Transnational Movements in Adams Morgan

I was unable to find much information regarding NGOs, religious groups, or other social movements as they pertain to Adams Morgan, therefore I have taken a somewhat unconventional approach to this.

Adams Morgan is an ethnically diverse neighborhood historically inhabited by waves of immigrants. Currently, it is in the midst of changing from an immigrant (primarily Hispanic) neighborhood to a younger and higher income middle class neighborhood by means of gentrification.

Gentrification itself can be considered a transnational movement, as it works in virtually the same way everywhere it's applied and occurs both as a development strategy and a natural process all around the world.

One interesting aspect that gentrification has had on Adams Morgan is that has reduced crime over the years. Adams Morgan was once a hotbed for crime and gang activity, particularly that of Salvadorian gang MS13.

Gangs are also transnational movements, although not necessarily the first thing that comes to mind when the term is mentioned. MS13 originated in Los Angeles after the civil war in El Salvador in the 1980s and has spread throughout the nation. It is suggested to have about 5,000 members in the DC area, most of which are or have been concentrated in Adams Morgan.

In the case of Adams Morgan, it appears that gentrification is occurring as a natural process and is receiving little, if any, help from the DC government. There are many signs advertising properties for sale via Southeby's International Reality, indicating that this is an area where properties are targeted to mostly upper income individuals.

Gentrification and the changing of Adams Morgan will no doubt leave little room for gangs like MS13 to operate, seeing as those moving into the neighborhood are not in the gang's target demographic and higher income individuals have little tolerance for gang presence and the crime it generates.

Thus, it seems like the future of the neighborhood will be shaped by the declining influence of one transnational movement (gangs), and the increasing influence of another movement (gentrification).

Criminality in Adams Morgan

Many neighborhoods in Washington DC have undergone significant economic change over the past two decades. This shifting economic climate has in many cases brought about a change in neighborhood character. One of the most important indicators in this regard is census data, which is available concerning both poverty and crime rates.

Adams Morgan is composed of four main census tracts, 38, 40.01, 40.02, and 42.01. In three of these tracts, poverty decreased over the period of 1990 to 2010, indicating that some gentrification is taking place.

The census breaks up crime data into two categories, violent crime and property crime. Two of Adams Morgan's tracts showed a decrease in violent crime, one tract showed an increase, and the final tract showed no change. Interestingly enough, the tract that showed the increase in violent crime is also the tract with a large amount of high density housing. All tracts showed a decrease in property crime.

Interestingly, of the two tracts that showed a decrease in violent crime, one tract showed an increase in the poverty rate. This is a perfect example of Jane Jacobs' observations that a neighborhood's primary source of policing is the community that exists along a neighborhood's streets. Self-policing is vital to a neighborhood, as it preserves the strength and status of the community.

As for the one tract that showed a decrease in the violent crime rate correlated with a decrease in the poverty rate, this can most likely be explained by the fact that higher income individuals have a lower propensity towards violent crime, and thus as higher income residents replace lower income residents, crime will decrease.

Adams Morgan also has a Latino liaison unit of the Washington DC Police Department. This is especially important, because Adams Morgan, as well as nearby Columbia Heights, have historically been immigrant neighborhoods and contain a large number of Spanish speaking residents.

This represents another aspect of policing that is currently starting to be deployed in many urban areas, one in which the police hold dialogue with the community and offenders to inform them what the consequences of criminality might be, entice them to stop, and provide resources to help them.

This approach, commonly known as Ceasefire, is advocated by criminologist David Kennedy and was first tried in Boston in the early 1990s, but was ended because of inadequate explanations of the program to new members of the police department and a lack of commitment from the broader city government.

Kennedy later went on to implement this in other cities with a similar result, that it caused a dramatic drop in gang violence and drug crime, but it was not handed down from one administration to the next, and ultimately failed.

In his book, titled Don't Shoot, Kennedy discusses how he then went on to implement this program in other cities, enlisting help from mayors and other city officials to insure that the program would last as personnel changes within departments took place. Cincinnati has become the most recent poster child of this program, commencing its version in 2009.

Washington DC had its own version of this program in the mid 1990s, focusing mainly on gun violence and then-illegal gun ownership. I was unable to determine if this program had been implemented to focus on gangs, drugs, or domestic violence.

Globalization In Adams Morgan

Adams Morgan is an extremely diverse neighborhood, and it has a long history as an immigrant melting pot. This is seen predominantly in the diversity of its businesses along 18^th Street and Columbia road. Business establishments in Adams Morgan serve clientele of all socioeconomic levels, and the neighborhood does not cater itself solely towards a specific group of people.

Many of the businesses in Adams Morgan are restaurants, and a large variety of cuisines are represented. Indian, Italian, Chinese, Ethiopian, American, Peruvian, and Hispanic restaurants are all present in the neighborhood, as are a variety of coffee shops, frozen yogurt shops, and chocolatiers.

A popular Hispanic restaurant. 

Those patronizing the restaurants are not limited to young, single urbanites, and many restaurants have a clientele that reflects the ethnicity of their food.

In addition to restaurants, Adams Morgan has other kinds of businesses that add to the neighborhood diversity. A Shop selling Himalayan clothing and baskets, vintage clothing stores, an architectural antiques store, a Halal meat market, stores dedicated to “alternative culture” (the store I thought was a news stand turned out to be a head shop), and most of DC's remaining record stores are all located within Adams Morgan.

Interesting wall art...

Cupcakes yes please. 

In addition to these, there are also many dry cleaning stores, convenience stores, take out pizza restaurants, and a Middle Eastern news outlet, many of which cater to a specific, lower income, clientele.

One of infinitely many dry cleaners in Adams Morgan

 Middle Eastern bookstore

Liquor store and take out restaurant on Columbia Road

There are also many signs of the global economy in Adams Morgan. Several banks are located in the neighborhood, and Verizon Wireless, Raido Shack, Cricket Mobile, Safeway, Game Stop, McDonalds', and CVS Pharmacy have all opened up stores in the neighborhood.

Uh oh

There's also a Starbucks across the street. Go figure. 

Adams Morgan has no Metro station inside its bounds, something that may have helped to preserve its ethnic and economic diversity, as there was no impetus for massive redevelopment or rise in real-estate prices. Instead, frequent bus service is provided by both Metrobus and the DC circulator. Future streetcar service to the neighborhood is also planned, but there is no time frame for this.

The streets of Adams Morgan are decorated with banners promoting the neighborhood and the activities that one can do in it, serving as advertising to tourists and helping to define the boundaries of the neighborhood.  

Tours are offered....