D.C. has always been there for D.C., despite having to grapple with one of the largest wealth gaps in the country and a lack of statehood. The District is not the dangerous place that President Trump purports it to be. Are changes needed? Absolutely. Traumatizing our communities or criminalizing our youth and neighbors for a political agenda will bring a fight they don’t see coming.
Decades of research show that increasing police and the police budget is not an effective or cost-efficient way of handling crime. Crime is not about certain people being inherently more criminal or less intelligent but about social and economic factors brought about by the wealthy elite. Wealth inequality is a leading component of violent crime, and in D.C., the wealth gap is substantial.
When you look at the top 10 cities for homicide per capita, which do not include D.C., these cities also have the country’s largest wealth gaps. Conversely, cities with the most equal wealth distribution have the fewest homicides per capita. This consistent link between wealth inequality and crime has been proven time and again, so why do we keep increasing police budgets to fight crime? The answer is simple. There is a lot of money in weapons, defense and so-called public safety. The United States has built a prison-industrial empire with 20% of the world’s prisoners but only 5% of the population. By stoking fear, those in power keep us turning over control, letting the federal government dictate policies instead of fighting for true statehood. Many stand to profit from criminalizing D.C. and other cities on Trump’s hit list. The private prison industry is booming, providing cheap labor for corporations eager to exploit imprisoned workers.
Over the past three months, more than 300,000 Black women across the nation have lost or left their federal jobs, a figure rarely reported in the mainstream. Meanwhile, in D.C., approximately 28,000 people stand to lose Medicaid and will likely face new, strict monthly work requirements just to maintain coverage under alternative plans. Once again, women of color and communities of color are bearing the brunt of this administration’s fallout. These devastating employment and health care cuts come alongside sweeping reductions in social services, including drug treatment programs, at a time when the nation is grappling with an escalating drug crisis. This convergence of job losses and critical aid reductions spells disaster for vulnerable populations across D.C. and the country.
Instead of pouring money into growing police budgets and surveillance, D.C. should invest in proven solutions that actually strengthen our communities. Housing First policies, combined with equity audits for developers, directly address our housing crisis and prioritize Black families, who are 85% of our houseless population, getting thousands immediate and permanent housing. Expanding wraparound drug treatment and mental health services would help break the cycles of addiction and illness, saving lives and building healthier neighborhoods. We need to support cooperative ownership models for grocery stores and apartment buildings, empowering residents to generate wealth and keep resources within the community. Affordable, holistic schooling options, clean streets, and truly safe spaces for our children should be our priorities. By refocusing our budget on housing, health and socialized community care, we can build lasting equity and opportunity for all Washingtonians.
ICE now holds the fourth-largest military budget in the world, with funding set to triple next year to over $30 billion, surpassing many national militaries. Without real pushback, D.C. missed the opportunity to maintain sanctuary protections despite clear signs from Los Angeles County, where similar policies have led to increased fear, profiling, and policing in immigrant communities. Here in D.C., where police presence already doubles the national average, this sets a dangerous precedent. Migrants in our community are front-line workers who keep our city running; they deserve respect and protection. This situation also undermines the tens of thousands of visitors who come from around the world, raising serious questions about the city’s image and its economic future. The president’s scare tactics come at great cost, threatening city revenue and community cohesion. It is nothing more than a distraction from the real issues D.C. faces, a distraction we must not fall for.
This year so far, Trump has gilded the Oval Office, given the White House ballroom a $200 million face-lift, and organized a $30 million birthday parade. The president now oversees a federal law enforcement deployment on D.C.’s streets that could cost taxpayers an additional $20 million a month. This extravagant spending sharply contrasts with claims of budget tightening and raises serious questions about the real priorities behind these cuts.
D.C.’s strength has always been its people. Our communities thrive through mutual aid, coalition building and the determination to lift one another up, even in the face of adversity. We make it work with less. Year after year, Congress keeps D.C. as a district, retaining control over our budget and denying us the full representation every American deserves. This is not just a matter of policy; it is a matter of agency. D.C. residents contribute to, organize, and empower their neighborhoods. We have proven time and again that local voices know best what our communities need. It is past time to end this era of exclusion and finally secure statehood for D.C.
Representation means having a real seat at the table, the power to shape our future, and the respect that every community in this country is owed. Our fight is not just for D.C.; it’s for the principle that democracy belongs to everyone, and I will continue to fight for this on your behalf.