Challenging First Two Weeks for D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser

In less than two weeks, newly-inaugurated D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has been faced with a deadly Metro incident, paired with a string of shootings in the Southeast quadrant of the city.

Friday, Washington Post's Chris Cillizza declared Bowser was having the worst week in Washington, criticizing her lack of empathy following Carol Glover's death aboard a Metro train. More than 80 others were hospitalized that night, and questions still remain unanswered.

Many long-time D.C. residents have also criticized her for not showing a presence in Southeast Washington, where six people were shot within just 24 hours

News4's Shomari Stone caught up with Bowser Friday evening on her way to Congregation Adas Israel for a program honoring Dr. Martin Luther King.

She's ordered a full report of what happened at L'Enfant Plaza Metro station earlier this week. It's expected to be published this weekend.

"The NTSB report, I think, centers on the cause of the smoke and the incident. Our focus will be on our fire department's response," Bowser said. 

As for the recent string of violence in Southeast, Bowser said she's aware of it.

Local

Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information

GMU cricket stadium proposal scrapped

Nationals place Stephen Strasburg on 60-day injured list

"We're obviously concerned about keeping our streets safe. We know about some particular events in several of out Southeast neighborhoods," she said. "We say to all of our residents that we expect our streets to be safe and we're deploying police resources as needed, but more importantly, we're working with young people in challenged communities."

Chelli West, a resident of Southeast, was walking her 4-year-old son home Thursday as police investigated a triple shooting.

"I just wish something would be done about it," West said. "Not only are we raising little kids out here, it's not safe for the older people either."

Contact Us