ANC2C02 Forum

Watch video clip of Mayor's remarks.

At the March Asbury Dwellings Tenants' Association (ADTA) meeting Friday, March 7, Mayor Fenty addressed a number of residents' concerns, not the least of which was the amount of violent and gang related crime around Asbury Dwellings and in Shaw.

In his remarks, Mayor Fenty stated emphatically, that the type of crime we have been experiencing will not be tolerated and the MPD's objective is to eliminate the problems completely. He seemed confident that — with improved strategies and increased vigilance from district agencies and by putting more MPD officers on the streets — this goal can be achieved. As Sergeant Trinette Greene noted later in the meeting, more MPD officers have recently been working in plain clothes and using unmarked cars to better apprehend criminals. After getting feedback from tenants at the February meeting, Sgt Greene noted that the MPD has increased their presence in and around the Asbury Dwellings to better serve residents.

"The government feels that the level of crime [in Shaw] is unacceptable. ... Even if crime is generally going down, it's still way too high. ...

"We should show you a strong [MPD] visibility and presence in the neighborhood. You should see the police department walking the beat. If you don't see the police department walking the beat, the Mayor and the Police Chief are simply not doing our jobs. Because that's what you deserve. That gives the neighbors a comfort level and makes the criminals want to move elsewhere. ...

"The gang problems that you've seen and the open air drug markets ... those have to be eliminated. It's not enough for the government to know about them, it's not enough for the government to say that we don't like 'em, or that we're trying to do something about it, we have to eliminate them. ...

"The gang problem has to be eliminated ... that's the only response that the community will accept. ...

“We're not going to stop until we eliminate the gang problem. And it's our job to figure out how to do it.”

— Mayor Adrian M Fenty

Myself, Kevin Chapple, Asbury Dwellings' Commissioner Alexander Padro, Mayor Fenty, Earl Storm ADTA President, and Councilmember Jack Evans.

Watch extended video clip of the Asbury meeting. Aside from the Mayor and Councilmember Evans, members of the Asbury Church Board and a representative from Edgewood Management were present to answer questions and give updates on improvements to the building. The announcement that got the biggest applause from most residents was that — by the end of the month — the building will be getting two new sets of automatic double doors to better serve those individuals in wheel chairs.

The owners of Veranda Restaurant and Chatman's D'Vine Bakery came themselves to deliver and serve some of the fine delicacies from their kitchen for the seniors.