Alexander Din - D.C. Policy Center

Alex is a Social Science Analyst for the Office of Policy Development & Research for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and an adjunct lecture for the University of Maryland Baltimore County’s (UMBC) Master of Professional Studies in Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

Alex previously worked for the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) as a Housing Research Analyst and for Dewberry supporting mapping projects for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and the United States Geological Survey (USGS). He grew up in Montgomery County, Maryland and now lives in Washington, D.C.

D.C. Policy Center contributors are independent writers, and we gladly encourage the expression of a variety of perspectives. The views of our contributors, published here or elsewhere, do not reflect the views of the D.C. Policy Center.

Written By Alexander Din

Articles | Education | Student experience | Transportation

Increased transit delays in fall of 2021 and the potential impact on high school commutes

In the fall of 2021, students in DCPS and public charter schools returned in-person, after spending roughly a year and a half learning at home. Students returned to school at roughly the same time that most of Metro’s 7000-series trains were removed from service due to safety concerns. The reduction in service doubled wait times at Metro stations and put additional strain on the Metro’s bus network. This is concerning because transportation vulnerability, including increased commute times or unreliable service, has been linked to issues with school attendance—which may result in loss of academic achievement.

November 14, 2022 | Alexander Din

Articles | Public safety | Racial Equity

Proximity to homicide exposure in Washington, D.C., 2021

When neighborhoods are exposed to crime, children are less likely to play outside, more likely to be stressed out or experience poor mental health. They worry about safe passage to their schools and fall behind in their schoolwork. The incidence of homicides has increased dramatically in the District of Columbia since 2017. And homicides are increasingly happening in parts of the city that are denser, exposing a larger number of people. But less dense neighborhoods tend have more children, so when adjusted for child population, many more neighborhoods start lighting up on our maps, showing the great toll these events take on the District’s children.

June 23, 2022 | Alexander Din