An escalating crime surge led to two recall efforts being launched against Democratic councilmembers in Washington, D.C. within a few months of each other. (Getty Images)
Alvarez, who owns a small business in Nadeau's district, said she was driven to launch the campaign after her smoke shop endured three violent robberies.
"My employees were terrorized, and my security costs have become astronomical," she said in the statement. "I know that I am one of many people and businesses in this dire situation."
As crime has dropped in some major cities across the country, the nation's capital ended 2023 with a 26-year high in homicides with 274 murders, according to Metropolitan Police Department data. Robberies and thefts spiked 67% and 23%, respectively, and motor vehicle thefts nearly doubled.
Frustrated residents and business owners launched a recall effort against Washington, D.C. Councilmember Brianne Nadeau on Tuesday over her handling of the city's crime crisis. The skyrocketing crime has even led some businesses to move or shut down completely. (Getty Images)
DC SUPERMARKETS TURN TO HIGH-TECH SECURITY GATES AS CRIME CONTINUES TO SURGE
But Alvarez accused Nadeau of allowing an environment for criminals to thrive as violence escalated.
"Brianne Nadeau has fundamentally failed to take any consequential action to reduce crime, and it is time she is held accountable," Alvarez said.
The recall campaign blamed Nadeau for encouraging criminals through her support of progressive legislation in recent years. The councilmember voted in favor of slashing $15 million from the police budget in 2020 and supported an overhaul to the city's criminal code in 2022 that would have lowered the maximum penalties for certain offenses like burglaries and carjackings if Congress hadn't blocked the legislation.
The nation's capital saw the highest number of homicides in over two decades last year as crime escalated across the district. (Getty Images)
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"The dream of a safe, vibrant, and prosperous Ward-1 seems more distant with each passing day," Alvarez said. "I am proud to lead this effort because we deserve representation that is responsive to our needs, not in denial of them."
The campaign intends to file an intent for recall with the Board of Elections in a few weeks and will then have 180 days to obtain signatures from 10% of the ward's registered voters, The Washington Post reported. Nadeau's seat would be vacant until a special election is held to replace her if the recall campaign prevails, but a recall effort hasn't been successful in the district's 50 years of home rule.
Nadeau did not immediately respond to Fox News' request for comment.
Megan Myers is an associate producer/writer with Fox News Digital Originals.
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