Bo Blair owns 11 restaurants in Washington DC, and you can imagine that a lease for a business there is a pretty penny. But these days, rent is the least of Blair's worries.
His biggest worry is the crime crisis sweeping the city.
The same crime spree that DC is using Bible verses to try and curb.
The same one that DC recommends using Apple AirTags to keep track of your stolen items.
The same one that has Blair spending $500,000 per year on security guards at his restaurants.
And these aren't fancy black tie affairs. At his Surfside Taco Stand alone, Blair says he's spending $4,000 per week. That single location will gobble up $208,000 by the end the year.
"Think about it, private security at a taco stand," says Blair. "It's like the Wild West."
And it's not just his customers that he's worried about.
"We have to pay for security to make employees feel safe. Once an incident happens, turnover is high, and we're spending time and money on more training — it's like a hamster wheel."
Donna Redman, executive director of business affairs at Whole Armor Executive Protection and Security Services says that the crime wave has been very good for business.
They used to make their money providing services to celebrities and big events like the mayor's inaugural ball, but now their bread and butter is policing streeteries like Swingers mini-golf bar.
"It went from managing crowds to preventing crime."
They charge between $25 and $45 per hour for a security officer, depending on the restaurant's volume and whether the officers are armed.
DC law limits what a security officer can do. They can only be inside businesses, and they can only "prevent" crime (door checks and scanning crowds for suspicious activity or inebriated guests).
Outside the establishments is Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) territory, and Redman says they allow unarmed guards to escort staff to cars or Ubers if it's late, their hands are tied if something goes wrong.
"We border the line a little bit, but there's only so much we can do," says Redman.
And if something goes wrong, it's hit or miss whether the MPD will be able to show up.
For some reason, the police department is very short on officers.
"At times an officer will be assigned to an establishment, but because of this crime spree they'll be called to another location," said MPD RDO coordinator Brenda Smith during a presentation to local businesses. "Or they may have to sit or patrol an area where they expect a lot of crime to occur. There will be occasions where there will be no-shows."
Blair says paying the security guard to replace police option just isn't sustainable.
Mary Rusciano, who owns a popular pizzeria, Menomale, is handling the crime wave a different way.
"The biggest thing is we keep barely anything in stock — inventory is at a minimum" and they try not to keep much cash on hand.
"I'd rather give away a pizza than risk having cash on the premises."
Aaron McGovern, a long time restauranteur in the city, recently closed all of his locations. He looked into security after losing tens of thousands of dollars to burglaries and having his employees assaulted and decided closing up shop was a cheaper option.
"Why am I paying for more police presence when I pay it in taxes, and I pay a lot?"
If progressives don't give up their insane justice reform goals, which are really "end justice" goals, their cities will soon lose all the creature comforts that draw people to them... like food.
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