“Dear PoPville,
If anyone who lives along upper 14th Street haven’t already seen this video, it’s worth taking a look.
It’s shocking that four men could plan a homicide at a busy gas station, visibly put guns into their pants, run an entire block, murder someone, and flee the scene without being caught. We haven’t seen anything this brazen along these few blocks in years, probably since 2010. I suspect some of your readers may think this sort of incident is common on the 3400-3600 blocks of 14th Street, but it most certainly isn’t.
This incident was a result of less aggressive policing along this stretch, the elimination of undercover vice, and, in my view, a lack of interest among our politicians in upper 14th Street. I emailed Councilmember Nadeau about this; I explained that I believe the problem is the growing tolerance of the crack cocaine trade and a lack of pressure on MPD to have more of a presence in this area.
I told her that I believe her agenda that so often concerns national progressive issues isn’t going to help us prevent homicides. Her office’s response to these sorts of emails has often been that the meager money she’s secured for Clean Teams and a Main Street program, or that a federal law closing the gun show loophole, will have the effect of interdicting homicides in Columbia Heights. Invariably, her office lists her accomplishments or refers us to her newsletter. (more…)
