The District of Columbia rejected the Freedom of Information Act request by the VNSTA for crime statistics for the Police Service Area that includes the Van Ness neighborhood (PSA 203). The text of the rejection notice appears below.
VNSTA Security Working Group holds Zoom meeting with 3003 management
Monday, December 20th, the VNSTA Security Working Group had an online meeting with Josh Luper, building manager of 3003 Van Ness for Equity Residential.
Mr. Luper again promised that Equity would produce a plan for tightening security at 3003 Van Ness. He was not able to provide further details.
He also told members of the working group that Equity was testing several companies that provide security guards on a trial basis, with guards posted overnight from Thursday through Sunday nights. He could not explain why following the recent stabbing at 3003 Van Ness, no security was needed for the overnight shift on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.
On a positive note, Mr. Luper agreed to VNSTA working group member Owen Epstein’s request to walk the perimeter of the building with him to review broken locks or doors at exterior entrances/exits.
VNSTA submits FOIA of crime statistics for Van Ness and nearby area
On December 14th, the VNSTA submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the District of Columbia, requesting crime statistics and police analysis of crime in Police Service Area (PSA) 203, which includes the Van Ness neighborhood.
The text of the request follows:
Security working group meets with Equity Residential management
On Monday, December 6th, members of the Security working group met with building manager Josh Luper and Equity Residential Regional Vice President Stacey Aquiar to discuss problems with security at 3003 Van Ness following the recent stabbing of a resident.
Management claims that the stabbing was an “isolated incident,” but VNSTA working group members express concerns not only about the possibility of more violent crime, but about the many shortcomings in Equity’s security at 3003 Van Ness — including the lack of a security guard, a poor and outdated security camera system, little screening of visitors, and broken doors and locks.
Equity management promises that it will present a security plan in the near future. It says that it has hired a security guard for the overnight shift, although it isn’t clear how long that will be in effect. Equity agrees to meet with the VNSTA working group bi-weekly.
Resident is stabbed at 3003 Van Ness
The DC Metropolitan Police Department report that a resident of the West building of 3003 Van Ness has been stabbed in his apartment.
The MPD found the victim an elevator. He was suffering from several lacerations and puncture wounds. The police believe that the incident was related to narcotics.
Security cameras at 3003 Van Ness failed to capture any video of the assailant.