Mayor Takes Aim at City's Spike in Crime

D.C. Mayor Anthony A. Williams moved yesterday to combat a wave of serious crime in the District, unveiling emergency legislation that would allow installation of surveillance cameras for the first time in residential neighborhoods, provide an extra $8 million for police overtime and give the mayor authority to adjust the city's youth curfew.

In a letter to council Chairman Linda W. Cropp, Williams (D) asked the council to return from summer recess for a rare special session to approve the package, which is aimed at curtailing what he called a "sharp increase in criminal activity" that includes 15 murders since July 1. Last week, Police Chief Charles H. Ramsey declared a crime emergency, but Williams said police "cannot do this job alone."

"Our immediate goal is to reduce violent crime by 50 percent over the next 30 days, and coordination of efforts will be critical to achieving this goal," Williams wrote. "It is with this sense of cooperation and partnership that I ask you and the rest of the Council to demonstrate a united front by convening a special session to pass critical emergency legislation."

Cropp (D) quickly complied with the mayor's request, scheduling a special session for tomorrow morning. If nine of the council's 13 members approve the legislation, it could take effect within days.

But it was unclear yesterday whether Williams has the votes. Some items in the package are contentious and have been rejected by the council as recently as this spring.

For example, the council has twice rejected a proposal to alert police when serious juvenile offenders are released from custody, a measure Williams is attempting to revive. And the council declined to act this spring on his request to expand the use of surveillance cameras beyond downtown and the Mall.

Mayoral spokeswoman Sharon Gang said Williams hopes council members will be more receptive now that the city is in the midst of a crime wave that includes an 11 percent increase in robberies in the past 30 days and an 82 percent increase in arrests of juveniles for robbery in the first six months of this year. With more than half the council running for reelection or higher office, even some of the mayor's most vocal critics reacted yesterday with reserve.

"I don't know if the council would vote for something it has already rejected," said Council member Kathy Patterson (D-Ward 3), a frequent skeptic of the mayor's crime measures who is running for Council chairman. But Patterson said she would be willing to listen when the mayor briefs the council today. "I don't want to prejudge," she said.

Civil rights advocates, meanwhile, said they were appalled by the mayor's crime-fighting plan, calling it a misguided encroachment on the rights of city youths.

"The whole thing is an outrage," said Arthur Spitzer, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of the National Capital Area, who plans to ask the council to delay voting until a public hearing can be held. "There's no reason to believe that changing the curfew hour or using more cameras is going to do anything to address the current surge of crime," he said. "It's simply a feel-good, political gesture."

The mayor's proposal, developed last week in consultation with Ramsey and other officials, offers a wide-ranging, six-part strategy for combating crime that includes extra cash for police and prevention programs, as well as new measures aimed at catching and punishing criminals.

Under the proposal, Williams would be granted authority to modify the city's youth curfew, which is midnight during the summer months, after "a public safety necessity determination and appropriate public notification." Administration officials have discussed setting the curfew as early as 10 p.m.

It also would authorize expanded use of closed-circuit television cameras to suppress criminal activity and identify criminals. Some council members have objected to the idea, saying cameras in residential neighborhoods would invade people's privacy.

Ramsey said the cameras would be installed only in areas with concentrated crime. "You wouldn't be able to wire the entire city," he said. "It would be very limited."

The legislation also would expand the circumstances under which a judge may deny bail to armed robbers to include suspects accused of using weapons other than firearms.

Cropp, who is running for mayor, predicted that the council would easily approve some parts of the legislation and struggle with others.

"The surveillance cameras and the curfew seem to be something we should be able to do easily," she said. "We certainly need to do something."

Staff writer Allison Klein contributed to this report.