After a quick trip to our Nation’s Capitol, it really felt no different than flying into Mexico. Driving in the DC, VA, MD metro area is OK using Waze. Waze knows I’d rather be moving slowly instead of sitting on a highway. The beltway traffic is still miserable. Detours were needed just to get to my hotel in less than 2 hours. Parking charges in the District are as high as in Manhattan.
That’s when I remembered that public transit generally works well in the city. When we went to see DMB back in the day at RFK, we took the metro. When I agreed to head into the Virginia, District, Maryland area to work a tournament I was hoping I could avoid driving. However a tournament at multiple locations made that impossible.
When I biked in with the Big D a few years ago, we avoided traffic. The park system allowed us to be on our own paved path. The old C&O Towpath provided us with some of the best views of the Potomac. Until this year–The metro stations were patrolled by transit authority police. The stations were very clean and safe. The public safety support thanks to the statement of one man that the District was not safe. The extra security is being provided by the National Guard.
I have one question about the National Guard personnel assigned to keep the Capitol safe. Why are they not carrying semi-automatic weapons? IF the District is dangerous let them carry that extra visible firepower.
I question why we have American’s who have pledged to fight for this country, just standing around a metro station. What orders were these trained warriors given, that would require them to stand at the turnstiles? I have to question why? Are they on a mission to fail?
I really struggled seeing 6 Guards-people in the Navy Yard Metro station without carrying automatic weapons. How are they going to be able to respond with only pistols, especially with Capitol Police and Secret Service all over that area.
I’ll take the beach in Mexico where the guard has to have a presence to deter any bad actors with the semis risk g on their four wheelers.