Democratic Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser was optimistic about the district’s future, signaling crime is on its way down following the district’s deadliest year since a surge in the late 1990s.

“We had a tough year last year,” Bowser admitted to Axios about the district’s crime before changing her tone. “Don’t be so down on D.C.”

Last year, violent crime in the district increased by 39%, with a 35% uptick in homicides and 959 carjackings, according to Metropolitan Police Department data. The violent surge left 274 people dead in the nation’s capital. At the news outlet’s What’s Next Summit on Monday, Bowser admitted 2023 was a challenging year for the district but said the crime rates this year were beginning to “trend in the right direction.”  

In the early months of 2024, violent crime is down 17% so far, along with a 32% decrease in homicides and a 12% drop in all crime. In addition to the optimistic data, Bowser said her “Don’t be down on D.C.” remark stemmed from a conversation she had with a visitor who was shocked district residents were so “down on themselves” given all the district has to offer.

While it remains to be seen whether the district’s crime statistics represent a projection of the year ahead, Bowser has acknowledged that emergency crime legislation passed last year was a “big help” in curbing crime numbers. Earlier this month, the district council passed a crime bill proposed by Bowser in an effort to make the district safer following the historic crime influx. 

Bowser also told the outlet that the district’s police officers are arresting fewer people because they are overworked. Last year, the district experienced an all-time low staffing shortage, and in recent years, have lost between 300 to 400 officers, which Bowser said is due to “policies that make it difficult to recruit new officers.” The mayor said while the police chief is making an effort to get officers out of the car, more officers are needed. 

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In the interview, Bowser also mentioned the district’s new plan to revitalize the downtown area by investing $401 million over the next five years, working alongside her economic plan for the district, which she released in January. However, as the district grapples with budget cuts, funding for the full investment might not happen. However, Bowser did say that downtown “produces a lot of money.”   

Residents, business owners, and Republican lawmakers may not be as positive as the mayor about the downward trend in violent crime, with many still seeing Democrats as soft on crime. Some residents are saying that the summertime will be a true deciding factor in whether the trajectory of early crime statistics is declining for good.