A lesson from The Godfather—minus the racism
In the movie, bosses debate whether to chase profits at any cost. One line crosses a moral line and tells you everything about the speaker, not about policy. That’s our mark: draw the line. We judge actions, not people by category, and we focus on what reduces victimization—full stop.
The D.C. question: should troops or Guard be used?
When crime overwhelms local capacity, people float the National Guard or federal surges. It’s not simple. The Posse Comitatus Act limits federal troops in domestic law enforcement. The D.C. National Guard can be activated, but missions must be tightly scoped (perimeter security, traffic control, logistics)—not day-to-day policing. The better answer is a federal–local surge that uses tools we know work.
What a results-first surge looks like
- Hot-spot saturation: Uniform presence where carjackings and robberies cluster; ALPR for stolen vehicles; immediate tow/recover on felony stops.
- Felon-with-gun focus: Joint MPD–ATF–USMS task forces; prioritize prohibited possessors and gun trafficking nodes.
- Repeat-offender tracking: Dedicated teams for those with multiple open cases; tighten pretrial monitoring; swift remand on violations.
- Retail theft & burglary interdiction: Organized retail crime units; mandatory trespass enforcement for chronic actors.
- Prosecutorial alignment: USAO and AG charge standards published; bail recommendations tied to risk, not slogans.
- Night economy transport plan: More lit lots, secure rideshare zones, and cameras where attacks cluster.
Guardrails that matter
- Constitutional policing: Target behaviors (weapons, theft, assaults), not demographics. Bodycams on, consent searches documented.
- Measurable goals: Weekly publishes on carjackings, robberies, gun arrests, case filings, and conviction rates. No spin—just numbers.
- Sunset clause: The surge ends unless clearly renewed on results.
About the politics
You’ll hear the usual—“optics,” “overreach,” “nothing to see here.” Meanwhile, residents and small businesses take the hits. The moral position is simple: protect the innocent first. If a lawful surge cuts violent crime, do it—then scale back responsibly.
Bottom Line
Target criminals, not communities. We’re here for safer streets, not culture war points. Bring the resources, post the metrics, and get results.
Chatrodamus Predicts
#048: When all the troops are called home, D.C. reverts back to the crime-ridden cesspool it was before.
Receipts to watch:
- Carjackings per week (7-day rolling)
- Robbery & gun arrest trends (MPD dashboard)
- Pretrial violations for repeat offenders
- Felon-with-gun prosecutions filed vs. pled down
Counterfactual: If leaders lock in hot-spot saturation, repeat-offender tracking, and prosecutor alignment for 6–12 months, the drop can stick.