Published on February 17, 2024, 1:46 am

In the face of escalating crime, businesses are opting to vacate Washington D.C. among them two professional sports teams. The potential exodus of the NBA’s Washington Wizards and the NHL’s Washington Capitals has triggered a strong resistance from Democrats.

Mayor Muriel Bowser (D-D.C.) is leading the call for both sports franchises to hold ground in Washington D.C., despite last year’s announcement by Monumental Sports and Entertainment, owners of both teams, about their planned relocation to Virginia. The move has earned the endorsement of Virginia’s Governor Glenn Youngkin (R-VA), keen on funding the transfer. However, some Democrats within Virginia’s state Senate oppose the deal.

The current playing grounds for both teams, Capital One Arena, isn’t safe from upticks in criminal activity over recent years. Ted Leonsis, Monumental Sports CEO, vocalized his escalating concerns about this issue several months ago and claimed that transferring the teams to Virginia would be a sound business move.

Police data paints a concerning image with more than 168 additional crimes reported within 1000 feet of Capital One Arena within the past two years as compared to the earlier two-year period. Recorded offenses include seven sex abuse crimes, fifteen assaults involving dangerous weapons, fifty-one robberies, one hundred thirty-six car thefts from vehicles and—the most troubling—a homicide incident.

Bowser had proposed almost $500 million in incentives to convince Monumental not to abandon D.C., stating it could sidestep broken promises or lawsuits. If Monumental proceeds with its plan to leave D.C., Bowser avowed ownership of both the arena land and building as they fall under city management.

As recently as last Wednesday—which made Mayor Bowser’s pitched incentives seem less convincing—a man was robbed at gunpoint near Capital One Arena by two individuals armed with a gun and a knife respectively.

Despite encountering opposition from Finance and Appropriations Chair L.Louise Lucas, Youngkin aspires to offer $2 billion in state bonds to build a new arena as part of the deal with Monumental Sports. Last year, an attempt by D.C. council members advocating for lesser penalties for crimes was met with resistance from the White House and partially rejected due to support from thirty-one democrats.

As per police records, Washington D.C. reported its highest number of homicide incidents in over twenty years during 2023. The figure is significant, considering that numerous businesses including high-profile firms such as CoStar Group have begun moving their operations to Northern Virginia or closing them entirely due to rising crime.

Donald Trump has offered strong criticism towards the ongoing lawlessness within Washington D.C., calling it an embarrassment for the nation and proposing a federal takeover prompting strict law enforcement.

In light of these developing narratives around crime-related issues in Washington D.C., remaining abreast with trusted news sources and adopting a Christian worldview allows us an insight into our society and provides vital context in understanding real news as it unfolds every day.