Norton Reports National Mall Crime-Free Reputation Restored (09/10/2010)

Norton Reports National Mall Crime-Free Reputation Restored

WASHINGTON, DC -- Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today released a thumbnail report on her recent walk on the National Mall to assure public safety. The Congresswoman has walked the Mall every summer since 2006, when six muggings in a matter of weeks threatened the Mall's reputation as a safe-haven, even during periods when crime spiked in the District. While Norton found numerous problems in past years, this year she reports that, with a few exceptions, lighting, police presence, and general condition were good. A Smithsonian security officer told Norton that the U.S. Park Police come by every half-hour and that there have been no reports of crime on the Mall this year.

"The Mall quickly became crime-free after the crime spike in 2006," Norton said. "The capture of suspects within weeks and their convictions soon after gave some reassurance that criminals got the message that the Mall was not an easy target. Now, after four years without crime, the Mall has reclaimed its crime-free reputation." In the years after the half dozen muggings in 2006, however, Norton continued to find problems, such as dirty or burned out lights and tree limbs that obstructed the lighting, but they appeared to have been eliminated. Norton also heard reports of visits by residents and tourists who are on the Mall at all hours of the night, an indication that confidence has been restored and that the Mall seems once again to be hands-off for criminals.

Below is Norton's report.

Observations on the National Mall

August 31, 2010

Surveillance from 3^rd Street, NW between Madison and Jefferson, and down the Mall to the Monument at 15^th Street, NW, between Madison and Jefferson:

•· -- As of 7:40 p.m., the lights were on between 4^th and 7^th Street, NW on the inner field, but off most other places.

-- By 7:55 p.m., the lights were on on both the inner fields and street sides.

•· -- Trees did not appear to obstruct the brightness from the lights.

•· -- Lights were clean and bright.

•· -- The merry-go-round was lit up at night, a good deterrent to muggings.

•· -- Though the Sculpture Garden was dark, there were portable chains at the stairs and it is regularly monitored security or police.

•· -- According to a Smithsonian Security Officer, Office of Protective Service:

•o The U.S. Park Police monitors the area approximately every 30 minutes, primarily in vehicles or on foot. They're rarely riding bikes.

•o The Mall is used throughout the year, 24 hours a day, and people are regularly seen walking and running at all hours of the night and morning.

•o No signs of criminal activity or loitering this year.

Follow-up Issues:

•·Three lights in front of the National Museum of American History on Madison Street, NW, were out, but there was a construction area nearby so we were not sure if the electricity was intentionally cut off due to the construction.