You are here: Los Angeles Local

California News

Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence

CommentsComment on this article
Jun 4, 2008 12:00 AM (86 days ago) by Michael Neibauer and Bill Myers, The Examiner
» 86 days ago: Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence «
This story ranks # 1,887 of 4,907
Related Topics: WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON (Map, News) - D.C. police will seal off entire neighborhoods, set up checkpoints and kick out strangers under a new program that D.C. officials hope will help them rescue the city from its out-of-control violence.

Under an executive order expected to be announced today, police Chief Cathy L. Lanier will have the authority to designate “Neighborhood Safety Zones.” At least six officers will man cordons around those zones and demand identification from people coming in and out of them. Anyone who doesn’t live there, work there or have “legitimate reason” to be there will be sent away or face arrest, documents obtained by The Examiner show.

Lanier has been struggling to reverse D.C.’s spiraling crime rate but has been forced by public outcry to scale back several initiatives including her “All Hands on Deck” weekends and plans for warrantless, door-to-door searches for drugs and guns.

Under today’s proposal, the no-go zones will last up to 10 days, according to internal police documents. Front-line officers are already being signed up for training on running the blue curtains.

This story continues below
Advertisement

Peter Nickles, the city’s interim attorney general, said the quarantine would have “a narrow focus.”

“This is a very targeted program that has been used in other cities,” Nickles told The Examiner. “I’m not worried about the constitutionality of it.”

Others are. Kristopher Baumann, chairman of the D.C. police union and a former lawyer, called the checkpoint proposal “breathtaking.”

Shelley Broderick, president of the D.C.-area American Civil Liberties Union and the dean of the University of the District of Columbia’s law school, said the plan was “cockamamie.”

“I think they tried this in Russia and it failed,” she said. “It’s just our experience in this city that we always end up targeting poor people and people of color, and we treat the kids coming home from choir practice the same as we treat those kids who are selling drugs.”

The proposal has the provisional support of D.C. Councilman Harry “Tommy” Thomas, D-Ward 5, whose ward has become a war zone.

“They’re really going to crack down on what we believe to be a systemic problem with open-air drug markets,” Thomas told The Examiner.

Thomas said, though, that he worried about D.C. “moving towards a police state.”

Staff Writer Scott McCabe contributed to this report.

» 86 days ago: Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence «

Add a Comment


Name: (required)
Comments:
characters left
Comments are regulated by the Terms of Use.

Comments from Examiner Readers

8:47 PM MST on Tue., Aug. 5, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 Examiner Reader said:
Isn't this what you people want? Complete government control over everything?

1 agree | 0 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

9:14 PM MST on Thu., Jul. 24, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 Examiner Reader said:
I dont like it at all It sucks and I think the idea that all those punks are getting m16 in chicago stinks too one million of them including Alpalations with maches What the hell do we look like stupid? The one doing the training are all on drugs.

 Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
5:02 PM MST on Wed., Jun. 11, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 Examiner Reader said:
The war on drugs is a joke, drugs should be made legal and then taxed, its mostly pot smokers there throwing in prisons anyway and the prisons are getting overpopulated. The only reason the governments keep going after the drugs is for the seizures of money and property.

 10 agree | 5 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
7:59 AM MST on Wed., Jun. 11, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 Examiner Reader said:
END THE "WAR ON DRUGS" If we do, our country will be safer, richer, healthier, and less tyranical. If we don't...well...walk into these neighborhoods yourself and see what is happening. The "War on Drugs" is unconsitutional anyway. The founders of our government never gave it the power to regulate intrastate commerce. That lack sends the matter to the ninth and tenth amendments. If someone can explain to me how regulating intrastate commerce is necessary and proper to carry out the federal government's mandatory duties, I would like to be so educated.

 8 agree | 6 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
11:26 PM MST on Tue., Jun. 10, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 Examiner Reader said:
11:41- Are you totally ignorant? Who do you think runs D.C.? The Democrat Party is in charge of that city just like New York, New Jersy and New Orleans and the first answer of business for the left is to take away the ability for the citizens to protect them selves and the restrict freedom of movement by decree or economic persuasion. Do you idiots really believe that if you tell the same lie over and over it becomes the truth?

 13 agree | 10 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
11:41 AM MST on Tue., Jun. 10, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 Examiner Reader said:
i'm not sure why people think the left is behind this, but nothing could be further from the truth. if you'd bothered to read the article, you'd see that the ACLU has spoken out against this- in fact liberals in general tend to STRONGLY OPPOSE things like police states. also, the "elite" in this country are neo-conservative nutjobs, who enact laws which make abominations like this LEGAL.

 8 agree | 8 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
11:31 AM MST on Tue., Jun. 10, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 Examiner Reader said:
this is pretty much the definition of a police state. after all these years, they *still* haven't figured out that waging war on their fellow countrymen isn't as productive as focusing on prevention or rehabilitation...

 6 agree | 4 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
7:40 AM MST on Tue., Jun. 10, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 Examiner Reader said:
Welcome to Warsaw, this is your ghetto, papers please

 10 agree | 5 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
12:24 AM MST on Tue., Jun. 10, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 peyon said:
I'm from DC, black and I have mixed feelings about this. You may think to yourselves "gee, the cops will scare of the bad guys. But I know of one cop who's a dirty guy who shakes up the crackheads and takes their goods. I'm sure there are others like him. I worry about where this is going. Two rival power groups exerting its dominance over territory. "DC officials hope will help rescue the city from its out-of-control violence. Violence caused largely by the drug war initiated by legislators and the police themselves." Well, I just hope this isn't going to be as painful as it sounds, and that something positive comes out from this. I guess the sooner the thugs move on, the sooner the cops will too. In a war between elephants, it is the grass that suffer.

 8 agree | 5 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
11:31 PM MST on Mon., Jun. 9, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 Examiner Reader said:
It never fails to amaze me how you lefties see nothing wrong with violating rights when it fits your world view. Stalin would be proud.

 9 agree | 8 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
1:52 PM MST on Mon., Jun. 9, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 Examiner Reader said:
This has been VERY effective in other cities, like WARSAW. “This is a very targeted program that has been used in other cities,” Nickles told The Examiner. “I’m not worried about the constitutionality of it.”

 5 agree | 5 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
8:30 AM MST on Mon., Jun. 9, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 Examiner Reader said:
I live in an urban area and have almost constant problems with crime and vandalism. If our local police did this, I'd be in jail for certain as I would refuse to show ID to enter my own neighborhood. If they have the manpower for the roadblocks, then they have the manpower to get the police on the streets walking the neighborhood and catching the criminals. If the criminals are not caught, they will go about their business as usual, maybe they'll do it a few blocks away instead. This plan infringes on the privacy of residents (who have no choice but submit if they want to go home) and does nothing to catch criminals. Shame on the DC police. Get out on the sidewalk. Turn off the AC and open the windows on your car, you might hear or see what's going on! 'Walking the beat' is a time proven crime-stopper. It's not necessary to re-invent the wheel, just get out there and WALK on the sidewalks!

 18 agree | 5 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
11:35 PM MST on Sun., Jun. 8, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 Examiner Reader said:
This tactic was employed in my city for a brief period several years ago. The residents of the neighborhoods welcomed it and it was effective in reducing crime and improving safety in the neighborhoods. What some of you "geniuses" fail to grasp is that these people are ALREADY prisoners in their homes because the drug and gang activity is so bad. If they need to shop or run errands they need to get them done 1st thing in the morning while the thugs are still in bed and get home ASAP, otherwise they come home to a cleaned out house. And they dare not even think about going out between dusk and dawn. Yes, it's really that bad. It's very easy to sit on your butt in suburbia with lawn service, an SUV and freakin' RAM truck in the garage and preach about how the government shouldn't infringe on "poor peoples" rights by enforcing the law. If you don't know what you're talking about you should shut the hell up. Many of you are more ignorant than those whom you criticize.

 7 agree | 15 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
5:23 PM MST on Sun., Jun. 8, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 Examiner Reader said:
Read Dial 911 and Die! JPFO.Org book store. Supreme court must give the good decent citizens of DC their 2nd Amendment rights so that they can protect themselves. Our government representatives from all branches of government, and criminals can protect themselves;law abiding citizens cannot; and, it will be the law abiding citizens that will be ID checked; and not our representatives, and not the criminals. BG

 12 agree | 7 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
4:17 PM MST on Sun., Jun. 8, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 Examiner Reader said:
The police state is beginning. REAL ID will be implemented in 2011 according to Homeland Security Director, Michael Chertoff. The control grid is tightening. You will be prisoners in your own neighborhoods. They will come for firearms next. Hide your firearms and ammo. Beware the collapse of the financial markets, The government will offer a solution of government controlled credits to replace paper money.

 10 agree | 7 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
1:22 AM MST on Sun., Jun. 8, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 Examiner Reader said:
Guess the borders are convenient when necessary, so are country thought and now look what we have become. COMMERCIAL !

 6 agree | 5 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
11:31 AM MST on Sat., Jun. 7, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 Examiner Reader said:
reading the comments on this page is what's truly frightening. It seems that the majority of the folks here just want to continue going on and on about how THEIR group, party, team is the true answer and all others are devil worshipers or some other non sense. This country is going to go down in flames while everyone bickers endlessly over crap.

 8 agree | 9 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
7:26 AM MST on Sat., Jun. 7, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 Examiner Reader said:
Hmmm...sounds like the actions of Stalin's NKVD or Hitler's secret police. Welcome to the American Soviet Socialist system.

 8 agree | 6 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
5:56 AM MST on Sat., Jun. 7, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 Examiner Reader said:
Frightening. And so the Police State starts right in our Capitol which isn't even a State. Be afraid people, be very afraid and then have Faith and Courage.

 8 agree | 5 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
4:06 AM MST on Sat., Jun. 7, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 JESUS CHRIST said:
"I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." ...and he'll be back momentarily so we (myself included)need to focus on getting our souls right with the lord god all mighty.The U.S. is through (see:Joan Veon,Caroll Quigly,16th amend.,NSPD 51,AGENDA 21!,etc) PEEP GAME: Don't be fooled(Sean and like minded). This is not about rebulicrats,demlicans, or even mine furor G.W. Bush.There is a global agenda that is subtly being pushed forward by Satan himself(Not a euphemism or hyperbole)through the most "elite" 10% of the top 1% of the planet's population. Furthermore, D.C. is not even subject to the laws of the U.S.It is completely soveriegn.This explains why its "citizens" are subject to taxation w/o representation, cannot bear arms,etc.It is owned by the vatican by way of the Queen of England. Don't beleive me?Check out D.C.'s flag.The three sars are representative of the fact that their are only two other places like this on the planet(London and

 7 agree | 7 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
1:34 AM MST on Sat., Jun. 7, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 Sean said:
Dear Examiner Reader The fact that you are "only 15" says a lot. Hopefully in 10 years you will understand that this is a case of "giving a man a fish" versus "teaching a man to fish." The Dems want to GIVE people their daily bread. Conservatives want to teach people to provide for themselves and learn how to fish. It really is as simple as that. I hope you are one of those people who believe that it's best that people learn to fish for themselves instead of gov't providing just enough fish to live on without becoming self-sustaining. Democrats want you to become beholden to them and in their debt. Conservatives want you to provide for yourself so that you aren't sucking at the gov't teat. I hope you choose wisely.

 12 agree | 10 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
11:35 PM MST on Fri., Jun. 6, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 Examiner Reader said:
What the country really needs is people to stop arguing over which political party is correct and elect some people who are half sane. I can't stand people who vote purely based on political party affiliation. We at least need people who are intelligent enough to know that turning the nation's capitol into Nazi Germany is a bad idea... I am only 15 and I can see this why can't the general public.

 9 agree | 8 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
11:22 PM MST on Fri., Jun. 6, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 Examiner Reader said:
DC's a perfect "rat cage under the microscope" example of professor John Lott's research and book, More Guns, Less Crime. Obviously, though, as it wouldn't be politically-correct to allow so many guns to be owned by "commoners" in an area with so many elitists traipsing about, the carnage will go on. By the way, Supreme Court ruling Deshaney v. Winnebago County ruled that the police are under no obligation to protect individuals, except where they have a "special relationship" with a specific individual. Indeed, chalk is a tool well known to police.

 5 agree | 6 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
8:54 AM MST on Fri., Jun. 6, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 Examiner Reader said:
This is an exercise to see if they can get away with martial law. Reminds me of that movie Escape from New York. You would be a fool to think they actually care about deterring drug sales and gun violence in poor black neighborhoods. That is exactly what they want. This is just to ensure it does not spill into the rich white areas. The no visitors is to keep their kids from going to the "ghetto" to buy drugs. I guess your only allowed to sell drugs if your a large drug company that contributes boat loads of cash to both parties or if you are the CIA. Hey if the drug dealers just started lobbying the house and giving them money they would be strait!

 11 agree | 6 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
3:15 AM MST on Fri., Jun. 6, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 CWW Scottsdale said:
I hope they implement this program on the west side of Phoenix where drug cartels -- who are now in the ppl smuggling business along with the meth -- drop off 3.000 ppl a day into drop houses all without a single background check. 5 out of the last 7 officers murdered in the phoenix metro were killed by people in the country illegally...

 10 agree | 7 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
12:24 AM MST on Fri., Jun. 6, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 1776jedi said:
"Where is the god all might ACLU on this clear violation of the right to travel from place to place. What is next an internal passport. Will I need a visa to go from state to state now? Or even block to block if I live in DC. Thank God I live in the FREE state of Wyoming" Heard of real ID yet? That will be your internal passport and yes you'll need it to move anywhere you go. To the point though, have the police goons in DC tried a simple non-invasive tactic called "patrolling the streets" yet? If these neighborhoods are so damn bad why don't they, I don't know, just kind of have cops walking around in pairs, not searching folks,asking for papers, or running check points, just walking around keeping an eye out? Call me crazy but this seems to be how police deter crime elsewhere. Oh, and uphold the citizens inalienable right to keep and bear arms goes a long way towards deterring crime too.

 21 agree | 6 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
8:14 PM MST on Thu., Jun. 5, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 One Man said:
"Papers please." Huh, where have I heard that before?

 11 agree | 6 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
7:24 PM MST on Thu., Jun. 5, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 Examiner Reader said:
Don't you understand? Only the great leftist elites know what is good for you. Now you just sit down and do what you are told to due by a bunch tyrannical buffoons. If you want more of what is good for you vote Democrat!

 16 agree | 10 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
4:49 PM MST on Thu., Jun. 5, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 Richard said:
This is poor reactive planning. It has not been a secret that school was going to be out for the summer and the economy is bad. That means crime is increasing. Instead of finding ways to keep kids occupied before this occurred, the city is setting up our very own Baghdad Green Zone and hoping that kids will shoot each other up in some other neighborhood.

 12 agree | 5 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
4:33 PM MST on Thu., Jun. 5, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 Examiner Reader said:
Even if they do confiscate guns, people will still own guns "illegally" and no one will be able to protect themselves and there will be more crimes. POLICE STATE

 14 agree | 6 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
1:43 PM MST on Thu., Jun. 5, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 Examiner Reader said:
where guns are outlawed only outlaws will have guns

 32 agree | 5 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
1:38 PM MST on Thu., Jun. 5, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 Brolin_1911a1 said:
Mongbat wrote: "If the Supremes rule correctly, this little town will be a wonderful test case for the "More guns, less crime" theory. When crime bottoms out (although I would guess the DC police would start reporting more crimes to compensate), perhaps the naysayers will recognize what the rest of the country already knows: guns in the hands of responsible citizens is the first and most important step in keeping the peace." The truth is that D.C. is already a perfect example of the truth of that adage. D.C. bans legal ownership of handguns and requires that any other guns be kept non-functional. Just across the river is Arlington, VA where guns are readily available and plentiful. Which has more crime? Which has less?

 19 agree | 8 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
1:15 PM MST on Thu., Jun. 5, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 Examiner Reader #69 said:
Allow law-abiding citizens their God-given right to self-preservation and liberty, by allowing them to freely choose how they will defend themselves, their property, and their families. Examiner Reader - The ACLU doesn't believe in God. Carry on.

 11 agree | 5 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
12:08 PM MST on Thu., Jun. 5, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 Examiner Reader said:
Where is the god all might ACLU on this clear violation of the right to travel from place to place. What is next an internal passport. Will I need a visa to go from state to state now? Or even block to block if I live in DC. Thank God I live in the FREE state of Wyoming

 10 agree | 5 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
12:00 PM MST on Thu., Jun. 5, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 Harry Schell said:
So the law-abiding are still not trustworthy enough to defend themselves? This "police state" tactic is a desperation play by the DC government to keep its subjects under control. The police can't control the criminals, and while Trinidad might cool off while this tactic is employed, what will happen elsewhere in the city? And after the shock troops have left? The basic failure is to address the issues of bad people, and a defenseless citizenry. Mayor Fenty only trusts cops and criminals with guns, in effect. Forget what he says, this is the actual result of the DC gun ban. It is a racist and economically discriminatory policy in result, since the wealthy can pay for armed security or get permits as they are connected and useful to keep Fenty and other pols in their jobs, supping at the taxpayer trough. What is the next step? Forced relocations?

 12 agree | 6 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
11:32 AM MST on Thu., Jun. 5, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 Examiner Reader said:
Community= with unity.I am sure the police can learn about "community minded" from you and your kind by example Wilhelpme.

 6 agree | 5 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
11:17 AM MST on Thu., Jun. 5, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 Brian said:
What else do you expect from a police commissioner who opposes the Second Amendment. Next thing you know, she's going to need a special elite group of policemen/women to help achieve her objectives. Maybe they'll call it the SS. I wonder if the same people who cried injustice over Federal wiretapping will do the same for search and seizure without a warrant.

 8 agree | 6 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
11:04 AM MST on Thu., Jun. 5, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 teamsiems said:
This sounds too much like Escape from LA, Aeon Flux, Matrix, or any of a dozen sci-fi, post-apocalyptic films: seperate the chaff from the wheat and leave them to their own devices while the pure race continues to grow and prosper and become more pure. So what's next? If we don't like someone we dump them in the "dark zone." A human garbage dump so to speak.

 8 agree | 10 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
10:56 AM MST on Thu., Jun. 5, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 adam said:
I know nothing about DC local politics. I've visited the place once. I don't care if it's Washington DC or Puyallup, Washington, having checkpoints to get into a neighborhood is anti-American. It's a slippery slope. This type of thing becomes commonplace first in urban drug-problem areas, because most people don't give a crap about poor people so it gets ignored, and then it trickles out to college campuses, where the safety of the cute coeds is paramount. That gets it maintstream and those college kids grow up, get into government, and decide it's a good way to manage every neighborhood. Pretty soon, you can't get into Wrigleyville in Chicago without a Cubs ticket or an address on Halsted. From there, it's not too long before you get used to the phrase "papers, please" everywhere you go. And my comment about Bush was to illustrate the point that 10-20 years ago, it would have been abhorrent to the vast majority of Americans to openly torture our enemies, but not anymore.

 9 agree | 7 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
10:45 AM MST on Thu., Jun. 5, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 Sean said:
Adam, how many Democrats are in the U.S. House and Senate? That's not exactly "one party rule" as you put it. How many Republicans are on the D.C. city council? How many Republicans have there been on the city council in the past 40 years? Probably fewer than you count on both hands. That is one party rule no matter you look at it. Didn't we have a Democrat in the White House a few years ago? No one party rule there! How many Democrats voted for the war? Quite a few. The point is you cannot honestly say that we have one party rule in the federal gov't like we have in D.C. gov't. Last I checked, Democrats controlled the House and Senate and those bodies do share any blame you place at the foot of President Bush. So if you're honest you will admit D.C.'s problems are fundamentally a problem the Democrat party created, owns, and nutures.

 13 agree | 5 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
10:43 AM MST on Thu., Jun. 5, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 Ian said:
When I lived in DC ten years ago the City was a mess. On Sundays the City was deserted except for the homeless who would harrass you on every street corner and congregate in the malls. The only time I ever got held up at gun point was in DC. The police did nothing and the politicians didn't care.

 8 agree | 6 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
10:34 AM MST on Thu., Jun. 5, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 adam said:
And Sean, I'm not defending HOW Wash DC got so screwed up, I'm attacking this insane "solution" as just one more encroachment on our civil rights as Americans. It makes me wonder what brand of jackboots the guards at each neighborhood checkpoint will be wearing....

 8 agree | 6 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
10:32 AM MST on Thu., Jun. 5, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 adam said:
Sean, your words have shamed me. End of discussion indeed. Thankfully, we've had many years of one-party Republican rule in Washington to show me the proper way to govern. Apparently, it's good government which has led to a housing meltdown, a horrendous war with no end in sight, corruption cases up the wazoo and a large and ever expanding disparity in wealth thanks to some crafty tax bills. GOP rule is awesome!

 8 agree | 15 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
10:26 AM MST on Thu., Jun. 5, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 Sean said:
Adam, where is your outrage at what Democrat principles, values, and policies have wrought? You think the D.C. authorities came to this "solution" overnight? They don't know what else to do. My suggestion? Get rid of the political philosophy and party that has lead to this travesty of American values. But you are too busy bashing Bush to admit that this policy is the direct result of the Democrat party platform. This is the direct result of decades long one party rule in an inner city. This is the direct result of Democrat party control of D.C. This is no one's making but the Democrat party. Period. End of discussion.

 11 agree | 6 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
10:17 AM MST on Thu., Jun. 5, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 adam said:
This sort of thing would not have been possible ten or twenty years ago. It's because Bush has watered down our collective shock-meter at such fascist and intrusive methods by our government that this now seems like a good idea (to some). I don't care if it's a Democrat or Republican, it's just antithetical to American values.

 9 agree | 13 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
10:12 AM MST on Thu., Jun. 5, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 Examiner Reader said:
Adam, how is this related in any way to Bush? If it was, liberal groups all over the country would have piped up by now. That they haven't clearly demonstrates the Bush administration has nothing to do with the Democratic gov't of D.C.

 11 agree | 5 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
10:11 AM MST on Thu., Jun. 5, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 Examiner Reader said:
Bush has no say in how DC is run. For all the complaining about Bush and the PATRIOT Act, the last I heard, the DC Mayor and City Council was overwhelmingly Democrat. Odd that Democrats would disrespect the individual rights of those within their jurisdiction.

 6 agree | 6 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
10:08 AM MST on Thu., Jun. 5, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 Examiner Reader said:
Is the Executive Order talked about in this article a Presidential Executive Order?

 5 agree | 6 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
10:08 AM MST on Thu., Jun. 5, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 Sean said:
This is what happens when Democrats run things. Every inner city with rampant crime, poor schools, large welfare rolls, and all the other societal ills are, and have been, run by Democrats for decades. D.C. should be a utopia; a paradise. According to you Dems, all we have to do is elect Democrats and every problem will be solved. How many more decades will inner cities be run by Democrats and allowed to wallow in crime, poverty, and hopelessness? Answer: As long as it takes for inner city residents to learn that Democrats have been running their cities for years and decades and there current situation is the result. On a side note, I love how you Democrats are blaming Bush for this. Hahaha. The inner cities are your making and no amount of Bush Derangement Syndrome can change that fact.

 15 agree | 8 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
9:56 AM MST on Thu., Jun. 5, 2008 re: "Lanier plans to seal off rough ’hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence"

 adam said:
The fact that this is not very surprising and probably will happen with little national notice is a testament to how far down Bush has dragged our country. This SHOULD outrage every American, but since we've all gotten used to being spied on and use words like "waterboarding" in our daily lives, this is just one more inch down the slippery slope. Hope you're happy, Bush voters and apologists.

 8 agree | 11 disagree
Vote on this comment: