School is out, but the crime is in and has been since the warmer months have arrived. Washington, D.C., is one of the most visited places in the world, but the question that has been on the rise is, why the Navy Yard? Navy Yard is home to the Washington Nationals, DC United, Washington Spirit, and the XFL’s DC Defenders. Not only is Navy Yard home to all of these sports teams, but it is also home to outdoor concerts, walking paths, restaurants, hotels, and residential apartments. People would believe that with all of these events going on daily, there would be a strong police presence. A strong police presence is what has been lacking and continues to lack daily.
“Navy Yard is buzzing, especially in the summer, with events, restaurants, water views, and crowds. It’s a perfect recipe for fun…and for chaos. For teens, it’s appealing because there’s minimal supervision, lots of spots to blend in, and open areas to hang out without much adult interference. Basically, it’s the unofficial meetup zone,” said Navy Yard resident Elissa De Souza.
“They gravitate where things are going because nothing is going on in the neighborhoods. They’re just hanging out, and hanging out in big crowds, which creates more trouble for them to cause,” said a worker at the Metro station in Navy Yard who wanted to remain anonymous.
Navy Yard is designed not only for safe residential living. Still, it is designed for people to enjoy family-friendly environments, which then disrupts businesses such as restaurants and hotels.”They’re a nightmare. What should be a great night for restaurants turns into early closures, stressed-out staff, and empty tables, said Elissa De Souza. When fireworks are being launched at buildings, it’s not just annoying; it’s dangerous. I’ve seen the shift from a buzzing dinner scene to panic mode in minutes.”
Ben Gottesman, a visitor from Toronto, Canada, said, “When chaos or criminal behavior occurs, local businesses are often the first to suffer. Restaurants may see decreased foot traffic due to safety concerns, events may get canceled or disrupted, and property damage or theft becomes a real risk. Beyond immediate losses, businesses also deal with long-term effects like negative public perception, higher security costs, and potential insurance issues. Visitors are less likely to return to an area that feels unsafe, even if it’s perception-based.”
Trouble eventually leads to arrests, the majority of the time, but arrests will not stop juveniles from continuing to create chaos. “Arrests might pause things for one night, but they don’t change behavior long term. Without follow-up case managers, counseling, and job training, they’re just back out the next weekend,” said De Souza. “Once they are caught and arrested, it is just a slap on the wrist. They are back out here the next day, causing more trouble,” said the metro station worker.
“Arresting juveniles may stop them short-term, but without rehabilitation, education, or community intervention, many return to the same environment and behavior. A criminal record at a young age can even reinforce a cycle of marginalization,” said Gottesman.
While thousands of people continue to attend and cheer on their favorite team at Nationals Park and at Audi Field, others choose to stay home and watch their teams play on TV due to safety concerns. De Souza mentioned that she knows plenty of people who would prefer not to attend sporting events in the Navy Yard. “I’ve heard from people who’ve stopped going to games or leave early because they’re nervous walking back to their car or the Metro. Some people don’t even want to drive and are afraid their car or tires will be stolen!”
After various incidents across Washington, D.C., particularly in the Navy Yard area, an 11 p.m. curfew was enforced. The Metropolitan Police Department said in a statement, “The Juvenile Curfew Emergency Amendment Act of 2025 took effect on July 7, 2025. An 11:00 p.m. curfew is now in effect citywide every night for all persons age 17 and under though August 31, 2025” Fast forward a few days later and a new curfew was enforced. This time, the curfew was enforced to 8:00 p.m. for all juveniles in the Navy Yard, and is slowly progressing to other areas around Washington, D.C.
The 11 p.m. curfew did not work, but will the special 8 p.m. curfew for Navy Yard have a positive effect this time? “The curfew might help, but only if it’s actually enforced and not just once or twice. It can’t be the only tool. We need safe, structured places for teens to go, such as rec centers, pop-up events, sports, and mentorship programs. If we don’t give them something positive to do, they’ll keep making their own chaos”, said Elissa De Souza. “The 8 p.m. curfew might help disperse large gatherings temporarily, but curfews are often a short-term solution. They can be difficult to enforce consistently and may even provoke pushback if youth feel unfairly targeted,” said Gottesman.
The curfew was not enough to prevent crime in Washington, D.C., which resulted in President Trump calling in the National Guard on August 12, 2025, and deploying over 800 National Guard troops to monitor Washington, DC. “We’re going to take our capital back,” Trump declared, adding he’d also be getting rid of the slums, said President Trump in a Press Conference at the White House. “It’s becoming a situation of complete and total lawlessness,” he told reporters at the White House.
The US Department of Defense said, “About 800 National Guard troops, both Army and Air National Guard, have been called up and activated on Title 32 status to participate in the Safe and Beautiful Task Force. For now, about 200 guardsmen at a time are on the streets providing support to federal law enforcement and the Metropolitan Police Department.”
Social Media has taken over this generation. Could social media be having a bad influence on teenagers? “Social media is how they keep up with each other. It is how they plan their meets here in Navy Yard,” said the metro station worker. “Social media isn’t just influencing behavior. It’s organizing it. Kids are spreading meetup info faster than police can respond. “Pull up at 7,” “Bring fireworks,” “Go viral or go home,” It’s crowd control meets clout chasing,” said Elissa De Souza.
“While social media connects people, it also magnifies harmful behavior. For juveniles, the desire to go viral or be seen online can encourage risk-taking, performative violence, or participation in flash mob-style incidents,” said Gottesman.
It is never the goal for the police to make arrests, but the goal is to create a safer environment, not just in the Navy Yard, but in Washington, DC. The remainder of the summer will have enhanced police presence around the Navy Yard to make sure the curfews are being followed for individuals under 17 years old. The youth are more than capable of following these orders. Not only is it benefiting Washington, D.C., but it is also benefiting the juvenile’s future. One change in their everyday routine could create a positive impact on their lives.
Jason Hochberg 