Area officials were quick to celebrate Silver Spring’s top ranking by Fortune Magazine as the best place in the country for families to live thanks to its schools, hospitals, resources for older adults, financial health and strong sense of community.
However, some people questioned the distinction, citing crime in the downtown and nearby areas as a drawback.
According to Montgomery County police, violent crime in this area has been decreasing but car jackings are rising. Recently, the county council reduced late night hours of some businesses in the downtown area, introduced a drone program to respond to crime more quickly and efficiently and cracked down on car meetups.
To the skeptics, Executive Marc Elrich responded, “We know there are issues in Silver Spring. Our approach is to work very proactively” to increase security. New programs by police, government and area businesses have been successful, he said.
Jacob Newman, director of the Silver Spring Regional Center, questioned whether those who are concerned about crime “really live near here.”
He did note, “I think we’d be tone deaf” if declaring crime did not occur. However, he said, “We have seen an improvement in some of the crime statistics.”
Newman said, “There are challenges,” adding if those shopping or dining in the area stay vigilant, “You will be safe and find it a welcoming place to be.”
Stephanie Helsing, president and CEO of the Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce, spoke enthusiastically about new businesses about to open and how the business community has stepped up to make the area a great destination.
She pointed to the Silver Spring Safety Alliance, which started in December of 2021. It is a partnership between the business community and police to reduce and prevent crime.
The Drone as First Responder program “actually has shown immediate, immediate results,” Helsing said.
She also credited efforts to make Silver Spring safer to youth criminal justice reform measures adopted in Annapolis, police efforts to curb car rallies and a reduction in late night hours for places like hookah lounges.
She said frequent events at Veterans Plaza by the Silver Spring Civic Center are bringing people to the area, adding that “Some people are holding on” to negative feelings about the area from the past.
