The Georgetown Metropolitan

Photo by Ulises Juarez Polanco.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Well we won’t be having a Georgetown mayor, but at least we’ll still have a Georgetown Ward 2 councilmember for the foreseeable future?
• Mmmm, homemade peeps at Pinstripes.

1600 block of 31st St.

Last night, the ANC met for its April session. Unfortunately, as has been the case for a while, GM could only attend the first half of the meeting. Nonetheless, that’s often where the juicier topics are discussed. So here’s what GM caught:

Crime Wave

As anyone who receives MPD email alerts could tell you, there’s seems to be a startling increase in robberies in Georgetown this year. Lieutenant Hedgecock of PSA 206 discussed the perceived spike in his monthly update at the beginning of the meeting.

He stated that there have been eight robberies reported in Georgetown so far this year. However, one of those reported robberies actually turned out to be fraudulently filed by an individual who apparently had money issues and wanted to file a false claim with the insurance company.

Nonetheless, seven seems like a lot for just three months right? Well not necessarily. GM used to track and report periodic crime totals, but stopped once he started to lose confidence in the reported stats. (It didn’t seem like conscious juking of the stats, but it was clear that some categories of crime were simply not captured in the public reports). But comparing this latest trend with the historic numbers he has, it doesn’t seem so unusual.

In the first half of 2010, there were 27 robberies. Or 4 1/2 a month. In 2011 it dropped to 18, or 3 a month. In the first half of 2012, it was 16, or 2 2/3. Last year it was 11, or 1 5/6. Seven robberies over three months is a rate of 2 1/3 a month. So while the frequency is higher than last year at this time, it’s in line with prior years, albeit against a clear trend-line.

The descriptions of the muggings have been alarming in that four of them have involved guns, and at least one involved a physical assault. And it is certainly the case that it is awful for the victim when this happens. But let’s keep things in perspective. MPD has done a fabulous job reducing the incidences of robbery in Georgetown over the last several years, and this flare up is all the more noticeable because of MPD’s success in recent years.

Either way, Lt. Hedgecock indicated that his team is taking the matter seriously, and is directing more resources to the problem (specifically he indicated that there appears to be a concentration of the incidents in the East Village, which implies that that is where they will focus their enforcement efforts). Continue reading →

Photo by Sofia DeBustamente.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Ricin-making Georgetown student forced to remain in jail for now.
• Sprinkles still thinks that they’re going to install a cupcake ATM, and GM still thinks they won’t be allowed to install something so stupid and unnecessary.

Dumbarton Oaks Park

One of the last remaining vestiges of an earlier, weirder, Georgetown recently just closed: the Pleasure Place.

The sex shop has long seemed out of place among its straight-laced neighbors, but that was not always the case. There was a time when Georgetown was a lot more rowdy and playful. A time when the neighborhood was known more for its head-shops than its expensive fashion. Continue reading →

Photo by Mike Silva.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• What $8 million will buy you on the waterfront.
• Speaking of real estate, the Heiner Contemporary building is for sale.

Montrose Park

Photo by Jacquesofalltrades.

Good morning Georgetown, here’s the latest:

• Once again Sprinkles is claiming that they’re going to open a cupcake ATM. Once again PR people are getting out ahead of historic preservation review (or just lying).
• What you get for “free” at fancy hotels, including the Four Seasons and Capella.