DC restaurateur claims that 'out-of-control' crime in capital forcing businesses to shut down
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: 'Fox & Friends' co-host Griff Jenkins welcomed REX Management CEO Noe Landini on the December 29 episode of the show to discuss why restaurants in Washington, DC are fast shutting their doors.
Landini, who owns several restaurants in the nation's capital, had closed one of them for business back in November.
He reportedly claimed that he was simply tired of his customers and staff getting robbed, threatened, and carjacked.
What did Joe Landini say about crime rates in DC?
Appearing on the morning talk show, Landini stated that he had witnessed marked police cruisers and ambulances being carjacked outside his restaurant.
"We had an American Red Cross van that was supposed to feed the homeless the other day get carjacked. I mean, it's out of control," he said.
Landini and his business partners have chosen not to renew their restaurant lease, as the former claimed that staying for the next five years did not make any sense from an investment standpoint.
Talking about the issues, Landini put into question the city's leadership and their response to crime.
"What's the long game here?" he inquired, "Like, what is the long game for mayors in DC or in New York to, like, completely destroy their city and not provide the resources that we need to conduct business?"
What does Noe Landini plan to do with his business?
As a result of "extremely aggressive and uncomfortable" experiences with panhandlers which made him decide not to renew his lease, Landini is considering taking his business across the river to Virginia.
"It's a 15-minute drive, and you have a better, safer experience. Employees are safer. Customers don't have to deal with the things that they have to deal with downtown right now," he explained.
The businessman further claimed that DC has yet to fully recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The police have been unable to perform well at their task, which has made owners afraid to conduct their business.
How many restaurants in DC have shut down in 2023?
According to the Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Association, 52 restaurants in the capital have closed shop during the year.
A surge in crime has also been seen in the city, as data from the Metropolitan Police Department shows that there have been 261 homicides within the year as of December 14, a record-high in two decades.
Additionally, robberies are up by 69 per cent and theft by 24 per cent year-to-date, while motor vehicle theft by 84 per cent and violent crime by 39 per cent year-over-year.
