the crime came because the bush administration cut the park system budget and increased the area of protection for the park service(more tasks for fewer people). There were only 1 or 2 or 3 people covering the whole mall area at night. the purpose of this BS was to fire the head of the park service and to put in a politically favorable appointee.

after the crimes, the barn door was closed. It is quite safe now, as the budget has been upped, and we do not want to embarrass the politically favorable appointee(welcome to washington DC).

I specifically said the incidence of crime on the mall is rare with last year's occurence in mind where one group of youths specifically decided on a whim to go after tourists for some walkaround money. It was so out of the norm that it received major news coverage and government reaction. Close to the same time there was also a street murder of a young British tourist in Georgetown, an area most people consider to be completely safe. The culprits were caught in both incidences. I still believe that as a rule visiting the monuments on the Mall at night is a safe activity, especially prior to 11pm, but I think I was clear that common sense should play a part.

I have worked for a high school program in DC and we'll take 300 kids to the monuments at night. it is very safe

I've walked down constitution ave at 3 in the morning, and created more problems than I've encountered

unless your washington vacation plans call for a visit to the housing projects on MLK Drive SE, you shouldn't have a problem

It was an average weekend in DC - 10+ shootings but not 1 of them anywhere near the Mall.

I'll say it again, violence on the Mall is simply not tolerated.