With Rise in Violence Come Fear and Anger; In Southeast, People Hope for Action, Finally
For more than two decades, Fort Dupont Dwellings has housed more rats, snakes and crack addicts than tenants, and Stoddert Terrace has been a haven for drug dealing, crime and violence. No one seemed to care, residents said.</br></br>But the Sept. 25 shooting of a 4-year-old girl at Weatherless School in Greenway has focused attention on the community one block off East Capitol Street in Southeast Washington.</br></br>The residents in this area say city officials have not heeded their cries for help, and community leaders say they have been unable to push for change because of their own internal disputes.</br></br>Local leaders say they are ready to put aside their differences. Homeowners say they plan to reach out more to renters, and city officials say they are standing by with resources to make it all come together.</br></br>"Citizen participation is essential," said D.C. Council member Kevin P. Chavous (D-Ward 7). "The only way the government will respond is if they know the people have reached a point in which they are fed up."