Washington DC Council Chair Denies Capital Is Facing a Crime Crisis

Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, delivers remarks during a hearing in the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, on Feb. 1, 2023. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

The chairman of the District of Columbia Council told Congress on March 29 that the city is not in the midst of a crime crisis.

“With regard to crime, yes, there is considerable concern. But while perception is important, the reality is less concerning. Let me be clear: People should feel safe and it is a problem that many residents of the district don’t,” Phil Mendelson, chairman of the Council, testified before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee.