Over the years, Samarah Lee Banks has reported to work at Lee’s Flowers in Union Station in Northeast D.C., navigating some of the challenges that come with encountering residents who are dealing with behavioral and mental crises, housing insecurity, or have criminal intent.
So when Banks found out that the National Guard was going to be posted at Union Station— though admittedly not a fan of President Donald Trump or his politics— she was somewhat pleased at this new development.
“We need the additional security,” Banks, 30, told The Informer on Sept. 2, days before the U.S. Army reportedly said it will stay in the District until Nov. 30. “I honestly don’t think it is so bad. I don’t mind the National Guard. They are nice and friendly and don’t bother people.”
Managing the Union Station location, Banks – daughter of Stacie Lee Banks, co-owner and president of Lee’s Flower and Card Shop – is one of the many Washingtonians balancing running a business amid the federal officers surge in the District.
While organizations such as The Greater Washington Board of Trade have issued statements saying that it “shares the priority of keeping our communities safe and ensuring people and businesses thrive without disruption,” some establishments have already begun to experience a shift since the National Guard assumed control of the Metropolitan Police Department in August.
In his lawsuit suspending National Guard activity in the District, D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb said that the presence of the units has driven business away from city entrepreneurs.
“Deploying the National Guard to engage in law enforcement is not only unnecessary and unwanted, but it is also dangerous and harmful to the District and its residents,” said Schwalb on September 4. “No American city should have the U.S. military–particularly out-of-state military who are not accountable to the residents and untrained in local law enforcement–policing its streets. It’s D.C. today but could be any other city tomorrow. We’ve filed this action to put an end to this illegal federal overreach.”
Despite Banks’ feelings about the president’s overall policies, she feels the National Guard’s presence at Union Station is just the right thing at this time.
“I feel protected,” she said. “Protection was needed. There have been some violent incidents that I thought could have been handled better by the police here. You had kids from school coming here and acting up before. You don’t have that now.
Black Business Owners Speak About the Federal Takeover
The D.C. Chamber of Commerce is reassuring Washingtonians and people all over the world: “D.C. is safe, open for business, thriving and ready to welcome visitors.”
While the chamber did not directly address the federal officers surge, the organization, according to a statement, also highlighted the contributions of District leaders, noting “violent crime has been reduced by almost 30%, to get us to a three-decade low.”
Banks said she feels that tourists and residents can come to Union Station to do business with the National Guard present.
“People shop here and it is peaceful,” she said. “They eat at the restaurants here and wait for the train or bus without being hassled.”
Banks said the National Guard presence has not affected her business.
“It has had no impact, negative or positive,” she said.
Banks is not the only African American businessperson who has voiced support for more law enforcement officers being present.
Marc Barnes, owner of The Park at 14th, a Northwest nightclub and restaurant that is popular in the Washington metropolitan area, also views the added law enforcement as beneficial.
“I think it is a good thing,” said Barnes of the increased law enforcement presence by the federal government. “The troops haven’t affected us at all. As a matter of fact, I have noticed that people’s cars have not been broken into.”
Downtown BID President and CEO Gerren Price said, however, that some of the businesses in his district have had concerns about the federal troops.
“We’ve actually seen through the numbers that there’s a little bit of a decrease in foot traffic on a day-to-day basis,” Price said on WUSA Channel 9 on Aug. 29. “We’ve had on average 12,000 fewer people on our streets compared to this time, same time last year.”
Nevertheless, he said the District is safe and people can come there to shop and enjoy themselves.
“We’re really encouraging people to continue to dine at our local restaurants, continue to visit those cultural institutions because they need your support now more than ever,” he said.
While Banks and Barnes are supportive, Burnie Williams, the owner of Chat’s Liquor on Capitol Hill is more skeptical.
“The National Guard hasn’t affected my business because they are not posted right in front of my place,” he said on Aug. 30 while hosting a wine tasting at his store, which is about two blocks north of Eastern Market Plaza, where National Guard personnel have been posted. “They seem not to be in Capitol Hill as opposed to other areas. I will say things are quieter.”
Entrepreneurs, Leaders Encourage Supporting Local Businesses Despite Challenges
Williams noted an extension of the National Guard in the city, whether by the U.S. Congress or the Executive Branch, could be challenging for Washingtonians.
“It is a problem when you have to submit to checkpoints just to go into the city that you grew up in,” Williams told The Informer. “That creates bottlenecks and that can be a problem for business. No checkpoints, we don’t need to be hampered. We’ve already had to deal with so much in this city the past five years, we don’t need anything else.”
Williams’ business is located on historic Barracks Row, which is represented by D.C. Council member Charles Allen (D-Ward 6), who also considered the hassles that the National Guard’s presence presents.
“I…want to ask and encourage folks to make an extra effort to support our local businesses,” said Allen in his Aug. 30 e-newsletter. “I’ve talked to so many of our small businesses that have been just crushed since the federal incursion was announced.”
Allen said some shops are having sales decline by as much as 50% as opposed to last year because of the National Guard presence.
“Restaurants have seen reservations cancel in droves,” the council member said. “Hotels and short-term rentals have seen many cancellations and slower bookings. These impacts are devastating for our local businesses and economy.”
Despite complaints about the National Guard’s negative impact on business, Elmina DC, located in the U Street NW area on 14th Street, seems not to be as affected. On Aug. 30, Elmina had customers coming in droves to dine and staff, led by Chef Eric Adjepong, worked feverishly to keep up the pace.
Adjepong admitted that he was not as familiar with the National Guard presence as others, as he was out of the country when the mobilization was announced by the Trump administration. Hence, he expresses mixed feelings about the federal intervention.
“It is an unfortunate situation,” he said. “D.C. is really affected by this. This is taking place in the summertime, when there is not a lot of business activity. This (federal intervention) does not help.”
Adjepong said while he has not been personally affected by the National Guard presence, he is aware that others have.
“I have had staff tell me that they have had to submit to checkpoints when they come to work and that is frustrating,” said the chef. “I hope this ends soon so we can get back to business and serve our customers.”