Part 8/10:
Commentator Alex Stein offered a different take, linking the prevalence of crime to Washington DC’s socioeconomic landscape. He pointed out that the city lacks a robust middle class, being characterized by a stark divide between the wealthy and the homeless. Stein argued that this ecosystem fosters drug use and criminal activity, with offenders coming from nearby regions like Baltimore, Virginia, and West Virginia, targeting the city’s numerous attractions and affluent residents.
According to Stein, the scale and complexity of DC’s social fabric make crime difficult to eradicate entirely. Nonetheless, he emphasized that current conditions are dangerously volatile, and restoring safety should be a priority, even if the solutions are challenging.