay Area AQMD had only one bad ozone day last year and none the year before. They are pretty much in compliance with the federal ozone standards. And have to be by next year, and probably will be. But that is partly because of efforts like Spare the Air days.
States, cities etc. do not get fined by EPA for violating federal ambient air quality standards. They do face sanctions such as loss of federal highway funding if EPA determines they are not doing enough to come into compliance. But these and other sanctions are almost never implemented.
As for federal pressure on the DC area. That's been the subject of some ongoing legal battles with local environmentalists. Last I heard, they were suing EPA for not approving the DC area SIP, or approving an insufficient SIP. I know the judge agreed, but I can't recall what happened, if anything. But that was for the old standard, not the new one, which DC has until 2010 to comply with.
BrodyV -
Thanks for clearing that up for me. I'm thinking that the current crime spike may be a combination of factors. 1)The current heat wave making thugs even more nasty than normal. 2) The influx of "Those pastey bastards" also known as cash rich tourists being easy targets. 3) Life in general getting tougher for gang bangers in the NOVA 'burbs. All leading to more violent crimes in the District proper.
The hit and run tactics you are talking about make it harder to catch the crooks because they don't have any real conections to the areas they are hitting. And cops will tell you that most cases are solved by people who know the perps giving them up.
TC
I'm thinking NOVA has less gang problems because when they have a spike in crime they, um, like to stomp its guts out.
You can't even get a DC cop to get out of his car.
I recall reading an article in the Metro section where a resident in PG County was complaining how criminals just run into DC to get away from pursuits. "This (bleep) doesn't happen in Virginia," area man said. "When someone runs from the cops over there, they chase that (bleep) all the way to (bleeping) Florida."
Bleeping A.
ADCF
To expand on AngryDCF#@k's comments, I believe hot pursuit is only allowed across DC-Maryland lines in the event of a homicide or carjacking. Simple assaults and burglaries turn the DC line into a get out of jail free card.
Also, DC doesn't allow ANY hot pursuits for "minor" crimes. This leads to joyriding teenagers doing doughnuts in front of cops and speeding off with impunity. It's like taunting a pitbull tied to a tree.
It seems like DC could benefit from more coordination and resource sharing between its police department and Ward 9's. Otherwise, with such a permeable border, the areas around Eastern and Southern Avenues become a power vacuum.
" . . . with such a permeable border. . ."
Maybe DC can appeal to W. (The President)to call up the National Guard to monitor that border too.
TC
The criminals know to stay out of VA. DC- whatever, you commit a crime, you do some time (if an old lady jury doesn't get you off first). VA- forget it, you're done for life.