“As long as I’m comfortable walking around by myself at all hours, I’m OK,” Maloney said. “I don’t really worry about it too much.”

Not only does she feel safer, but the Logan Circle area has seen a 30% drop in violent crime and nearly in overall crime from 2023 to 2024.

Logan Circle Community Association president Karen Franklin attributes this decrease to Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto’s crime-prevention bill from early March.

“Of course, we are pleased with the numbers and are hoping they continue to go down,” Franklin said.

The legislation, , prioritizes prevention and ending cycles of violence, accountability for crime and government coordination and oversight. Highlights include establishing new felony offenses for gun penalties and strangulation, drug-free zones, gun tracking and more access to police body-worn-camera footage.

From 2023 to 2024, there was a 30% decrease in violent crimes and about 17% decrease in property crimes in the 2F Advisory Neighborhood Commission jurisdiction. (Data reflects Jan. 1 through Dec. 7 each year for consistency.)

There were 60 violent crimes in the area in 2023 and 42 in 2024. For property crimes, there were 729 in 2023 and 604 in 2024.

Despite the decrease, the neighborhood has still found itself in headlines for recent crimes — notably, a $30,000 merchandise heist in September and a near Shake Shack on 14th Street.

Maloney said she feels like there’s less concern among neighbors over day-to-day incidents. However, she still acknowledges there are shootings and drunk-driving-related car accidents in the area.

“We’ve seen more of that, but I’m less concerned just walking around,” Maloney said. “I don’t really know why. It’s just a feeling.”

Audrey Gaitley, who works at Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, described the shop’s 14th Street location as in a “rowdy” area.

“I know there is a decrease [in crime], but I haven’t felt any safer really,” Gaitley said.

Nico Lewin, who lives in the area and practices tightrope at the Logan Circle park, said he hasn’t felt a decrease either. He said he sees property crimes as more of a threat than violent ones and doesn’t feel unsafe in his neighborhood.Ěý

“You see a lot of break ins, especially into cars in the area,” Lewin. “I don’t think it affects me that much; I don’t have a car, but I guess it’s more of what you see. I don’t hear about much violent crime in the area.”

From 2023 to 2024, car break-ins decreased from 184 to 132, and motor vehicle theft decreased from 70 to 48. In the Secure D.C. bill, vehicle-related crimes are addressed through the expansion of the definition of carjacking to improve prosecution.

Maloney describes safety in D.C. as “on par” with other big cities. Her home city of St. Louis, Missouri, though, was of greater concern.

“People are afraid to go to the ballgame and afraid to go downtown [in St. Louis,” Maloney said. “I don’t feel that here. They’re more concerned with people breaking into their cars, more concerned with all of that kind of stuff.”

The post Logan Circle crime drops nearly 20% from 2023 first appeared on 91ÇŃ×Ó.

Recent attacks in the Northwest D.C. area were perceived by many as an uptick in bias-related crimes. The Metro Police Department reported that’s simply not the case.Ěý

Local police report a decrease in bias-related crimes pertaining to sexual orientation, despite recent investigations.Ěý

in October, showing bias-related crimes related to sexual orientation have actually decreased since 2022. There have been 22 crimes through October 31, 2024.Ěý

“[The department] is seeing a decrease in all crime,” Tom Lynch, supervisory public affairs specialist for MPD, said. “We’ve seen crime come down in nearly every category.”Ěý

One case that MPD is still investigating as “potentially being motivated by hate or bias” occurred earlier in October, according to MPD. Sebastian Thomas Robles Lascarro stopped at a McDonald’s located on the corner of 14th Street and U Street and was confronted by a woman in line behind him for not saying “excuse me.”Ěý

When Lascarro tried to leave the restaurant, multiple people blocked the door and insisted he apologize to the woman. According to a police report, multiple people then started assaulting Lascarro and screaming homophobic slurs at him. One suspect reportedly said, “I’m going to teach you how to say sorry, f- – – – -.”

On November 5, and charged with assault with significant bodily injury. Multiple suspects were caught by nearby surveillance cameras and are still being searched for by MPD.Ěý

The case is still being investigated as a potential hate crime. However, Lynch said the designation can “be changed at any point as an investigation proceeds and more information is gathered.”

“A designation as a hate crime by MPD does not mean prosecutors will prosecute it as a hate crime,” Lynch said.Ěý

In August, local police investigated an attack outside of a Shake Shack in Dupont Circle. According to police reports obtained by 91ÇŃ×Ó, Christian Dingus was attacked by multiple people and received EMS care for injuries to his jaw and face.Ěý

the incident started after one of the restaurant employees aggressively responded to him asking where his food was. His partner, an unidentified male, pulled himself aside and gave Dingus a kiss to diffuse the situation.Ěý

Both Dingus and his partner were escorted out of the restaurant by employees. Employees wearing Shake Shack uniforms were also seen hitting Dingus outside, as previously reported by NBC Washington.Ěý

While the incident was intially suspected as an “anti-gay” hate crime, according to a previous police report, it is no longer being investigated as a bias-related crime. Lynch said findings of the investigation did not find the offense was motivated by bias.Ěý

There have not been any arrests made in the case.Ěý

As previously reported by 91ÇŃ×Ó, the number of hate crimes in the District reached a new high in 2018. Based on mid-year data, 2019 was on track to meet or exceed those numbers.Ěý

Aside from law enforcement, several other government agencies are attempting to prevent hate crimes across the District. The DC Office of Human Rights, as also previously reported by 91ÇŃ×Ó, has been working to respond to hate crimes since 2017.Ěý

James Yu, associate director of communications and equity for the office, said the Office of Human Rights cannot disclose details regarding individual complaints.Ěý

“We continually work with the Mayor’s Office Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning Affairs, local LGBTQIA+ organizations and partners to provide OHR’s training on the 23 Protected Traits in the District,” Yu said.Ěý

A number of LGBTQIA+ organizations and advocacy groups contacted by 91ÇŃ×Ó declined to comment regarding D.C. hate crime numbers.

The post D.C. police report decline in anti-gay hate crimes first appeared on 91ÇŃ×Ó.

Although they’re two neighborhoods with significant LGBTQ+ populations, voters shared with 91ÇŃ×Ó that the social issues they’re focused on this election season include the economy, abortion, democracy, climate change and marijuana legalization.

“I have friends who are like, ‘If Trump wins, then [gay] marriage will go away, and we’ll be stuffed back into the closet,’” said Joseph Schroder, who wrote in his vote for president at the Shaw polling place. “I don’t think that’s actually true.”

On the other hand, Clifton Hogan, who voted for Harris near Logan Circle, said he’s worried by Project 2025 ideologies as a gay man.

“Obviously, gay marriage hasn’t been made illegal, but Roe v. Wade was decided precedent, but here we are two years later,” Hogan said.Ěý

The Shaw/Watha T. Daniel Library was a lively polling spot, with an outdoor line stretching the length of the building. The volunteer site coordinator, who did not share her name in fear of being perceived as representing the D.C. Board of Elections, said the voter turnout has been “overwhelming in a good way.”

The site coordinator said she’s seen a diverse and enthusiastic flock of voters, many of whom registered to vote on the spot. She said this contributed to the long wait times and line, which moved to the shaded side of the library around lunchtime after voters complained of baking in the heat.

People running for office, including Brooke Pinto for D.C. Council and Nicole Shea for Shaw’s Advisory Neighborhood Commission, were also outside the library with their teams campaigning and talking to voters.

Outside the library, Schroeder said he’s focused on the economy, federal debt, and the way the country budgets, which are top-of-mind issues. While his identity as a gay man changes how he culturally views things, he wrote in a candidate because his views don’t align with Kamala Harris nor Donald Trump.

“I’m in D.C., so I feel like I have the privilege of being able to [say] my vote doesn’t matter,” he said. “If I was in Pennsylvania or something, I would have to make a real choice and probably vote for [Harris], but at the moment, I’m sort of casting a protest vote.”

D.C. is notorious for voting blue in each election. In 2020, in the District voted for Joe Biden.

Fifteenth Street Presbyterian Church near Logan Circle had a less lively outdoor crowd. Still, voters reported that the printed ballot system was out of order, so everyone was required to vote digitally. One man walked out of the polling place shortly after entering, declaring to passersby that the indoor line was too long for him to wait in during a break between food deliveries.

Jacynta Smith, registered to vote in North Carolina, said she’s focused on bodily autonomy and is hopeful as her home state is a swing state.

She was found outside the Fifteenth Street Presbyterian Church waiting for Corey Littman while he voted. Littman’s priorities are abortion, climate change and marijuana legalization.

Regarding LGBTQ+ issues: “I’m not personally in that community, but I do want them to have the protections everybody deserves,” Littman said. “It’s not my highest priority, personally, but I do think it’s important.”

Emily Menge voted for Harris at the Logan Circle polling place, prioritizing women’s rights and democracy.

“D.C. is dramatically [Democrat], so I don’t think it’s shocking that most of these people are voting for her,” Menge said. “Without D.C. statehood, it … doesn’t make you feel great about your vote.”

James Ashton, who was chanting “Trump, Trump, Trump” under his breath as he exited the Shaw Library polling location, said he voted Republican due to the economy and border issues.

David Lublin, department chair and professor of government at American University, said he hasn’t seen many people say LGBTQ+ rights are a number one priority for voters in this election.Ěý

“In particular, I’ve seen this election as a battle of whether abortion or immigration is the most important issue,” Lublin said.

Lublin said transgender issues have been a discussion point for some Republicans, mainly due to gendered sports and restrooms, but “the lack of discussion of same-sex marriage and related questions I think show to what an extent that it’s no longer really a debatable proposition in the U.S.”

The polls will close at 8 p.m. In the Shaw neighborhood, Kamala Harris will tonight at Howard University.

The post Logan Circle and Shaw: Voter priorities and what we saw on Election Day first appeared on 91ÇŃ×Ó.

Ed Bailey, who owns gay bars Trade and Number Nine in Logan Circle, said that he’s hoping everyone will be pleased with the election outcome if Kamala Harris is elected, but if not, the LGBTQ+ community will be able to use World Pride as a moment to make their stance known.

“Regardless of how the election goes, it could be a difficult situation, but definitely, if you think about certain scenarios with certain people being in power, there’s a definite concern on how these events could unfold and what kind of support our community might get from the federal government if certain people are in power,” Bailey said.

World Pride, which will bring a week’s worth of festivities to the District in June 2025, is 2 to 3 million visitors to the area. the welcome concert starting on May 31, followed by a human rights conference, a parade, a street festival and a concert over the next week or so.Ěý

Capital Pride Alliance, which usually hosts D.C.’s pride event, is responsible for World Pride 2025.

“It’s going to be an elevated, crazy boom for way more than just [the gay] community,” Bailey said. “All of the businesses in all of those areas are going to be busy because there’s going to be a lot of people.”

Safety of LGBTQ+ people through heightened security and communication is top of mind for Bailey.

“In the gay community, we’ve always been in a situation where we need to be cognizant of our very existence being a problem for some people, and therefore [we’ll be] prepared to deal with things that might happen in that regard,” Bailey said.

Capital Pride Alliance executive director Ryan Bos told 91ÇŃ×Ó in an email that event planners are in discussion with local health and security agencies, the Mayor’s Special Event Task Group, Homeland Security, the mayor’s office and the D.C. government to prepare the D.C.-area for millions of visitors from around the world.

Jesus Quispe, managing partner of gay nightclub Bunker on U Street, also owns event agency Kinetic Presents, which is spearheading planning a weekend festival during World Pride.

“What we’ve been trying to do is make sure … tourists understand there’s a vibrant nightlife here for people to have fun,” Quispe said. “For World Pride, all eyes are going to be on us and we want to make sure that people see us at a very international level.”

Quispe is also involved in advocacy efforts with the mayor’s office to allow short-term rentals of vacant storefronts for events and extend liquor licenses to 24 hours, similar to the .

“This is our time for small businesses to shine —Ěýrestaurants, clubs, bars and lounges because we got hit very hard with COVID,” Quispe said.

Other World Pride safety measures have included partnerships with police and the District’s office of nightlife to account for road closures and added police presence as many restaurants and bars will be at or above capacity. Quispe said World Pride is also working to have a channel of communication with police and the District during the week so they know where the large events are going to be.Ěý

“That’s the beauty of it because they’re understanding that there are going to be parties everywhere,” Quispe said. “They know where they’re going to be, how big they’re going to be. They’re going to make sure that D.C. is well taken care of.”

Quispe compares D.C. hosting World Pride to hosting the Olympics.

“[We’re] investing a lot of money, time and discussion to make sure we can deliver one of the best events that’s ever happened in World Pride,” he said.

Bailey anticipates it’ll be the largest gathering of LGBTQ+ people in North America.

“It’s always exciting, and a lot of younger people haven’t always had the opportunity to get together in large numbers with our community,” Bailey said. “It’s a very powerful thing to be able to be around a huge crowd of people who accept you.”

Erika Wichmann, who’s lived in the Logan Circle area for three years, said she’s excited to see a surge in local events during World Pride, especially post-pandemic.

As far as security, she’s confident World Pride has plans to account for the influx of people.

“If anything, I would worry about violence by protestors against the LGBT+ community and attendees,” Wichmann said.

Quispe said he’s been growing with the gay community in D.C. as a longtime operator, so working in a World Pride host city “is just a dream.”

“If I would die the next year, I would die in peace and say, ‘I’ve done something so huge that I’ve been waiting my entire life for,’” he said.

The post Local businesses on World Pride 2025: ‘All eyes are going to be on us’ first appeared on 91ÇŃ×Ó.

Almost a year later, he and events coordinator Melissa Harrison host watch parties for the reality dating show as it premiered on Netflix this month.

The couple has seen the Logan Circle bar bring in about a 50% increase from its normal Wednesday revenue during the Love is Blind watch parties.

“I think it’s the kind of show that’s super fun to watch with a group of friends,” Melissa said. “The fact you can be on set with your friends hanging out and watching at a watch party at The Crown & Crow is definitely exciting.”

They’ve hosted two so far — one on the Oct. 1 premiere and another on the following Wednesday. There will be a watch party each Wednesday until the reunion episode releases Oct. 30.

Love is Blind is a hit Netflix dating series where couples can’t see each other’s appearance prior to getting engaged. After popping the question, they have about three weeks to explore their compatibility in the “real world” until challenged with whether they’ll wed at the altar.Ěý

At the show’s season six peak in March 2024, Love is Blind was the most-watched streaming title on any platform with 6 million minutes viewed, .

Season seven was filmed in Washington, D.C.

As a nod to the show, The Crown & Crow has created themed discounted drinks for the watch parties such as the “Red Flag,” “Love is Tonic,” “Gaslighter,” “Social Experiment” and “Bottle Needed.”

“The drink special will change as the season progresses as we find things within the season that would be relevant to make funny with a drink,” Melissa said.

Guests in the sold-out crowd mingle and talk back to the TV each week.

“It was really festive and fun,” Melissa said. “I just had a smile on my face the whole time.”

The watch parties have brought in some Crown & Crow regulars in addition to new Love is Blind fanatics. Friend groups, girls’ nights and dates sat around the tables positioned toward the TV.

Michael French of Chantilly, Virginia, was drawn to the watch party to sample the Love is Blind-themed drinks while meeting his girlfriend’s friends.

“We’re definitely into the show, and [we asked], ‘Why not hang out and meet people and have fun at the same time instead of staying home?’” French said.

The bar has moved its popular trivia night from Wednesday to Thursday to make way for Love is Blind.

“Wednesdays are already a pretty strong night for us,” Brian said. “We were at capacity or close to it in the room where we have the watch party, so it would be challenging to perform any better than what we’re doing.”

Stephen Zagor, a business professor at Columbia University who focuses on restaurants and food business, described restaurants as real estate businesses where tables are rented and average checks are the revenue.

“If you can bring a group of people in at a time that would normally not be your prime time and you’re able to build a menu … where people are going to maximize your profitability by being there, it’s a win-win,” he said.

Zagor also said events like watch parties bring in new clientele while keeping their existing base satisfied.

“Restaurants don’t sell food,” Zagor said. “They sell experiences.”

The bar received an influx in business as soon as it was announced as one of this season’s filming locations.

“It wasn’t just the watch parties,” Brian said. “It’s just really a lot of buzz about the program and people wanting to see the venue as a result.”

Melissa said watching the show premiere “on set” is particularly exciting for customers.

“We feel really strongly about people getting out in person with other human beings and looking at each other’s faces and making eye contact and developing real relationships and meeting,” Melissa said. “It’s a perfect combination since the show is about making those connections as well.”

The post Logan Circle bar increases sales by 50% during ‘Love is Blind’ watch parties first appeared on 91ÇŃ×Ó.

These owners say the area is generally safe with increased police presence during the crime uptick.

“14th Street is getting a little tough at night, late nights,” Lupo Pizzeria owner Med Lahlou said. “[Police hanging around] are trying to clean up the mess that’s happening late at night.”

Three women in their early twenties were after midnight Sept. 10 at 14th and U streets for burglary, resisting arrest and fleeing from law enforcement, according to Metropolitan police. A Commonwealth employee said the streetwear brand is not commenting on the incident.

The burgled store is part of a quarter-square-mile section of D.C. — bordered by W and 16th streets to the north and west and ending near S and 9th streets to the south and east — that has had 21 burglaries in the last year, the highest out of any quarter-square-mile area in the District, according to a by the Metropolitan Police Department. Over the last year, the average number of burglaries in a quarter-square-mile area in D.C. is 3.7.Ěý

Kristi Maiselman, executive director of CulturalDC, said she finds the burglary concerning since it’s on the same block as the organization’s headquarters and performance venue, Source Theatre.

“We certainly took more precautions and let all of our resident organizations and tenants know to be sure that they’re making sure all the internal doors are locked when they’re leaving for the day,” Maiselman said.

Businesses on 14th Street have different theft-prevention measures. CulturalDC has monitored security and external cameras. Lou Lou Boutique’s metal detector is positioned at the front doors. Yoga District encourages its students to keep their belongings near them during class. Georgetown Optician and CityPaws Animal Hospital have security gates. Som Records and Ron the Barber are at ease with just locking their doors at night — but Som Records has a sign on the door saying staff reports suspicious people and activity to law enforcement.

“I think if there were additional incidents, then we would certainly have to look at whether or not additional security during events was warranted,” Maiselman said. “But given the timing of some of the events, you know it’s not happening right now during daylight business hours, which is good, but certainly that can change.”

Maiselman’s main concern is how the crime affects the public’s desire to attend shows in the area.

“We’ve been struggling to get people back to the theater at rates that are on par with before the pandemic, and so all of these events, all of this crime, gives our patrons more reason to not want to come and to not feel safe in what otherwise has been a very safe community for a very long period of time,” she said.

Retired security consultant Chris McGoey, who was qualified to testify as an expert in state and federal courts for 40 years, describes stores as “boxes” with doors and windows. Typical security measures, he said, include locks, nightlights and burglar alarms.

“That’s the way it’s always been, and that always seemed to be enough,” McGoey said. “Now it doesn’t. It doesn’t seem to be enough because the perpetrators in these sprees will force entry into the business.”

He suggests business owners buy good insurance and fortify storefronts with plexiglass, commercial doors, high-tech alarms and video systems.Ěý

“What [a burglarized business] was doing before, it didn’t work,” McGoey said. “Just making repairs and bringing it up to the same level, you really haven’t changed anything. A similar method could occur to you again; you could become a victim again.”

Abigail Koller, manager of Lou Lou Boutique, said increased communication between 14th Street businesses would help each other to stay informed to prevent repeat offenses.

“[I’d like] if all the stores on the street could come together on some form of forum or website and be like, ‘Hey, this person has been going from here to here,’” Koller said.

Maiselman said 14th Street retailers work closely with the Logan Circle Main Street Group.

“[Crime] is something that certainly everybody’s concerned about, and everybody is willing to participate and do what’s necessary to make sure that our patrons [feel safe],” Maiselman said. “It’s been hard enough for everybody since the pandemic, and we don’t need one more reason for people to not want to come out.”

Lahlou said his pizzeria hasn’t had any burglaries or security threats in its four years on 14th Street but remains cautious.

“You’ve always got to be careful, always watch your back,” Lahlou said. “You never know.”

The post 14th Street business security measures remain intact after neighboring burglary first appeared on 91ÇŃ×Ó.

These owners say theft doesn’t seem much different than in past years for them but add that they hope the bill solves problems for larger businesses.

Bowser introduced the ACT Now Act on Oct. 23, 2023. Among several , the legislation aims to create criminal penalties for organized retail theft. Specifically, it seeks to define organized retail theft as a felony with a prison sentence of up to 15 years.

The offices of Mayor Bowser and Councilmember Brooke Pinto didn’t respond to requests for comment.

According to theĚý, organized retail theft is theft organized and carried out by criminal rings that steal large amounts of goods to resell for profit.

According to Metropolitan Police Department’s Year-to-Date Crime Comparison data, theft in the District has increased 22% from 2022 to 2023, with 9,212 incidents of theft last year and 11,194 instances of theft so far this year.Ěý

According to , incidents of theft in ANC 2F, which encompasses Logan Circle, have increased by 16% from this time last year. There were 388 incidents in 2022, and there have already been 402 incidents in 2023. There were 325 incidents of theft in the ANC in 2021.

Amanda McClement, owner of home goods store Salt and Sundry, said the crime bill was concerned with a group of people running into a store to steal a bunch of stuff at once. That wasn’t something she experienced.

“I don’t think it’ll help us specifically,” said McClement.

Crime rates didn’t seem to her to be any more significant than any other year, according to McClement, but theft was still an obnoxious and damaging inevitability of running retail businesses.

It was a reality she had to contend with, but she didn’t see any solutions. She said theft, especially for her small business, felt personal.

“It’s literally money out of your pocket,” said McClement.

She said the crime bill was aimed at corporate chains.Ěý

Craig Smith is the chief executive officer of A Few Cool Hardware Stores, a retail group that owns 13 Ace Hardware locations in the DMV area. Smith said he fully supports the mayor’s new bill.Ěý

Smith said he hopes it curbs theft in the District, but he admits his stores don’t experience the same type of theft as other stores. He said the stores affected most were places like CVS and Walgreens.Ěý

Although he hadn’t noticed a major uptick in crime in his stores over the past year, he admitted thieves had become a little more brazen. Offering an example, he said he’d seen people leave other stores with carts full of merchandise they hadn’t paid for.

Theft at Ace stores, according to Smith, wasn’t the organized retail theft the bill seeks to address. Though he wondered if it could be chalked up to the resale value of hammers versus the makeup and detergent that had been stolen at larger chains, he offered another potential reason as well.

“They will still try it, but we’ve been in business for over 20 years in the Logan Circle area and I would say we’re ingrained in the community,” said Smith.

He said people might think twice about stealing from stores that are locally and employee owned. A Few Cool Hardware Stores are both, with 30% of the company owned by staff.

If people who work in the store have eyes on customers and customers know they’ll talk to them, it’s more daunting to steal, according to Smith.

He said attentive employees are the outlier, not the norm right now.

“I don’t think you walk into too many stores these days that are retail stores that you get great customer service in,” said Smith.

The Small Business Development Center’s Executive Director Carl E. Brown, unlike Smith, didn’t see any real solution for theft. He said the new crime bill wouldn’t fix any problems.

“It’s not going to do anything to address theft,” said Brown. “If that was the case, then people wouldn’t commit crimes.”

He said the issue was much deeper than stealing, pointing to the rising cost of food and other goods and its effect on lower-income communities.

“They feel that it’s their privilege and right to steal from you because they feel as though you’re stealing from them by charging the amount you’re charging,” said Brown.

Serv-U Liquor’s Ralph Mokonnen said crime was nothing new.

“Stealing is like going to work right now,” said Mokonnen. “It’s normal, like watching football or basketball.”

He said he couldn’t say whether the crime bill would help and believes it’s the government’s job to figure that out.

The post Logan small businesses say Bowser’s crime bill doesn’t help them much first appeared on 91ÇŃ×Ó.

The resolution, which the Logan Circle ANC released on Sept. 20, addresses 15th Street NW between Massachusetts Avenue NW and U Street NW. It calls for the one-way, three-lane street to be reduced to two lanes. It also calls for traffic cameras, a reduced speed limit, increased signage, more stop signs, raised pedestrian crosswalks, and fixes to any unpaved bike lanes.

ANC 2F, which represents Logan Circle, and ANC 2B, which represents DuPont Circle, say that the street as currently constructed encourages drivers to speed recklessly in a pedestrian-heavy area where people bike frequently.Ěý

But residents felt that lane reduction would create more potential for accidents. They also felt that riders of scooters and bikes were just as much to blame as drivers for dangerous conditions.

“It’s pretty unusual,” said ANC 2F Commissioner David Rubinstein when speaking about the layout of the street. Rubenstein is ANC 2F’s Public Space and Transportation Committee chair.

“It allows traffic to go faster than the speed limit,” said Rubenstein. “There’s a potential for a lot of conflict.”

The issue is not new and has persisted for some time, according to Rubenstein. He said his ANC has made prior resolutions to no avail.

Rubenstein said that this time ANC 2F has banded together with ANC 2B, which released aĚý on Sept. 27, and that as a result, the resolution had gained traction.

He said that DDOT has acknowledged the resolution.

Jeremiah Lowery, advocacy director for the Washington Area Bicyclist Association, commended the resolution as a net positive for safety in the area.

“Those measures that they’re proposing are proven to reduce traffic deaths and serious injuries,” said Lowery.

However, he said that WEBA is not satisfied with the pace of change.

“The ANC shouldn’t have to pass this resolution. The changes they’re proposing should be on every intersection,” said Lowery. “DDOT occasionally needs some pushing.”

He said that getting drivers to slow down and respect all road users directly benefits bikers.

Enforcement tools and street design are key ways to make a street safer, according to Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen, who chairs of the D.C. Council’s Committee on Transportation and the Environment.

“Research shows that speed cameras do slow down drivers, but people have to believe that cameras are there for safety – not revenue,” Allen said in an emailed statement.

Resident Juliette Wilder disagreed with the resolution’s proposed implementation of speed cameras. She said the cameras are “super predatory,” but that signage wouldn’t hurt.

Reducing the number of lanes from three to two was also a nonstarter for Wilder. She said she didn’t understand how it would lead to a reduction in reckless driving, adding that it could lead to a back-up of traffic that could cause accidents.

She also said that riders of bikes and scooters were not blameless, noting times she’d been driving where she almost got into accidents with people drunk scootering.

Frank Albinder, another resident, also called out bike riders.

“I’ve seen bicyclists get hit when they were not in the right, like someone had a green arrow and the bicyclists ignored,” said Albinder. “So nowadays scooters and bicycles and motorcycles, they pretty much ignore all the lights.”

He similarly didn’t see how a reduction in lanes would help safety.

“It’’ll just make congestion much worse,” said Albinder.

He acknowledged that drivers sometimes go well above the 30 miles per hour speed limit and that, at night, pedestrians are in danger of getting hit.

According to a written statement from DDOT provided by its Public Information Officer German Vigil though, the area is not as high-risk as others.

“It is worth noting that this corridor is not featured in ourĚýĚýas one of the most dangerous corridors in the District, nor is it on theĚý,Ěý, orĚý. While there will always be additional work to meet the needs of District residents and visitors, we always have to make the difficult decision to prioritize areas that historically do not have the same level of investment,” read the statement.

Rubenstein said the ANCs are waiting to hear back from DDOT.

“We will give DDOT time to digest it and then get back to us with their thoughts before we decide on any next steps,” said Rubenstein.

The post Proposal from Logan, DuPont ANCs for 15th Street safety draws mixed reviews from locals first appeared on 91ÇŃ×Ó.

Bar owners hope the pending bill would save them money by reducing insurance costs. However, lawyers argue it would remove the power of a customer to sue if they are over-served and hurt themselves.

Council members Brooke Pinto and Christina Henderson proposed , in January 2023. The legislation would revise existing law to say that a dram, or bar, is only liable for a drunk patron’s injury if the bar’s staff knowingly serves an obviously intoxicated person. The “knowingly” and “obviously” parts would be new.

“I co-introduced this legislation to address the District’s exorbitantly high liquor liability costs that are not only the highest in the region, but second highest in the nation,” said Henderson in a prepared statement. “The current law is vague and does not provide a definition for ‘intoxicated’ or ‘intoxication.'”

Business owners say that the proposed law would save them money by making it harder for drunk patrons who injure themselves to sue. They say that if their liability goes down, so too would their liability insurance.

John Guggenmos co-owns P Street’s Number Nine bar in Logan Circle and supports the pending bill. He published last month, detailing its economic impact.

“It is defining intoxication, it is defining the standard of knowingly serving someone, what that means,” said Guggenmos of the proposed bill.

Jean Paul Sabatier, co-owner of Logan Circle’s Jane Jane bar on 14th Street NW, agreed.

“It is to everybody’s benefit to offer a bit of clarity to these small businesses in general to make sure we’re outlining what intoxication means for everybody,” said Sabatier.

For Guggenmos, it comes down to what’s fair.

“Even if I only served you one drink and you had six or seven at another bar, I would be liable,” said Guggenmos.Ěý

Alabama revises its liquor law.

Guggenmos pointed to Alabama’s April 2023 revision of its liquor liability law as an example of the positive change the District’s Dram Act could bring.

Alabama’s new law says a bar is only responsible for the injury or death of a person if they “knowingly” serve someone who is “visibly” drunk. According to Alabama Retail, an association that represents retailers in public policy, Alabama enacted the legislation to lower the cost of liability insurance for businesses.

The Alabama statute says that knowingly serving alcohol to an intoxicated person means that the bar “knew or should have known under the circumstances.”

Guggenmos said that the cost of liquor liability insurance directly correlates to an ISO rating that is given to states.

The Insurance Services Office, or ISO, assigns a number for how risky it is to insure establishments in a state.

Before the revision, Alabama had a score of 10, the highest possible. After it enacted the changes, ISO changed the state’s rating to a 5.Ěý

Guggenmos said the District’s rating is a 9. He also provided a background memo for the Dram Act legislation that showed premiums as high as $400,000 for nightclubs and restaurants.

Supporters hope a reduced score would lead to lower insurance premiums.

“The legislation would bring DC’s liability insurance costs in-line with much of the rest of the country by reducing those costs for neighborhood bars and restaurants who struggle to pay these premiums at a time of increasing inflation and overhead costs,” Henderson said in her prepared statement.

‘A solution looking for a problem.’

Lawyer Timothy Clinton of the law firm Clinton & Peed doesn’t see a correlation between the proposed changes and reduced costs.

He said the District’s proposed Dram Act is a solution looking for a problem.Ěý

“If this is an insurance problem, this should be regulated by the insurance,” said Clinton. “If the [ISO] score is high because we have such excessive intoxication in the District because they’re getting drunker than other states, this regulation will have the opposite effect than what’s desired.”

He said that the new law would give bars more power to over-serve. It would prohibit drunk patrons who hurt themselves from suing the place that provided the alcohol, according to Clinton.

He noted specifically a section of the proposed law that states that no lawsuit could be brought “by the person to whom the alcoholic beverage was sold or served.” Clinton said the proposed revision wouldn’t hold bars responsible when they should.

“The answer is not to give immunity to the people who are responsible for excessive intoxication,” said Clinton.

He said the new law would also harm alcoholics by shifting blame away from the bars that profit from their habitual drinking. Clinton said that bars should be accountable for making responsible decisions, especially on behalf of a person with an illness whose judgment is impaired.Ěý

Clinton said he is passionate about the issue because of a lawsuit he was involved with a few years ago. He noted he won a wrongful death case in 2019 where his client’s husband was over-served by a bar and died of complications after collapsing.

Clinton testified against the Dram Shop Clarification Act during a June 2023 hearing before the District Council’s Committee on Business and Economic Development. Trial lawyer Brendan Klaproth of Klaproth Law and government affairs director Frank Harris from Mothers Against Drunk Driving also objected to the proposed law during the hearing.

David Super, a professor with the Georgetown University Law Center who teaches contract and tort law, said he agreed with Clinton’s arguments against the Dram Act.

“This would make it very difficult to hold dram shop owners accountable for irresponsible behavior,” said Super.Ěý

The Council Office of Racial Equity also raised concerns about the Dram Act’s effect on communities of color.Ěý

In its of the proposed law, CORE said that, while anyone can seek damages for an alcohol-related injury, residents of color face greater challenges in doing so.Ěý

“B25-0056 will likely harm justice and economic outcomes for Black, Indigenous, and other residents of color who are victims or related to victims of alcohol-impaired actions,” said CORE.

Next steps.

“The next step will be for the Committee on Business and Economic Development to hold a markup and vote on the bill prior to consideration by the full Council,” Nicholas Pcholkin, legislative assistant to Henderson, said in an email.

The council has until the end of the legislative session in December 2024 to act on the bill, according to ChĂŠ Ruddell-Tabisola of the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington. If it does not become law by then, it can always be reintroduced.

Ruddell-Tabisola said he hoped the bill would be enacted much sooner because the current law gives plaintiffs unlimited power and harms small businesses.

“If you’re a local neighborhood restaurant, this insurance is so expensive. It’s so far out of reach,” said Ruddell-Tabisola.

Dylan Halpern is a resident of Logan Circle and was unaware of how the current law works.

“I’ve lived in D.C. for seven years, and I did not know this,” said Halpern.Ěý

He said he didn’t see how adding language about knowingly serving a patron or visible intoxication to the current law helped.

“I’m just not sure how you could prove this,” said Halpern.

The post Bars fight for new liquor liability rules, face pushback first appeared on 91ÇŃ×Ó.

Changes in consumer practices, social detachment, and a stark shift in the economic landscape are posing challenges to small businesses in the area. These issues, all trickle-down effects of the pandemic, have been exacerbated by the arrival of new Covid strain BA.2.86.

“I think my biggest concern is a further break in people’s day-to-day lives,” said Scott Abel, owner of 14th Street’s Solid State Books. “Visitors to the store, neighbors, Washingtonians at large, we’ve already dealt with years of really disassociating stuff.”

Abel opened his second location in Logan Circle in May 2023 and spoke confidently about his store’s ability to meet the upcoming wave head-on, his first location having already survived the initial years of Covid.Ěý

He said he was most concerned for the increasing isolation of residents and its effect on the neighborhood and its businesses.

“My worry is that we kind of continue to disrupt the fabric of the community. If people don’t want to leave their homes, it’s hard to maintain and sustain third places like a punk club or a bookstore or a coffee shop,” said Abel.

Jessica Barakat of 14th Street’s Crown Pawnbrokers was worried about the culture of shopping changing altogether.

“A lot of people are moving away from person-to-person and brick and mortar. We need places to shop and touch things,” said Barakat.Ěý

Crown Pawnbrokers was opened in 1935 by Barakat’s great-great-grandfather and provides cash loans to patrons, among other services. Barakat said an increasingly digital world and an aversion to germs in a post-Covid economy pose a new kind of threat to this way of operating.

“People didn’t want to touch cash for a long time with Covid. [Now] there’s a larger divide between the cash and credit world,” said Barakat.Ěý

She spoke about stores that have apparently stopped taking paper money.

“A lot of businesses that don’t take cash, not only is it illegal, but I won’t go. It’s discriminatory against people who have cash. If I give my kid $5 to run over and grab a drink from the coffee shop, and they say they don’t take cash, it’s a strange thing. I worry because some people are unbanked,” said Barakat.

The District enacted legislation in December 2019 that prohibits businesses from rejecting cash payments. The law went into effect April 2021 and aims to protect people without access to a credit card from discrimination.

Covid-induced fluctuations in the economy are a constant theme for the community.

Michele Molotsky is a main street director for the non-profit District Bridges and described what she saw as the neighborhood’s two largest financial issues. Her organization helps economically vitalize the Logan Circle community by explaining grants to small businesses and organizing events that help generate customers for them.

“The current problem is workforce. The other problem would be rent,” said Molotsky.

According to the , the district’s unemployment rate rose from 4.7% in February 2023 to 5.0% in July 2023.Ěý

At the same time, tipped minimum wage in the district increased in July 2023 from $6 an hour to $8, and the minimum wage increased from $16.10 an hour to $17.Ěý

“I think staffing continues to be a challenge, attracting and keeping people when the economy seems so volatile,” said Molotsky.

Molotsky pointed out that the increase in Logan Circle rent has also made it harder for small businesses to survive.

“It’s a very popular area right now. A lot of landlords want top dollar, over $100 a square foot. At that rate, only a national brand is able to pay that kind of money. A lot of landlords would rather hold out and be vacant [because] you know a big chain … is going to pay rent no matter what happens,” said Molotsky.

The post Logan Circle businesses face existential fears as fall Covid wave arrives first appeared on 91ÇŃ×Ó.