Four months after Mayor Muriel Bowser imposed her inane indoor mask mandate, Washington, D.C., will finally be done with it come Monday. Having broken the story of Bowser violating her own order and then lying about it, I am as happy as anyone. But given its timing, Bowser’s declaration seems intended to conceal the real scandal roiling the district.

With more than a month to go until the end of the year, homicides in 2021 have already surpassed the astounding number recorded in 2020.