Challenges Faced by Muriel Bowser: Obstacles and Turning Points

Life is full of challenges, and Muriel Bowser faced many. Discover key struggles and how they were overcome.

Muriel Bowser is an American politician currently serving as the mayor of the District of Columbia since 2015. A Democrat, Bowser previously served as the Councilmember for Ward 4 from 2007 to 2015. She is the second female mayor of Washington D.C., following Sharon Pratt, but the first woman to be re-elected to the position. Her tenure as mayor has focused on affordable housing, education, and economic development in the district.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

2003: Latest homicides milestone

July 2021, DC had recorded 100 homicides, the earliest point in the year it had reached this milestone since 2003.

2012: Ran for Reelection

In 2012, Bowser ran for reelection for the council. Candidate Max Skolnik criticized Bowser for receiving campaign contributions from developers, corporate bundlers, and lobbyists, saying that Bowser would favor the interests of these corporate donors.

February 2015: Bowser Cancels Institute for Contemporary Expression Project

In February 2015, Muriel Bowser cancelled the creation of a public facility for art exhibitions, lectures and educational activities by the Institute for Contemporary Expression. Bowser cited financial concerns, though critics suggested her decision was influenced by donors who had unsuccessfully competed for the property.

2015: Increase in Homeless Families in Shelters

During the winter of 2015, the District saw an increase of more than 250 percent over any previous year, in homeless families housed in shelters and overflow motel rooms. This was partly due to the administration's decision to move families into motel rooms.

2015: Homicide spike

Prior to 2015, homicides spiked in the District of Columbia.

January 2016: Traffic Paralysis and Apology

In January 2016, traffic throughout the D.C. region was paralyzed by an inch of snow. Bowser apologized for an inadequate response, stating, "we should have been there earlier."

February 2016: Fire Department Medical Director Resigns

In February 2016, Bowser's appointee as medical director of the fire department, Jullette Saussy, resigned after one year on the job, citing a failed agency and risk to Washingtonian's lives. Bowser's spokesperson stated her commitment to change in response.

April 2016: D.C. Trust Bankruptcy

In April 2016, the D.C. Trust declared bankruptcy and announced plans to dissolve, attributed in part to overspending. The agency suffered a history of abuse and mismanagement.

July 2016: Costs Exceed Estimates for Washington Wizards Practice Facility

In July 2016, before construction had started, it was announced that costs for the Washington Wizards practice facility would exceed estimates by $10 million while the number of seats in the facility would likely decrease. The District is responsible for cost overruns under the agreement.

2016: District homicides fell by 17%

In 2016, District homicides fell by 17%, to 135.

January 2017: Reaffirmation of Sanctuary City Status

In January 2017, following Trump's inauguration and an executive order threatening to withhold Federal funding from sanctuary cities, Bowser affirmed that the District would maintain its status as a sanctuary city, despite protests calling for a stronger denouncement of Trump's policies.

March 2017: Warning about Safety Lapses at United Medical Center

By March 2017, the director of D.C.'s Department of Health was warning the UMC board about serious safety lapses in the hospital's obstetrics unit.

July 2017: Hospital Allowed Week Between Death and Notification

Earlier in July 2017, the United Medical Center hospital allowed a week to pass between the death of a nursing home patient and notification to his family.

2017: Proposed Animal Regulations

In 2017, Bowser proposed several animal regulations, including a ban on backyard chickens, a requirement that all cats be licensed, and a provision regarding dog feces in private yards. The proposals were later withdrawn following public backlash.

2017: District homicides dropped again

In 2017, District homicides dropped again to 116, or about the same level prior to a 2015 spike.

2017: Opioid Epidemic Ravages D.C.

In 2017, the opioid epidemic ravaged D.C., with a higher rate of fatal overdoses among African Americans in D.C. than whites in West Virginia or New Hampshire. The Department of Behavioral Health failed to establish adequate treatment programs.

2017: Increase in Traffic Fatalities

In 2017, traffic fatalities continued to rise despite the launch of Vision Zero in 2015.

2018: Cyclist Protests

Following a pair of biking fatalities in the summer of 2018, cyclists protested that Bowser had failed at promoting traffic safety.

2018: Opposed Campaign Finance Legislation

In 2018, the D.C. Council unanimously passed campaign finance legislation to remove the influence of large donors. Bowser staunchly opposed the act and said she would not provide financing for its implementation.

2018: Homicides increased

In 2018, there were 160 homicides, an increase of 40 percent from the previous year and the most since 2015.

2018: Non-Renewal of Contract for Office of Open Government Head

In early 2018, the D.C. Board of Ethics and Government Accountability voted not to renew the contract of Traci Hughes, head of the Office of Open Government. It was said that Hughes was being punished for enforcing District regulations on government transparency, and that she had been subjected to pressure to ease off her role.

March 2019: Released first budget of second term

In March 2019, Bowser released the first budget of her second term, which increased spending by 8.2%. D.C. Auditor Kathy Patterson said the budget was not sustainable and fiscally irresponsible. Bowser responded by hailing her plan to make the DC Circulator free of charge.

April 2019: Limited Release of Body Cam Footage

As of April 2019, out of 25 involved officer shootings from 2016 to 2018, only three instances of body cam footage from the Metropolitan Police Department were released, despite Bowser's support for body cameras.

2019: Bike Advocate Fatality

In 2019, a prominent bike advocate was struck and killed by a driver along a stretch of road that was known to be dangerous, further highlighting the challenges in achieving Vision Zero's goals.

2019: Local Organizations Missed Funding

In 2019, local organizations providing assistance to at-risk populations missed out on $3.75 million due to a failure to submit a timely application by the D.C. Government. Organizations affected included Reading Partners D.C., The Literacy Lab, and City Year D.C.

2019: Homicide rate increased

In 2019, murders continued to rise, and by September 19, the homicide rate in the District reached 125, a 17 percent increase from the previous year.

2019: District Still Has High HIV/AIDS Rate

In 2019, the District continued to have one of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS in the country. The number of diagnoses in the previous year was 360, decreasing by 13 and 5 during each of the previous two years of Bowser's term.

2019: Handcuffing of Young Children

In 2019, the Metropolitan Police Department handcuffed a 9-year-old and a 10-year-old in separate incidents, sparking public outrage. Bowser responded by saying "every case is different" and questioning the appropriateness of circulating photos of juveniles.

June 2020: Removed Data From Government Website

In June 2020, during a rush to reopen the District, Bowser's administration removed data from the government's website to avoid displaying how it had failed to meet a key metric regarding COVID-19.

January 6, 2021: Capitol Riot and Curfew Imposition

On January 6, 2021, during the storming of the US Capitol, Bowser imposed a curfew in response to the pro-Trump rioters and insurrectionists protesting the results of the 2020 presidential election.

April 2021: Masking Order Confusion

In April 2021, Bowser issued a mayoral order that patrons could enter dining establishments unmasked if they provided proof of vaccination upon request. After confused businesses owners asked for clarification, the mayoral order was removed.

July 2021: Recorded 100 homicides in DC

By July 2021, DC had recorded 100 homicides, the earliest point in the year it had reached this milestone since 2003.

2021: Controversy over Bowser's Tweet after Carjacking Murder

In 2021, following the murder of Mohammad Anwar, an Uber Eats driver, during a carjacking, Muriel Bowser tweeted that carjackings were crimes of opportunity, which was perceived as blaming the victim. This tweet was later deleted, but the incident sparked accusations of racial bias. Carjackings in DC that year were four times higher than the previous year.

2021: District's Crime Lab Loses Accreditation; Bowser Honors Head of Lab

In 2021, the District's forensic crime lab lost its accreditation after concealing conflicting findings and pressuring examiners. Subsequently, a criminal investigation and the resignation of the lab's head, Dr. Jenifer Smith, occurred. Days after the news broke, Bowser honored Smith as part of the 'Washington Women of Excellence Awards'.

February 2022: Bowser Reappoints Karima Holmes to Lead Office of Unified Communications

In February 2022, Muriel Bowser reappointed Karima Holmes to lead the Office of Unified Communications, a position Holmes previously held for six years. During her prior tenure, the city's 911 system had fallen short of national standards, resulting in fatal consequences.

April 2022: Migrant Crisis

Beginning in April 2022, Texas and Arizona started sending migrants to D.C., leading to a 'migrant crisis'. Bowser criticized the governors of Texas and Arizona and requested assistance from the National Guard.

September 8, 2022: Public Emergency Declaration and Office of Migrant Services Establishment

On September 8, 2022, Bowser declared a public emergency in D.C. and established an Office of Migrant Services to provide services to migrants arriving from Texas and Arizona.

2023: District Homicides Reach a High Since 1997

In 2023, the District of Columbia experienced more homicides than in any year since 1997, despite a decrease in homicides in many other major cities. Bowser attributed this to the city's approach to public safety, which she believed allowed criminal offenders to avoid sufficient consequences.