When Glenn Reynolds linked this story, I assumed it was a Scrappleface parody. But no, it’s serious:
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.
Not long ago, we were told that the drop in violence in Iraq somehow didn’t count, because we limiting access to neighborhoods to keep out terrorists. If DC is so out of control that it can’t be managed without measures appropriate to a war zone, DC home rule as failed, and it’s high time we put an end to it.
UPDATE: More here.
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