Tag: city

DC business owner slams city leaders for out-of-control crime: 'Lack courage' to 'be more aggressive'

Business owners and community leaders in one Washington, D.C. neighborhood sounded off about violent crime “terrorizing” residents after a deadly shooting rocked their community last weekend.

“It’s just a continuous tragedy,” ANC (Advisory Neighborhood Commission) chairwoman for Shaw, Rachelle Nigro told The Washington Post. “Residents who have lived in that area have been terrorized for decades with violence… How much can this community take?”

Two people were killed and five people were injured in the deadly shooting in Shaw over the weekend and the suspect has yet to be identified. One business owner blamed city leaders for not being aggressive enough on crime.

“It’s sickening, and I’m tired,” Cedric Maupillier, owner of French bistro Convivial, told The Post. “The only people to blame are the people who run the city.”

LAWMAKERS PASS ‘SECURE DC’ ANTI-CRIME BILL AFTER BUSINESS GROUPS WARN OF ‘ALARMING’ TREND OF VIOLENCE

Maupillier said he is struggling to keep his business open because of violence in the neighborhood. Shootings in the area have driven customers away and prompted two of his employees to quit.

He blamed DC officials for not taking a tougher stance on crime.

“They lack courage to change and be more aggressive toward the people that create crimes,” he told The Post. “Police can’t do anything. We don’t do anything about petty crime anymore.”

Business leaders wrote a letter to Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser earlier this month warning about an “alarming increase in violent crime across our city.” Days later, lawmakers in the district passed a sweeping anti-crime bill intended to crack down on violent crime and theft.

MAYORS OF DC, OAKLAND CLAIM COMEBACK AMID PUBLIC BACKLASH FROM CRIME SURGE

The Secure DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2024 — which includes more than 100 proposals to fight crime, including ramping up gun violence penalties and adding punishments for organized retail theft, according to FOX 5 DC — was passed by the D.C. Council in a 12-1 vote on March 5.  

Mayor Bowser signed the crime bill into law on March 11.

Maupillier was skeptical the law would help bring down crime. “I don’t believe in politics. I want people to actually do the job they say they’re going to do,” he told The Post.

Sheena Berry, an advisory neighborhood commissioner in Shaw, also feared the new anti-crime bill would bring a “false illusion to safety,” saying that the problems with crime wouldn’t be solved with “one bill.”

Mayor Bowser defended the city’s reputation in a recent interview with Axios. Crime has been trending downward in DC this year, she said, citing a 17-percent drop in violent crime and 12-percent drop in overall crime according to police data.

Fox News’ Jeffrey Clark contributed to this report.

Riots caused 'generational damage' to police discourse, but union president sees improvement in this city

Three years after the City of Roses gained international notoriety for its anti-law enforcement protests, the head of Portland’s police union says attitudes toward public safety are finally improving. “There were decisions that were made that led to public safety crumbling in Portland. It takes time to fix that. It’s not overnight,” Portland Police Association … Continue reading Riots caused 'generational damage' to police discourse, but union president sees improvement in this city

'Our country needs help': Americans in nation's biggest blue city grade President Biden's performance

Americans in the Big Apple offered lackluster grades for President Biden’s performance as he campaigns for re-election, with many citing the economy as a primary concern.

“Our country needs help,” Verdena from Nebraska told Fox News, awarding the president a failing grade. “And he’s not working for our country.”

DEMS DISMISS ‘WORTHLESS’ CALLS TO PROBE BIDEN-UKRAINE RUMORS BUT ARGUE TRUMP INDICTMENT IS NOT POLITICAL

“The economy could be a little bit better,” Susan from New York said, citing high inflation. “But there are other things I do agree with. So it’s kind of like passable but not exceptional.” She gave the president a C.

A Quinnipiac University poll published Wednesday showed Biden with a 42% approval rating. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a Democrat challenging the president’s re-election bid, had a 31% approval, but 43% said they weren’t familiar enough with him.

Among Biden’s potential Republican challengers in the 2024 race, former President Trump’s approval was 37% and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ was 33%. The remainder were at 25% or below.

“I think he’s done a really good job of handling the Russia-Ukraine situation,” said Matt, giving the president a B-plus. “But domestically, there’s been some issues socially and economically that I haven’t been too happy with.”

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Richard from Nebraska was less forgiving of economic issues, giving Biden a flat F grade.

Biden has just 33% approval when it comes to economic issues, according to a poll released last month by the Associated Press and the National Opinion Research Center (AP-NORC) at the University of Chicago. Americans polled also doubted the president’s ability to handle gun policies and immigration, at 31% for both issues.

“He has screwed up our fuel prices,” Richard said. “He’s screwed up the environment, the territory, the border. He’s not doing his job. He’s too old.”

Former White House physician and current Texas GOP Rep. Ronny Jackson raised flags over Biden’s health earlier this month on Fox News Channel’s ‘Hannity.’ Jackson said the president is “not fit mentally or physically” after he fell on stage during a commencement ceremony at the U.S. Air Force Academy.

To hear more of Americans’ thoughts on Biden’s performance, click here.

Drag queen book event in New York City now has competition: Libs of TikTok creator will host one for families

Libs of TikTok creator Chaya Raichik has decided to host an alternative book event to one that’s reportedly occurring this weekend in New York City.

Writing on Twitter, Raichik shared with followers, “NY AG Letitia James is hosting a drag story hour for kids this Sunday.”

So, added Raichik, “I decided to host my own story hour down the street from hers! Protect your kids and come hear an important message at an event that’s actually family friendly.“

‘LIBS OF TIKTOK’ CREATOR CHAYA RAICHIK NOW HELPING FAMILIES TO ‘SPOT PREDATORY BEHAVIOR’

She included a snapshot of a poster from the Letitia James event.

That notice announces in part, “Families with children are invited to join Attorney General James, drag storytellers, and city and state elected leaders.”

The event, according to the notice, is being held on Sunday, March 19, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Eleven local legislators’ names are listed on the document.

Here is what Raichik shared on Twitter on Wednesday evening with her followers.

Chaya Raichik will be holding her alternative book event on Sunday as well. 

Together with Trent Talbot, CEO of Brave Books, which publishes books for children, she’s holding a story hour for families and children also in New York City during the same time period as the drag queen story event.

In her tweet, she includes a poster of herself saying, “NYC is hosting drag story hour … but why don’t you come to a REAL story hour.”

Raichik also wrote on Twitter earlier, “Our tax dollars are being used by government officials to fund and promote the sexualization of our children.”

As Fox News Digital reported on Tuesday, March 14, James recently announced she and other state elected officials will be hosting a drag event geared toward families.

On her Instagram page, James shared a flier for the event, titled “Drag Story Hour NYC with New York State Attorney General Letitia James.” 

The flier indicated that the politician would like children to attend the event. 

In the caption for the Instagram post, James declared, “My office is proud to host a Drag Story Hour read-a-thon on Sunday.” 

The ad also featured several groups that are co-sponsoring the event put on by drag group “Drag Story Hour NYC” and the lawmaker. 

Among them are The Pride Center of Staten Island, Queens Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library and Destination Tomorrow, a grassroots LGBTQ organization in the Bronx.

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Raichik, who founded the anti-woke social media account Libs of TikTok, is publishing her first children’s book this month.

“I wanted to [take] the next step, which is to give parents and children a tool that they can use to actually be able to spot predatory behavior,” she said in a statement shared earlier with Fox News Digital.

Raichik’s illustrated children’s book, “No More Secrets: The Candy Cavern,” tells the story of Rose, a second-grade lamb.

Raichik has spent the past few years tweeting TikTok videos of liberals talking about gender identity and other cultural issues. She has nearly two million followers on the platform.

Gabriel Hays of Fox News Digital contributed reporting.