Currently, there are just over 5k unhoused people in DC according to Bowser. There's been an 18% decrease in family homelessness and 4.5% decrease among single adults "We have a relatively small encampment problem in DC. It, however, is highly visible."
Bowser said DC will do a census count of unhoused people in DC on Thursday or Friday, hoping to connect them with services
Bowser said she'll be issuing a mayor's order in the coming days to explain how emergency operations center will engage with feds in DC
What has worked according to Bowser: -more stops that have collected illegal guns -"perceived accountability in the system driving down illegal behavior" -fewer gun crimes, fewer homicides, extreme reduction in carjackings
What hasn't worked: -break in trust between police and community — especially masked ICE officers -National Guard has not been an efficient use of resources
Bowser said DC still needs more police, more prosecutors, more judges, more effective prevention programs and need to ensure local control. She also mentioned delivering a new residential youth treatment center
Bowser said 1,500 arrests include MPD and some federal arrests but maybe not all federal arrests
Bowser said she did not discuss going beyond the 30 day emergency period with Trump. She did discuss with Bondi but no details
Q on Union Station "takeover" Bowser notes that the federal government owns Union Station. She doesn't know the details about what the admin wants to do but says management assistance could be an "amazing initiative" for the feds to take on
Bowser said DC residents are defending their city. "They are giving me ideas, talking to me and trusting my judgment."
"Do you think this is going to end after 30 days?" Bowser: "What we want is local control of our public safety ecosystem, and that includes deployment of officers. We want federal officers that work in coordination with us." She refused to say whether surge would end by deadline