Part 3/15:
Longtime observers note that while some statistics suggest a decline when comparing data to 30 years ago, older data from the 1960s paints a far grimmer picture. Crime rates in Washington have historically been high, with anecdotal evidence pointing to a loss of safety in neighborhoods once considered walkable and secure. The recent daylight shooting of Israeli embassy staffers exemplifies how safety has deteriorated; such violent acts on prominent streets would have been unthinkable decades ago. This context underscores skepticism over claims that crime is effectively under control.