If you're literally describing "old DC" as just pre-pandemic, then I don't know what to tell you. For the overwhelming majority of people, let alone the people that frequent this sub, it's the same thing, just more expensive.

You being so anxious that you can't walk between two safe NW neighborhoods doesn't change that. So what you need to change is either your media consumption that has you believing there's a murderer around every corner, or the posts you read here (just block crime post trolls, you'll never see them anywhere else).