Our Nation's Capital Has Failed All Americans - Congress Must Step Up

Members of the US Senate,

I write to you as a two-term Washington, DC ANC Commissioner, the youngest in history when I was sworn in at 18 years old. I am also a student-athlete at the Catholic University of America, an entrepreneur, and a businessman based in Washington, DC. I am a proud product of the great state of Florida, where I was raised, and above all, I am a proud American who loves his country more than anything. I am writing to advocate for the passage of the DC Crimes Act in the US Senate, a critical piece of legislation currently under debate in the Senate after it passed the US House of Representatives with bipartisan support.

I firmly believe in President Reagan's vision of our nation as "a shining city on a hill." However, our nation's capital is not living up to those lofty standards. Instead of exemplifying the beauty and strength of our great nation, Washington, DC has unfortunately become synonymous with crime and brutality. This is a reality I have witnessed firsthand during my time as a student at Catholic University. Friends of mine have been held at gunpoint, pistol-whipped, and forced to dodge bullets. In the past 12 months alone, there have been three murders on or near campus grounds.

This level of violence is unacceptable, not just for me, but to the 1 million residents of Washington, DC, or the over 300 million Americans whose capital is in disarray. To underscore this point, allow me to share some troubling statistics:

Washington, DC ranks as the worst state or territory for larceny, murder, violent crime, robberies, and property crime.

This state of affairs is unacceptable for the capital of the United States. While other countries take pride in their capitals, we are falling behind. Consider the virtually non-existent crime statistics for Dubai, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. If they can maintain such security and order, why can't we, as the greatest nation on earth, do the same?

Congress must intervene. The bureaucratic local government of Washington, DC has failed us miserably. The crime statistics that we are seeing are completely unacceptable. As elected members of Congress, Representatives and Senators have the final say in what happens in Washington, DC. As outlined in the Constitution, governmental powers in the District are controlled by the United States Congress. Therefore, every member of Congress has both the right and the obligation to step in and take control of the situation.

I spent a lot of time in April advocating for Congress to fight for control of Washington, DC crime. I visited many Congressional offices and made my concerns and voice heard. We had success with many house offices including Congressman Donalds' Office, who sponsored the bill. I was so pleased to see the House take action on the concerns I presented to various offices through the passage of the DC Crimes Act with bipartisan support.

Washington, DC holds a special place in my heart. It is where my grandparents sought refuge from South and Central America to pursue the American Dream. It is where my father was born and pursued his entrepreneurial dreams. It is my birthplace, where I am receiving my education, where I first decided to serve my community as an elected official, and where my business aspirations have flourished. Washington, DC is not just special to me; it is special to every American.

In my second book, "The American Pilgrimage," I wrote about my experiences with the monuments and memorials throughout Washington, DC. Learning about the patriotic men and women who sacrificed so much for our nation changed the course of my life. All of those individuals are celebrated and memorialized in our nation’s capital. The legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, World War I, World War II, and Vietnam War Veterans all lie in Washington, DC. This is not just a capital or another city; it is sacred ground to every American and must be treated as such.

We owe it to every American to honor the legacy of the great Americans who are celebrated in our nation’s capital. America is the greatest nation in the world, and it is the shining city on a hill. We must do everything possible to ensure that the shining city’s capital lives up to that same standard.

Let us not falter in our duty to protect and uphold the values of our nation. Together, let us stand firm and ensure that Washington, DC, the heart of our democracy, shines brightly as a beacon of hope, opportunity, and freedom for all.

God Bless America,

Commissioner Diego Rojas