European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 11, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Woodrow Wilson High school students Comfort one another after the Jan. 26 gunning of three students and an Adumat the Washington b.c., school. The rising homicide rate averaging More than one killing per Day since the beginning of the year to drawing the City into headlines As the murder capital of the country. New image of nation s capital murder corruption and sleaze by Karlyn Barker. Washington Post fqf1 her first trip to Washington recoup wig school s  Karen Kjos of i Aoa eur svs Sha not some be so adv o ten flu cwt Dun i Niv noted by of of Pant is As the murder capital As Welland reports of the rising a Bricida Raie,.drug-related violence Fiti Mayo Marion Barry s controversial. Lifestyle acid Tarj Tiship Aie making headlines around the country and Bicad Washington is also a Media capital and Bany and Oiher District of Columbia government officials have Beon tailed a Albs by local National and International news organizations including Tho now York times Ito Chicago Tribune. Tito and Newsweek West Gorma television. Abc s Fligr Tatoo and cbs1 48 Haws All eager to Locum Cal the cily s exploding crime crisis in february Vohen London  Telegraph published its assessment of we to Washington the View irom Ovbie Aswan decidedly unflattering. Tho nation to capital the newspaper reported is Asl becoming the murder capita of to United Samos with More than one killing per Day last year it is infested will Diego and the streets arc patrolled by an army of beggars who congregate outside the Chic restaurants and shops the City is corrupt. In often and Oxtra moly Dang sous or Barry s in cell behaviour has become a National  Tho article which referred to Washington in hip headline a the capita of sleaze said Barry s pledge to Wago War on drugs had Boon undermined by accusations n the press that to snorts cocaine has adulterous relationships with various women and recently made strange trips to a Washington hotel room by Charles Lewis a suspected drug dealer Lewis drug arrest in the Virgin islands has raised More questions about his relationship with the mayor on the Mcl Augurn group a nationally syndicated television show Moderator John Mclaug thifs opened the program recently Wilh a spirited discussion of the District s problems a fish rots irom inc head Down said Rve ivs sch writer Elsanor Clit this is a coff up City is the mayor corrupt Mclaughln asked yes said Fred Barnes o writer at the new Republic. Would you Agreci Mclaughln asked that most people believe Hal to is corrupt that i would agree with Clil said i would   answered. Hole and convention officials say Washington 3 emergence As the nation s homicide capital has hot and probably won l Hurt tourism. During 1988, before  crime blamed attracting National Allenton about 19.6 million visitors Camo Here up 3 percent Over the year before. It is the capital said one envious Detroit official in town for a tourism convention. Ii will always have tha  people in Del Oil were thrilled when their cily having see sawed Wilh a Tami since the 1970s Lor the ulamous Burdof capital distinction. Lost oui to Washington ". A travel agent at the Ash or Fosler firm in Chicago. Laughed when asked if Washington s crime problems Are causing people to change their Havel Plaris. This is Chicago after All lie said. Maybe ii you called. Peoria you d Tel a  for the record a Peoria travel agent said she had nol Como across anyone who was suddenly leery of taking a trip to Washington but . Council member Nadine Wintar Enid Shu thinks the bad publicity has Hurt the City. This a Louril Lown she said Noling wish dismay Hal a National organization to which she belongs hut would not name recently vetoed Washington As a convention site in part because of All the murders"1 " . Council member or Crawford whose Ai -1 Southeast and North Oast District has suffered the worst drug related violence said the cily  is the least of its problems 11 represent an area Hal is under siege said Crawford Whoso Ward Drew inner National news coverage last year when members of the nation of islam began anti drug patrols hero. If it moans exposing this kind of problem to Tho Media to emphasize our plight Jhen so to on Capitol Hill the Dis Ricl s negative Imago has damaged us longtime Quost for Seal Hood but rep Ron vellum is d-calil., chairman of the House  committee. Refuses to discuss the City s problems As Long As Washington is being singled Oul  la s a National problem and Mare than 40 Oiler cities have Simitar difficulties said a Del Tims aids during prop ratios for the inauguration of George. Bush . Republican National Commilles Mern liar Lois Devicchio said she had trouble recruiting area  Corne into Tho it strict such concerns carried Over to the inaugural balls. De Zocchio said people from Northern Virginia and. To a lesser extent suburban Maryland were afraid i hts cars would be ransacked and vandalized and Iho women Felt they could t vicar their finery or Cha their furs  would to stolen " she got Calls lion people All Over Tho Counti and one of Iho first questions was. Hov Sale is if they wanted to know whore to stay and what prot Caw to  Tho feeling that was Fungon is unsafe. She said n a perception that is growing a the United slates i m sorry to say " crime concerns Are also Starling to surface among prospective employ eos and students  to some corporate and University recruiting oleic la questions about the safety of neighbourhoods and campuses come up More and More said one College Dean but Chris Refolo editorial Page editor of Tho stud Cal newspaper Al George Washington ump easily said accounts of Washington s rising crime rate have nol caused him or hts parents excessive claim my parents undo Island How Tho City Breaks Doam and How we re in the Northwest and relatively Safe said Preble o Portland Maine. I be been to Southeast once and in was on a bus la s dangerous there and most people know h s.  and Many tourists still seem to have an  enthusiasm for Washington you us have to use common sense and is careful said be Bonner a Sacramento area resident who stopped scanning her Lour Al map Long enough to report on her vacation i just love this City it s Boon  tuesday. April 11, 1989 the stars and stripes Page 13