We have had another tradegy in GTS. I’m just heartbroken for my City. More lives ended.
I’m tired of this. I’ll be shopping my version of a plan in short order. I’ve been working on it for about 3 months now. It was going to be another Manassas Next style movie but we don’t have time for that. I ‘m not prepared to talk about it yet – I have to get it to the Council first but it is on the way. It won’t cure all ills immediately but I’m trying.
UPDATE: The police have now announced that the suspect in the triple murder is an illegal alien who was ordered deported almost 10 years ago. Way to go ICE.
UPDATE 2: ICE has announced this morning that they have placed an immigration detainer on the suspect. Thanks ICE but I think we’ll take it from here.
February 11, 2011 at 8:45 am
Thank you for moving it forward and please consider this – we need to start thinking when there is a crisis to knock out bureaucratic walls and get the people together (government and key volunteers) to move things forward.
We have a City EOC for weather and all the other times something occurs where key people need to be in a room putting ideas and plans forward to initiate/take action. GTS incidents should have that same drive, further extending to what can assist one place, be proactive assistance to other locations.
Having been part of your Think Tank, I know the above sounds sketchy, but leaving it to your lead. You have the right idea to bring the first part of the plan forward, as the next phase of Manassas Next can wait.
February 11, 2011 at 10:05 am
http://tbd.ly/h7aPP6
Andy, this is indeed a great tragedy for the entire city.
Some thoughts:
– I don’t think any of us know all the details surrounding
these incidents yet, so it would be premature now to
draw any specific conclusions. I’m sure that information
will be shared with the community ASAP.
– There are over 850 homes in GTS and a population
of well over 3,000 people. The entire neigborhood
shouldn’t be demeaned by the actions of a very few.
– Over twenty years ago, when the city worked with
citizens to drive out an open air drug market problem,
it required “everyone on board” – police, inspections,
social services, churches, schools, etc. and it took
several years of intensive focus and major fiscal
resources to accomplish our goals.
– The money and manpower were pulled back and
redirected as crime rates dropped and home
values improved. The Manassas Housing Trust
Fund helped citizens purchase and fix properties.
(The home ownership percentage went from 40%
to 58%). The city also passed a tough Rental
Inspection Ordinance that pushed out large “slum
lords”. (Sadly,the GA gutted the enabling legislation
for that ordinance few years ago – so many
other Virginia jurisdictions copied ours that it
upset some powerful real estate interest in other
parts of Va.).
– Agree,it is past time for a Georgetown South Next.
But, if history is a guide, it won’t be as quick as we
like and it won’t be cheap. And it will only work
if “everyone is on board” including the City AND
a large segment of the citizens living in GTS.
February 11, 2011 at 10:55 am
“But, if history is a guide, it won’t be as quick as we
like and it won’t be cheap. And it will only work
if “everyone is on board” including the City AND
a large segment of the citizens living in GTS.”
Translation:
Lots of talk, lots of time, lots of money.
Andy, I hope your plan is less ‘lots.’ Somewhere between Mr. Randolh’s ‘lots’ and others’ ‘One Big Parking Lot’ solution.
February 11, 2011 at 2:48 pm
GTS citizens on board?
Yeah, more and more on the next train outta there, methinks.
February 11, 2011 at 3:04 pm
@Doug, I agree it is going to be money and time…no way around those two.
The “lots of talk” is the one thing that needs to be done with and reduce the thought to action time.
Steve,
Part of the problem with history is those that do not learn from it are doomed to repeat it, and those that do, well, are just doomed…..because once the hot button is over, and resources pulled back, nothing is put in place to assist with continuity afterwards. Here we are 20 years later with different issues, same place.
I agree with getting everyone on board – let’s start first with establishing the Housing & Neighborhood Services Office NOW and not waiting. Cut through the red tape and make it happen!
That MUST be a linchpin is any plan – we have one office managing Housing issues and vouchers, one handling the community work efforts and zoning. This would be a MAJOR step to as Steve brings out about bringing people on board.
Both offices are already working with the Neighborhood Group our illustrious volunteer Cindy helped get started. And Christie is working hard at bringing the community together, and she and I are also now talking about things that can be done.
Professor Weisburd at his GMU presentation on Tuesday about “Hot Spots of Crime & Crime Prevention” (well attended by our Chief and senior members of MCPD), emphasized what was needed to “improve the health of places”.
These included
1) using a person-centered approach in actions and we are talking 3,000+ people, but it would still work.
2) police the hot spots
3) reduce opportunities not arrest – this one has a lot of facets to implement, especially more emphasis by Family Services which I could run a whole blog on.
4) inlude “non-criminal justice actors” in survelliance – aka “Neighborhood Watch”
Three of his five risk factors are present in GTS:
1) decreasing property values – more by economy than anything else; although recent Tax Estimates did improve the picture.
2) an increase of those on public housing assistance – our City allocation of housing vouchers and this is where City Housing comes in.
3) an increase in racial homography
Borrowing his points, each of these should be applied to the issue and acted on with resources available. If the Housing & Neighborhood Services Office is in place, what was presented could be enabled.
February 11, 2011 at 4:27 pm
Ray,
With all due respect, if the Police Chief and senior members of our police force have to go sit in the Hylton Center to figure out there are ‘hot spots of crime” and how to prevent crime from an academic then they, we are in bigger trouble than I thought. You know I used to be an expert in the field, a paid consultant. Let me give MCPD some free advice: GTS is a hot spot of crime and sitting on your rear ends in the posh Hylton center listening to some expert explain that crimes happen at ‘locations’ isn’t going to prevent crime at GTS.
February 11, 2011 at 5:16 pm
@Doug Brown
Amen!
February 11, 2011 at 5:38 pm
Steve,
With all due respect, the time for talking is over with. It’s clear past attempts to clean up GTS did not work and did not last for very long. If your car continues to break down, do you keep tossing money at it, or do you replace it?
How many murders are you willing to accept before doing something? This is an extreme public safety issue. We have school buses going through GTS on a daily basis. Forget the State or the Feds, it’s time for you and the rest of the Council to do what is best for us and to not worry about what the State or the Feds might do. Tell them to give the City the tools and the means to rid us of illegals or the City will have no choice but to do it ourselves.
Enough is enough. Please stop making excuses for not cracking down on illegals and overcrowding. If the illegals feel they can no longer live in our City without fear, they will leave. As it stands, it appears they know the City Council will just keep kicking the can down the road.
How many more lives are going to have to be lost before this is taken care of?
February 12, 2011 at 9:43 am
While it is indeed sad to see what GTS is going through right now, and I was there in the trenches 20 years ago for the last round, it IS unfair to tar & feather one subdivision over the illegal alien problem the entire City/County/region faces. We have to beware of just pointing a “shotgun blast” at GTS as if that’s going to solve the regional problem. I agree we need action in GTS, but it can’t be focused on JUST GTS, or the problem just relocates to Deer Park, or Clover Hill, or Irongate, or Coverstone, or some other neighborhood. That would be what I call a NIMBY approach to the problem, and IMHO those NEVER work out very well long term.
February 12, 2011 at 11:26 am
@Doug
Did you ever attend
seminars/presentations/symposiums to hear the newest/latest/updated research on a topic from someone dinstiquised in the field of Criminology or Law? Attended even though you already knew about the topic – but still went as part of your professional development?
And I lay odds Marc has likely done the same as I expect sitting in PWC Planning he has to keep up with changes.
As far as academics go:
We dropped $71,000 to bring an Academic in to prepare a study with the first half regurgitating what was written in his other studies, with most of the data based on a survey of realtors with no quantifiable hard data; and the second half saying what most of us knew – that we had a dirth of zoning ordinances and our three shops are tame compared to other locales.
And our Chief, CPT Bamford, LT Hutchinson & LT Carroll are all adjunct faculty to either GMU or NVCC.
I do compliment your willingness to volunteer your assistance. Always encourage my fellow citizens to step up to the plate and help resolve issues.
Can I get an Amen on that, Marc?
February 12, 2011 at 11:31 am
@David B
Thanks, David! We are on the same sheet of music as I see what works to aid GTS can be exported across our other neighborhoods…especially as the older ones begin changing owners over the next decade.
There are lots of good people in GTS getting “painted” because of a handful of incidents. With the two murders in Weems Area, did we get painted? Nope.
What also needs to stop is the mindset of just taking GTS and redeveloping it to Veterans Homes, or homes for the disabled or elderly. This attitude by some – and there are those who are pushing for it and researching it – denigrates those residents of GTS and other areas.
February 12, 2011 at 1:04 pm
No of course it’s not just GTS. But, that’ were most of the crime is happening, so that’s where it needs to start. Going back six years or so, to include the “Flea Market” shopping center, which should just be considered a part of GTS, I believe there has been 8 murders(?). It’s the illegals who might just be a majority of residents in GTS, it’s the petty crime, the blight, etc.
Does Weems have a history like GTS?
It’s just going to get worse and the more we ignore the real solution, means having more days like Thursday.
February 12, 2011 at 3:06 pm
So Mr. Brown let me get this straight…you are such an expert that you no longer have to continue to learn about your topic? Really? I’m glad Chief Keen is reaching out to learn more and get other ideas from as many experts as possible. One sizes doesn’t fit all and when it comes to public safety there many ideas and programs out there, but at the end of the day they have to shaped and fitted for the particular situation and community.
I don’t know you Mr. Brown so I’m not sure if your comment about there not being a need for the Chief and senior staff to learn more is either ignorant or arrogance. Maybe the City needs to hire an experts for the police department…wow, I bet they’d save a ton of money on their training budget.
February 12, 2011 at 4:54 pm
There were plenty of GTS residents at Hylton, talking w/police after the Vision Series lecture. The whole point was sharing data and the reasons why city leaders shouldn’t make the mistake of labeling one entire neighborhood as “bad,” when in truth, the hot spots are spread throughout the city. With limited resources, deploying to hot spots makes $$$ sense.
The annual crime reports for the last 4-5 years are posted on the city website. If you see a concentration in GTS for certain kinds of crime, remember one-tenth of the city’s population is there.
Larry Hughes, Chief Keen & even Paul Ebert have all said this is a tragic domestic violence incident. That to me is good leadership in asking people to think of the right-sized solution for the problem at hand. No one should be encouraging a mob mentality with chest-thumping words like “bulldozing” or “firing” city staff or “blood on the hands” of anyone other than the murderer.
Talk to GTS residents. Offer prayers and food for those who are hurting. Continue to work together toward solutions that honor the dignity of all human beings. If you talk about Georgetown South or the Boys & Girls Club or the Hylton Performing Arts Center or the Manassas City Police Department, speak with respect – there are people working hard in all those places, trying to make Manassas a better community.
February 12, 2011 at 5:00 pm
CANDLELIGHT VIGIL: Family and friends are holding a candlelight vigil tomorrow night (Feb. 13) at 7:19 p.m. in memory of Brenda & Billy Ashcraft, who were shot and fatally wounding at that same time Thursday. The vigil is at t 9213 Hood Road in Georgetown South. Please bring your own candle.
February 12, 2011 at 5:30 pm
The suspect is a 37 year old illegal alien. To talk about the boys and girls club as a solution is not only wrong but silly. Do you really want a 37 year old illegal alien hanging out at the boys and girls club? Do you really think if we had a bus to take people from GTS to the Boys and Girls club, which is the distance of less than a mile, pass a bike walk path, would have prevented a 37 year old illegal alien from murdering people? Do you really think adding another ball field fora 37 year old illegal alien is going to be the right thing to do?
This killing had nothing to do with holding hands, painting fences, etc. It had everything to do with an illegal alien who should have been deported a long time ago.
February 12, 2011 at 8:15 pm
While I agree that crime in GTS is an ongoing problem, this current situation boils down to a domestic issue, which could have happened on Park Avenue with people born in the US. We need to do more to raise awareness and make it clear that domestic violence is NOT acceptable.
I am in no way discounting the immigration problem that exists.
February 12, 2011 at 10:37 pm
@COM
You ask if GTS has a history like Weems? I live in Weems 1, and yes, when looking at the MCPD categories of Robbery, Buglary, Auto Theft and Aggravated Assault….we have a dang close ratio.
That ratio is for every one of those categories committed in Weems 1, there are 2 in GTS beat area (1:2) in 2009, and across the four year average in the MCPD reports. Overall all, we have 13% less Calls for Service than over that way. Makes us #3 in the City out of the six Police Beats. But, in terms of the jump from 2006 to 2009, we move up to #2 with a 58% increase to their 87%.
Weems 1 is less because of fewer of the risk factors such as low to moderate income, public housing vouchers….but we are on the upswing.
@Diane – my compliments on your points.
This was domestic violence and if could have been a 37 year old AngloSaxon working in a garage during the day and working stocking shelves in Bloom at night to have enough money for family and his new City Tax Assessment. The indicators for the potential of domestic violence (to include cultural) fit this case.
February 12, 2011 at 10:57 pm
There are just some crimes that all the law enforcement in the world can’t prevent.
February 13, 2011 at 8:33 am
Raymond,
So at one time Weems was an open air drug market? And, had a police substation, and has a history of overcrowding and illegal aliens living in many of the homes? And, has been classified as one of TWO neighborhoods(the other is in the County) in our greater area by the Gang task force as ones to focus on?
Look, I understand that every neighborhood has crime. But GTS is and will always be the worse neighborhood we have. The is a huge number of resources being spent on it.
It could have been many things, but it was an illegal alien who did it. But, I suppose if we just had one more bus to use, the 37 year old illegal alien could have been a member of the boys and girls club, and not fallen in with the wrong crowd.
I just do not get the denial factor. As someone who lives a block away from GTS, I see on a daily basis what goes on in that place. I see the results of the many years of other people taking care of the neighborhood, rather than the people living there. More feel good policies is not going to stop the tide.
Old Manassas,
If the Federal Government would do their job, this crime could have been prevented. The illegal alien should have been deported in 2006.
February 13, 2011 at 9:08 am
COM, I agree, but on a local level it is hard to pervent something like this. It’s difficult to police “crime hotshots” when there is pure evil involved.
February 13, 2011 at 10:49 am
http://www.roanoke.com/editorials/276726
“Fighting crime requires an involved police AND public”
Geo-policing/community policing has been part
of MCPD operations for a number of years
and it works, but our program has been impacted
recently by tight city budgets. I’m sure the
council, working with senior staff, will review
this in the very near future, with the intent I
trust, of quickly re-energizing the program,
especially in our more challenged neighborhoods.
But this just isn’t a local police issue. We need
far more state and federal support. ICE
must be much more proactive – there is simply no
excuse for someone that was slated to be
deported years ago would be Manassas in 2011-
killing three people and wounding three others.
February 13, 2011 at 11:51 am
I would like to ask both Steve and Andy why the resources for public safety have been so tight? I would bet any amount of money that not ONE citizen in this city has said we want the budget for our public safety to be cut.
Quite giving our hard earned tax dollars to GMU and their programs and facilities.
Let’s take care of our citizens safety first.
And COM is right it was an illegal alien that committed this crime and GTS is a hot spot for illegal aliens. A woman at the Gang Prevention Summit who happens to live there even admitted to this FACT.
I am not demimishing the fact that domestic violence was involved and how horrible it is and nether should the fact that the perpetrator was illegal.
Illegal immigration is a huge problem here and needs to be addressed
February 13, 2011 at 11:53 am
Sorry should have been quit giving our tax dollars to GMU…
February 13, 2011 at 1:38 pm
I’ve been repeatedly surprised and disappointed at how few citizens have spoken up during the last several years in support of increasing the public safety budget. On the political balance scale it has seemed safer to call for decreased taxes than to call for increased resources for public safety.
(To be sure, the two are not necessarily mutually exclusive, but that is how it has played out.)
Similarly, public safety issues just don’t generate the public outcry of a KKs issue. The multi-pronged solution for dealing with GTS is far more complex than a relatively simple zoning audience, so those who were far (real far) out front on KKs have been far less outspoken here.
Taking a firmer stand on enforcing
immigration laws is an element of the solution, but is not the only element of a solution. I’m looking for politicial leadership that will admit to the need for a multi-pronged approach that may be complex and short on trendy concepts. I am not looking for a politician who will now come out of the woodwork and grandstand with a seemimgly simple solution. There is nothing simple about this lest these problems would have been solved long ago..
Those who seek political position will use almost any public tragedy as an opportunity for gaining time in the limelight. But let’s be clear: We don’t need another politician; we need meaningful solutions.
I’m willing to pay a little bit more out of my paycheck if a well thought out solution is placed before me. The extra pennies paid to solve these problems will save me more than pennies in the longer term. It’s a form of investing in our future.
While the current council may not be sufficiently conservative on all issues to satisfy everyone, it is at its core a conservative counsel. It now needs the political will to firmly act on a good plan. My guess is that any plan put before council will probably sufer from minor informaties. So be it. Let’s not make the perfect the enemy of the good. Let’s not grandstand by picking apart minor elements of an overall good plan lest the plan stall in council chambers. Council, act now.
February 13, 2011 at 1:43 pm
My eyes and fingers sometimes don’t coordinate well. That’s supposed to be “suffer from minor infirmities” in the last pararaph above.
February 13, 2011 at 2:24 pm
@Steve – good article, and reflects how proactive approaches can work. But, there has to be continuity of any approach even when there are tight budgets.
I am already on record before the Council saying raise my tax and give MCPD six more officers…and if not six, at least four. With the new aggragate number out of Census 2010, we have no choice but to increase uniformed police to maintain CALEA standards of number of officers to total population.
And considering that after three years of decline, the Tax Assessment jerked me up $25,000, even with the same flat tax, the coffers will get more funds from all of the homeowners.
February 13, 2011 at 2:32 pm
COM, never had the substation and I’ll give on that point. And the Gang Task Force has been around, but Weems 1 is not presently on their radar.
Weems 1 does not have an open air drug market – being more middle/upper class, we had people selling them directly out of their homes.
Overcrowding? Come take the tour and I’ll point out the houses (remember, in theroy, these are SFHs) starting with the ones to my left and my right. Illegals? Most likely although there has not been and MCPD and ICE joint raid for awhile. Last one I remember happened on my street at the corner of King Carter and Tackett several years back.
I do not deny illegal persons are an issue – just stay off arguing the illegal issue for two personal reasons – I focus instead on what can be down to reduce the risk factors and maintain continutity within neighborhoods and our City.
February 13, 2011 at 2:36 pm
What are you going do Ray and Old Manassas? Send in a force of GMU professors in caps and gowns to clean up GTS? Operation Monty Python?
My point was simple and direct. The ’experts’ on GTS crime and crime prevention better be the MCPD or we don’t have a police force we have force of aspiring academics.
With that said, I believe it was on this site, or maybe it was on Greg’s, I commended the MCPD for thier quick resolution of the student murder last year. To me it idicated that MCPD has a handle on what’s going on in GTS.
However, if the MCPD, seriously believes that this current incident is SIMPLY a case of domestic violence gone tragically wrong then my confidence in the MCPD would be seriously diminished.
How insulting to your fellow citizens to imply or openly state it could have been any one of you! It was an illegal alien, first and foremost. If he wasn’t here there would have no murders in the community, GTS, that you claim to care so much about.
February 13, 2011 at 2:38 pm
oops I meant to edit that before posting, but you all get the idea…..Fire Hughes!
February 13, 2011 at 3:39 pm
Very interesting comments here. I can say Amen! to most and Really? to many.
I completely understand focusing on the positive — the positive solutions that is.
Ray you started the comments by suggesting “key volunteers” be involved in working with our local government to move things forward. What “key volunteers” do you have in mind? Specifically, moving what forward?
The Housing and Neighborhood Services office is not yet established?? Exactly what red tape are you asking Councilman Randolph to cut through and make what happen?
February 13, 2011 at 5:15 pm
Raymond,
Weems might have issues as every neighborhood does in the City, but there just is no way it even comes close to GTS. It’s just a collective of issues, that are not going away.
How to solve getting the police more money is easy. End the revenue agreement with the school board, cut funding for esl classes, I simply do not believe we need 90 million plus to educate 7,000 students.
February 13, 2011 at 7:54 pm
I think the Chief was pretty clear saying the bad guys was illegal. From what I heard the MCPD has been short staffed for awhile. Between retirements, reductions in officers because of budget cuts and young officers leavng for more money. Its very tough to be proactive. When other departments are paying more its hard to keep young officers. Time for council to throw in for everything. Pay increases to stop the bleeding and add more more officers.
Then maybe the Chief can get his communtiy police plan back in full swing .
February 13, 2011 at 9:24 pm
I believe the Chief and MCPD are pretty competent, staff shortages and tight budgets are a reality in these times.
Working in the construction enviroment for the last 20 yrs I’ve learned that these people don’t trust “locals” in general and are very close knit in their own groups and have excellent avoidance and survival instincts.
So unless your going undercover to infiltrate, ( too costly for too little results) it is going to be very hard to deal with this dilemma directly.
After looking at some assessments (pretty low) for the area maybe a law enforcement levy for GTS of 15 or 20 cents would help fund some extra policemen or time and make the area a little safer.
Enforcement needs a big step up.
These are the type of solutions that we need to look for,
Study time is over,
A serious look at allocation of all our assets,
Maybe some new blood willing to take on the challenge
February 13, 2011 at 10:15 pm
Bud,
Those are some good suggestions. The police department is hurting, no question about it. The school budget needs to be cut, which is where the extra money can come from to help the police. But I do like the levy, and there should be one for the schools too. Given the level of overcrowding, which means there are a lot of families not paying their fair share in taxes. Cross check the addresses of students in order to find which families live in GTS and tax them.
February 13, 2011 at 11:56 pm
Someone already did the cross checking. The city was sued for it and the person fired if I recall.
February 14, 2011 at 7:15 am
I don’t know how they can get sued for just checking what neighborhood people live in.
February 14, 2011 at 1:11 pm
COM,
It can be a Census Action to know which neighborhood and homes have students in it. That is part of the work to justify Federal funding and determine school-aged Race & Ethnic makeup. You cannot use that information in the way you propose.
Maureen got it right – lawsuit was back in 2008. Part of the fallout from the Housing Lawsuit. Details about it all at:
http://www.equalrightscenter.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pr_08_09_24
When it comes to Federal Education Laws, the rules are strict. Shoot, my two young adults even had to sign a paper to the colleges their parents were allowed to interact with regard to their school records! But those colleges sure cashed my checks without a blink.
February 14, 2011 at 1:27 pm
Lindy,
You asked about “key volunteers” – these would be people with housing, human services, or other areas with knowledge & experience that could be brought around the table to assist City Staff and also take an active role in implementing the ideas. These could be either those active in the community supporting positive approaches to resolving issues, or those who are already appointed to the City’s various Boards/Committees/Commissions who would have knowledge and expertise to contribute.
“move forward” – the 2008 Draft Update to the City’s Comprehensive Plan has a chapter on Housing & Neighborhoods. There are several goals in there which could be done now. Also, develop a plan to start efforts to stabilize/revitalize GTS, and expand those out to other areas such as Bristol Station, Point of Woods, till we reach all neighborhoods.
“red tape” – Housing right now is based over in Family Services. It was placed there years ago since our Housing Manager works with DFS with regards to the Housing Vouchers. Our Manager also works with landlords and working with the HOA – two newer intiatives. Until about a year ago, the HUD Community Development Block Grants were over in DFS, now with Community Development. Neighborhood Services is under Community Development.
I proposed to the Council back on January 10th create the combined office. Put the vouchers and GDBG grants in that office, and add two Zoning Inspectors so we have one office residents can come to, plus one office to make combined continutity efforts after the six week run of “Week of Hope”. Right now, disjointed effort. So cut the red tape and create the office now, instead of dragging through studies or waiting on new budget.
February 14, 2011 at 1:36 pm
Raymond,
Federal immigration laws are supposed to be enforced to. We all know that’s not happening. The Federal Government cannot pick and choose what laws to enforce. If we stop taking federal funds, how can they tell us what to do?
It can fall under tax enforcement. I do no think anyone can argue the City should not be able to find out who is paying taxes or not.
February 14, 2011 at 2:01 pm
Raymond,
This is not meant as a comment or any insinuation on the merits of what you’re proposing, but who examines potential conflict of interests and the liabilities that the city might incur by the involvement and contribution of key volunteer experts?
February 14, 2011 at 2:58 pm
Nothing more than a few observations on whether the government can pick and choose which laws to enforce:
Actually, the Federal government can and does pick and choose what laws to enforce. State and local governments do that too. It relates to agency and prosecutorial discretion. As some Federal courts have observed, agency discretion is “at its zenith” when it comes to enforcement matters.
Governments have priorities, they put their budgets behind those priorities, and the laws that further those priorities are the laws most likely to get enforced. As budgets get reduced the available choices can be rather stark. Not surprisingly, there is often disagreement over the priorities. Oversight hearings are an obvious means of effecting those priorities.
Sometimes government discretion is limited by statute. Those laws typically say that a particular government agency “must” or “shall” enforce a particular law. But even that’s not quite so simple. Few of the laws with such mandatory language also provide for what happens in the event of noncompliance. In those instances, and depending upon the jurisdiction, one may have to go to court for a court order mandating that an agency enforce a particular law. The mode of enforcement then becomes a contempt order if the agency then fails to comply.
Such a task is very complicated, tortuous, timely and expensive. Nobody can readily predict the outcome of a lawsuit. A million things can go wrong and several usually do.
February 14, 2011 at 3:12 pm
COM, City already at least for houses, knows who is paying and not. Commissioner of Revenue has all that, plus there has been some changes to Virgina Code allowing faster collection of back taxes.
Since we lost the City Decal, hard to tell in a neighborhood who registers their car within 30 days of taking up residence (like all those Maryland plates). Personal Property Tax is a whole other passel of issues for collection.
And if one thinks of a Special Tax District, or a Special Tax Levy, the Commonwealth has a whole set of laws and rules regarding those. Limited as to what a local government can and cannot do.
February 14, 2011 at 3:17 pm
Doug, good question! and not one many people know (even those who sit on the various boards etc.)
In the City, to sit on one of the various Boards et.al, there is the Council Personnel Committee which interviews and screens. Ideally, for whichever one, there is no conflict for that one. There are several where you have to file that annual disclosure form. Also, your performance is reviewed every six months.
When performing as a volunteer for the City, operating in the appointed capacity, the City’s Risk Management Insurance covers liability. And like most policies/procudures, even as a volunteer, if it was my fault I causethe harm while serving in the appointed capacity, the City can come after me in the Courts.
February 14, 2011 at 4:59 pm
Rich,
Given that we have anywhere from 10 to 20 million illegals, that many illegals have been connected to terrorist plots, etc, I’d say illegal aliens are at the top of the list.
It just so happens the current and former administration does not, and did not put much effort into stopping illegal immigration. No doubt that attitude has trickled down to the agencies that are supposed to keep us safe from illegals.
No doubt if a family member of a high ranking official was killed or directly affected by an illegal committing a crime, I’d think we suddenly see a difference in enforcement.
Raymond,
Something has to be done, or nothing will ever change. There is a reason why we have so many illegals. Sometimes we just have to take the issue in hand and do what is best, otherwise there is not going to be a City of Manassas. Extreme issues call for extreme measures.
That’s why every person that comes into contact with the police needs to be asked about their legal status. We must make it so that illegals will not think our City is a good place to live. No more excuses, something has to be done.
February 14, 2011 at 6:13 pm
Thank you Raymond. You wouldn’t happen to also know right off hand whether employees which Mr. Hughes is responsible for hiring and supervising make up that commiittee? I didn’t see that specific committee listed among the other committees. It wasn’t in HR either, is it something which the City Council manages without Mr Hughes input? I may not always agree with you, but I do appreciate your indepth knowledge of the city nuts and bolts, some pun intended.
February 15, 2011 at 12:31 am
Doug,
The Council Personnel Committee is Mr. Randolph, Mr. Wolfe, and Mrs. Bass. The list of Counci-specific Committees “Who’s Who” is not on the website, but a quick call to the Clerk’s Office can give the full appointment breakout by the Mayor.
To my knowledge, most of the day to day HR stuff is handled by our HR Director and HR Dept. When it comes to the Director level, it operates much like any setup where Mr. Hughes appoints a peer committee to review, they send the recommendations to him, and he sends to Council. At least that is how it was explained to me once.
Hey, always glad to share what I have learned about how the City ticks…helps one know how to deal with the system 🙂
February 15, 2011 at 12:40 am
COM,
I agree 100% something must be done, and done within the limits of the law. I cross my fingers Delegate Miller and his peers who passed that batch of laws can browbeat the Senate into not dropping the ball this time. The GA must give the power to the local government – that darn Dillon Rule, ya know.
I presume when you say “come in contact with the police”, it is when a violation of a law or ordinance has occured particularly if a criminal act?
February 15, 2011 at 5:30 pm
Raymond,
Thanks for you continued source of information.
Hopefully these first steps will lead to much larger and more defined ones that will take care of the issue once and for all.
Yes, I mean the police should inquire about the legal status of those people they either pull over for a traffic infraction, etc, etc, etc.
I’m not so sure the Dillion rule is as hard and fast as we might think it is.
February 15, 2011 at 6:51 pm
Dillon Rule – I am sure our illustrious Vice Mayor could give us a lecture 🙂 But to save his fingers, here’s a great little brief about it:
http://www.virginia.edu/ien/vnrli/docs/briefs/DillonRule_2011.pdf
If you go up to the Virginia website and do a search on Dillion Rule, you will see all the OAG rulings, court cases, reports, et. al.
COM, it is one restrictive little putty of a rule.