In recent years, the nation's capital has been grappling with a surge in crime. In 2021, it reached a nearly two-decade high with 226 homicides, and while the numbers dropped in 2022, they still exceeded 200 murders.
Acting D.C. police chief Pamela Smith announced the city's 200th murder for the year after a teenager was shot and killed in a tragic incident, putting the city on track for one of its worst annual body counts since the 1990s.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, major cities experienced significant population declines, including Washington, D.C., which saw 26,210 residents leaving between April 2020 and July 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Some attribute this mass exodus to remote work policies, but for one resident, Reusser, it was driven by rising crime, high living costs, and strict COVID-19 restrictions. In May 2022, she made the decision to leave D.C. and move to Charlotte, N.C.
Reusser explained, "Since COVID, D.C. has just become a very dark place. It just felt like there weren't any redeeming qualities of the city for me."
While overall crime decreased between 2021 and 2022, certain offenses remained higher than pre-pandemic levels.
In 2023, violent crime is on the rise again, with a nearly 40% increase year-over-year, along with a surge in property crime, including a 106% increase in motor vehicle thefts and a 65% increase in robberies. Some attribute this to lenient laws and a lack of consequences for criminals.
Amid the crime surge, federal prosecutors in D.C. declined to prosecute 67% of people arrested last fiscal year in cases that would typically be tried in D.C. Superior Court. This number has nearly doubled since 2015.
Although some individuals are charged in federal court, Reusser and others believe the city should take a more aggressive stance against crime.
Reusser's experience in D.C. led her to reevaluate her political beliefs, leaning more towards Republican ideologies. She noted that living under liberal policies made her reaffirm her beliefs.
In response to the crime surge, Congress overturned a D.C. criminal code in March, criticized for being soft on crime. The city council also passed an emergency public safety bill in July, increasing penalties for certain offenses and allowing judges to keep violent crime suspects in custody before trial.
Reusser also cited the expensive rent in D.C. as a factor in her decision to move. The soaring crime rates made the high living costs unappealing.
Currently, the median rent in D.C. stands at $1,899 for October 2023, over $400 higher than Charlotte's median rent at $1,494, according to Apartment List. D.C.'s median rent cost is nearly 40% higher than the national average.
Since moving to Charlotte, Reusser has found happiness and a sense of safety, along with better value for her money. She looks forward to a more stable and fulfilling life in North Carolina.
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