City Officials Address Charles Village Crime

Joe Giordano, 38, said he came to a meeting about public safety in Charles Village on Monday night because he was concerned about one issue, prostitution.

 “I tell people I live at 26th and condom,” Giordano said.

Giordano, who has lived in the 400 block of 26th Street for six years, said the problem with prostitutes working near his home has reached intolerable levels. He said two doors down from him live a graffiti artist, a DJ and two art students who have also started to complain.

“When it gets to that level it’s an issue,” he said.

Prostitution was one of the major issues Councilman Carl Stokes, Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke, Northern District police commander and State’s Attorney Gregg Bernstein addressed with residents during the meeting.

Tapp-Harper told residents Northern District police are cracking down on prostitution in the area. Lower Charles Village has become home to a large number of transgendered prostitutes, especially along Charles Street south of 25th Street.

“What were looking for is arrests when possible, not just moving things over,” Tapp-Harper said.  

Bernstein said part of the problem with prostitution is that judges may not realize the impact it’s had on neighborhoods, and may not take it as seriously as other crimes.

“There aren’t any real consequences for the people that are involved in this activity,” Bernstein said. 

Other crimes besides prostitution have been on the rise in the neighborhood.

Tapp-Harper said overall in the district robberies are down by 8 percent and burglaries are down 11 percent year-to-date, but that those crimes are on an uptick in Charles Village.

She also announced an arrest had been made in a shooting earlier this month in the 2600 block of St. Paul Street.