Democrats are now trying to block proposals for two of its professional sports teams to relocate from Washington, D.C. to Virginia, as the city’s escalating crime rate has prompted businesses to avoid the area.
Since Monumental Sports and Entertainment, the organization that owns both the NBA’s Washington Wizards and the NHL’s Washington Capitals, declared last year its intention to relocate the franchises to Virginia, Mayor Muriel Bowser (D-D.C.) has advocated for the teams to remain in the city.
Governor Glenn Youngkin (R-VA), who wishes to contribute to the initiative’s financing, has advocated for the measure.
However, certain Democrats in the Virginia state Senate are attempting to suffocate the motion.
A region where both teams compete, the Capital One Arena, has not been immune to an increase in criminal activity in recent years.
According to reports, Monumental Sports’ CEO, Ted Leonsis, has been concerned about the area’s crime rate for months and has stated that relocating to Virginia is a prudent business decision.
Based on police data, the vicinity of the arena experienced 168 more criminal incidents within 1,000 feet over the past two years in comparison to the preceding two years.
The aforementioned incidents comprised seven sex abuse offenses, fifteen dangerous weapon assaults, fifty-one robberies, 136 car thefts, 64 stolen vehicles, and one homicide.
Instances of violent crime have more than doubled between the previous two years, according to the data.
Monumental has been offered approximately $500 million in incentives by Bowser to remain in the area.
In spite of the increase in criminal activity, councilmembers in Washington, D.C. attempted to revise the city’s penal code to impose lighter sentences in February.
However, this endeavor was ultimately thwarted by the White House, which opposed the Revised Criminal Code Act with the support of 31 Democrats and the Republican majority in the House.
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