Washington, DC, February 13, 2008- Mayor Adrian Fenty led a group of his top agency officials on 3 walkthroughs in areas experiencing high crime rates in wards 1, 5, and 8.  The walkthroughs were conducted as part of the city’s new Focus Improvement Area (FIA) initiative; a multi-agency collaborative aimed at reducing crime.

Conducted in the Third, Fifth and Seventh Police Districts, the walkthroughs are aimed at determining how to effectively combine agency resources and manpower to address many of the quality of life issues at the underpinning of most of the criminal activities in these areas.

“You can tell that no matter how hard the Chief (Chief Cathy Lanier, MPD) and I work, there is no way we can solve crime in this area without our concerted efforts” said Mayor Fenty as he addressed the crowd of government officials during the 5D walkthrough on Thursday, February 7th, 2008.

Represented on the walkthroughs were the Directors of the key agencies involved in the FIA initiative which included Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department Cathy Lanier, whose agency is spearheading the FIA initiative, and the Directors of the Mayor’s Office of Community Relations (MOCRS), the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA), the Department of Employment Services (DOES), and a host of others. Together they assessed both the infrastructure and human services needs in these target areas.  “The Mayor’s Focused Improvement Area Initiative is taking a bold approach to reducing violent crime and other impediments in our community” stated Sarah Latterner, Director or the Mayor’s Office of Community Relation’s and Services. “We are more likely to have success in addressing multiple issues that lead to criminal behavior by collaborating and working together”.

The first walkthrough was in the 3D Focus Improvement Area on Wednesday January 31, 2008 in the Columbia Heights section of Ward 1. Graffiti was the chief problem identified during the walkthrough.  Since then MOCRS and DPW conducted several graffiti abatements on the 900 block of Westminster Street, NW, the 1400 Block of Girard, and the 2800 Block of 15TH Street, NW.

A week later on Tuesday, February 5th, 2008 the 7D FIA walkthrough was conducted in Ward 8 on the 600 Block of Atlantic Street SE, and the 4000 to 4200 Blocks of 6th Street SE. The team discovered several infrastructure and quality of life issues which the Mayor directed be remedied within a week. On the 4000 Block of Sixth Street, SE, the sidewalks and crossing lights were in need of repair, and on the 4200 block of 6th four neglected vacant buildings were found.  A host of other issues were discovered on the walkthrough and were expected to be corrected by the appropriate agencies.

By the following week all major issues were addressed and DCRA secured the four vacant buildings found on the walkthrough. DDOT repaired the sidewalks and cross lights, and DPW cleaned bulk trash in the rear of several buildings on 6th street.    

The final walkthrough was of the 5D Focus Improvement Area covering North Capitol Street, the 100 block of O Street, and 1st Street, NW.  They discovered two large buildings on the 1400 Block of North Capitol Street, NW and a hole in a vacant lot on the corner of O and 1st Streets, NW.  In a subsequent walkthrough a week later, significant work was done by the agencies to secure the buildings on North Capital Street, and the hole was filled by DCRA.

Pleased with the progress of the FIA walkthroughs, Mayor Adrian Fenty stated “These walkthroughs show the best example of how DC government works cooperatively and collaboratively for the neighbors”.