You probably won’t see this in the paper but we had another gang fight between the Bloods and the Crips last weekend. One of the participants was injured enough that he had to be flown to FFX hospital. Last I heard he was in a coma. This is the second incident between those two gangs in about the last month. Let’s hope that it doesn’t escalate to gun violence.
We also had a failed drug deal on Monday afternoon where the guy on the losing end wound up being shot twice. Evidently the guy got robbed by his dealer. My friends on Facebook are having a field day with this one. They’re the ones who titled it “Welcome to the Jungle”. They opening stanza of that song is becoming more and more accurate:
“Welcome to the jungle, we got fun ‘n’ games
We got everything you want, honey we know the names
We are the people that you find, whatever you may need
If you got the money, honey we got your disease”
See this earlier post about the first gang-fight.
In a bit of mixed news, one of the gang-bangers who killed an OHS student last year in a gang-hit-gone-wrong is currently on trial. According to the paper, he has admitted that he stabbed the kid. Let’s hope the Commonweath’s Attorney gets this one right and doesn’t cut a sweetheart deal as they have done with other high-profile cases lately.
Does anyone still believe we have too many police officers and need to face the problems as they lay or am I just cranky today?
March 28, 2012 at 8:40 pm
Scott,
We can stand out in front of the Wellington Giant. Well, at least admit it’s not the most common sighting.
March 28, 2012 at 9:33 pm
COM: I said that in my last post. I gather since you could not understand that that English may not be a strong suit. Time?
March 29, 2012 at 4:54 am
COM
Never, ever, use y’all in the singular. It makes you sound so…. unrefined.
March 29, 2012 at 6:24 am
COM:
I’ve actually advanced the parking idea we discussed to the staff for some work. I’m happy to bring other stuff along but I’m only 1 guy. Grab a shovel and help dig! Do a little legwork and find some stuff that worked elsewhere, send it along and I’ll run it up the flagpole!
March 29, 2012 at 6:51 am
Scott,
Sorry, that was a typo. It should say, at least ***You***….. I can do it this weekend after 1 on Saturday.
F. Maybe I was sleeping in English class that day, or it could just be a typo. Where is the sentence?
Andy,
I did speak with our HOA management on Tuesday to see if they would have an opionion on having on street parking restrictions. The onsite manager said because the two streets in question are City streets, they have no say in the matter but would welcome it along with a total ban on commicial vehicles. I’ll look at other stuff too, and let you know what I find.
March 29, 2012 at 8:27 am
From my post on March 28, 2012 @8:20: “COM: I never said it was a common occurrence but it has happened. ” I will check with the wife to be and see if she has plans for us on Saturday but it sounds doable.
March 29, 2012 at 9:43 am
Ed,
Perhaps MCPS will share how much is spent on ESOL vs. what is spent on the small population of Special Education?
Since you admit to not knowing about Special Education I will enlighten you. Special Education services in the City of Manassas are shameful. I have a special ed child and everything has been a fight. Not only do I have to fight for minimal services every year I have paid tens of thousands out of pocket for basic services he should be getting through MCPS. Hoping that I could plead his case I paid out of pocket for private evaluations at top hospitals and STILL the city refuses to accommodate. For those that think there is support for parents…don’t kid yourself. The VDOE and Parental Rights offer nothing but time consuming paperwork and stall tactics.
On the other hand, ESOL kids and their families are given accommodations without having to ask or fight and they pay nothing out of pocket –ESOL teachers, special programs, bi-lingual staff, all notices is in two languages, the list goes on.
BTW, “How much less crime would there be without rednecks in Manassas?” is a tired excuse.
March 29, 2012 at 10:11 am
FourKidsnaDog,
You are right. But, since the School Board now projects …a minimum… of 200 additional students each year, and wants to build new buildings to accommodate them, perhaps to reduce construction costs and increased ESOL costs the City should just build all future school buildings and annexes in Mexico.
That would also save these parents the trouble of driving all 1,700 miles from Mexico to Manassas. But wait…! They wouldn’t get free breakfasts and lunches! Forget I mentioned it…..
Well, maybe at least they could build their new schools in Georgetown South with cheap illegal labor. That might accomplish a couple of things….
March 29, 2012 at 10:29 am
All the streets in GTS are city streets – we currently require
GTS neighborhood parking stickers for long term parking
(like in parts of Old Town that are in place to help prevent
commuter parking on residential streets). But we legally
are prevented from providing assigned parking places to
individuals on a public street. Have long suggested
the city sell the streets to GTS for $1 and they could
assign parking anyway they wanted, but they have declined
since they would then have to maintain them – repairs,
repaving, street cleaning, snow removal, marking, etc. .
March 29, 2012 at 11:17 am
Mr. Randolph, please forgive my ignorance. This is a query.
You say “we are legally prevented from providing assigned parking places to individuals on a public street.” Is that a state law, or a city ordinance? I would appreciate if you would provide the citation.
Thanks very much.
March 29, 2012 at 11:40 am
CS, my assumption would be because it is public property and the rights belong to all citizens. If you assign them, it then becomes private property…ALSO, about this street parking issue and taking it away. The only thing you are going to do is piss off citizens who may have more then 2 vehicles. What if a family has kids who drive and own a vehicle? REALLY??!?!!
Also, do you really think it is only illegals who have mutliple families (if you will) living in a house/townhouse/apartment? Don’t forget that young single people cannot afford to live ON THEIR OWN in this area without the help of roommates. Some people are VERY short sighted.
Heck, when I was young and moved out on my own I could not afford an apartment by myself. I always had a roommate or two. I also had invited guests from time to time and where would they park if you do away with street parking?!?!!?!?!
Just glad that this world has different opionins so MOST people can see more then one side of a subject. Sometimes we need to turn an object to look at all sides and remember there is more to this world then just ourselves.
March 29, 2012 at 12:43 pm
Net:
What COM and others are referring to is a discussion we had at the budget summit where we discussed “no-parking” select streets – typically major thoroughfares. The street we discussed was Liberia. A big problem in “no-parking” even one side of Liberia would be that the displaced vehicles would simply go park in the single-family development accross the street, eliminating parking for those homes. I don’t know that we can to any conclusion but it’s an interesting thought.
For whatever it’s worth, I don’t believe that it’s incumbent upon the City to provide parking for townhouse/condo developments. The developments have to provide enough parking for their residents. If you get 2 or 3 spaces inside of the development then that should be it. Striping every street for additional parking only encourages overcrowding….and we’re not talking about 2-3 20-somethings living together to share costs. Drive down Liberia one Saturday afternoon….
March 29, 2012 at 1:52 pm
AndyH: What were the requirements for parking when most of the condos/townhomes built? What are the current requirements? I know when we lived in POW parking was competitive with one assigned spot and limited “guest parking”. Developers make no money on parking then or now. How will any new parking regulations affect the legal residents? Multiple families with multiple cars have only excarbated the problem on Liberia and Stonewall. The City inherited some developments when it separated from the County in 1975 but they approved a lot after that date.
March 29, 2012 at 2:24 pm
Nettie,
Yes some people are very short sighted. Yes, we do need to look at other opinions, because there are some who do not believe we have any issues with illegals. Single roommates that do not have children, are not the issue, unless they are in a house that is not built for the number of people that are living in it. Overcrowding laws have been around for a while, I’m guessing long before we had illegals. The City needs to focus on weeding out overcrowding regardless of who is doing it, but again, when people who are not even supposed to be here are doing it, it just makes it more bothersome.
Parking should be restricted on many streets, just from a safety stand point. Drive down Cloverhill(the townhouse side) during the evening and early mornings on the weekends and tell me if you believe that’s attractive.
March 29, 2012 at 2:33 pm
Nettie,
If someone broke into your house and made themselves at home, what would you do? Would you treat them the same way as invited guests?
March 29, 2012 at 5:22 pm
@Scott: no idea, it really was a topical, short, conversation. Don’t read too much into it. Needs a lot more research, etc. I suppose the ultimate point is that we can’t be afraid to take up tough solutions even if they aren’t popular.
March 29, 2012 at 7:49 pm
CS, I’m not a lawyer, so will have to do a little research to find
the exact citation on this issue in the Code of Virginia.
March 29, 2012 at 8:05 pm
four kids
I know as a parent, you’d do anything for your child. With the educational challenges you face, you’d like to think that the schools would be your ally, not a roadblock. Again, I’m not familiar with what the law entitles you to, but am familiar with the recent history of the spec. ed director, and have heard on multiple occasions that spec ed parents have had big difficulties. Unfortunately, with limited resources, I can see how a school system might end up spreading any help they do give a little thin. I see that when compared to two other small NOVA school systems (Man Park and Falls Church) we have a larger proportion of special ed students. Have your biggest issues been along the lines of qualification for assistance, or just getting assistance even when you qualify? I would just like to know more about your experience, if you care to share it. After fighting this good fight, how do you think the schools could best address your concerns going forward? Do you think it is a question of resources that they won’t provide or presently cannot? I believe our system should be doing everything they can for every cohort of students, and the special ed folks deserve the resources they are entitled to. As do ESOL students, GT, and those in the middle. I can’t tell from the budget presented last night how much is spent on any one of those groups. There’s just a big pricey block called ‘instruction’. Tell me, what has been your biggest roadblock? Has there been any staff that were more helpful, or less? If there needs to be a shake up of the department, so be it. Feeling as I do that the teacher has the biggest impact on any student’s learning, we should be attracting the most successful of them in any way possible. It seems like there has always been a particularly acute shortage of good special ed teachers, and I’m sure you’ve seen your share of those you’d consider effective and those you would not. If you feel the problems are really higher up the chain, then it is going to be more imperative that our new superintendent be prepared to address it.
I don’t feel that my crack about rednecks wasn’t any type of excuse, but you can certainly disagree. It was only meant to point out that any group of people with a disproportionately large percentage of criminal activity coming from that group can be singled out and the question asked ‘ how much less crime would there be if we didn’t have group X’ We can no more legally identify a redneck than we can an illegal alien, unless they are arrested.
March 29, 2012 at 9:48 pm
Ed,
Again, you’ve missed the point. Rednecks, as long as they are either Citizens or legal immigrants are supposed to be here, while illegals are not even supposed to be here. So that makes any crime they committ one more crime we are not supposed to have, or should have. The cost associated with illegals get compounded even more when they break additional laws. From public defenders to jail, etc. It’s all money being spent on people that are not even supposed to here. Can you provide the last time a redneck killed someone in the City? I can surely tell you the last time an illegal did.
March 29, 2012 at 11:31 pm
Ed,
One more time – Special Education is not a choice. Coming here illegally (climbing a wall or through a tunnel) is. Being born with a disability or developing one from an accident or injury is not a choice. Speaking a language other than English in America is.
Please stop taking about Special Education, the students, teachers or department. You have no idea how Manassas City has conducted themselves in the past or in the present. If you did, you would be ashamed, disgusted and embarrassed. That’s the real civil rights issue here.
March 30, 2012 at 6:01 am
Mr. Randolph. You don’t know the citation, but you tell everyone ‘it’s the law’…? And everyone is supposed to believe you? Gee…
Everyone is supposed to believe you and the other politicians who say “it’s the law” when they are too lazy to do any thinking. You’re the one who said it’s the law, not me. If you want to have some credibility, YOU are the one who should provide the citation.
March 30, 2012 at 8:05 am
And, in getting back to the orignal post…. the BR located in Wellington Station was robbed on Wednesday night. Kind of sad that ice cream shops are targets for criminals.
March 30, 2012 at 8:42 am
Mr. Randolph, I apologize for misunderstanding your response, and providing mine so early in the morning…before coffee. I will await your ‘research’ — and the citation. Thank you.
March 30, 2012 at 8:59 am
@Ed,
I am more than willing to share my sepcial ed experiences but my post would read like a book and have many chapters. I have had problems at every single level and my child only needs standard pull out services – nothing fancy or cutting edge. The sad reality is that my story is nothing compared to what others have experienced. Families have resorted to moving for the sole purpose of getting the services and support that their child is entitiled to under law.
Special Ed and GT should not be compared. Special Ed kids depend on services and these services can make or break the quality of life they will lead. Not to mention that Special Ed families have finacial and emotional stress that other families will never realize.
March 30, 2012 at 10:28 am
COM,
I don’t know where the comment about someone in my house came from, but me and my shot gun (which can also be used as a bat) would usher them right out…(well, unless they are willing to cook, clean and do laundry…but I digress). If you think I LIKE or APPROVE of those who have entered our country or are still here illegally, the answer is NO. But the feds say we (Mcity) cannot do anything about it except what we would do for a citizen i.e. we can’t target them because we know/assume they are illegal.
I agree that we should not have “over crowding”. I agree that we should have homes maintained in a somewhat orderly fashion. We just need to ensure that we don’t go too far…because that’s where we usually get into trouble. If we have a bigger police presence, that is usally a deterent for ANYTHING/ANYBODY.
March 30, 2012 at 2:19 pm
Nettie,
I asked that question because I knew you were not going to be so welcoming of people breaking into your house. That’s what illegals have done to our Country and City. They have broken in and made themselves at home on our dime and on top of that, demand services and to be treated differently from other criminals.
I do not think anyone is saying we should not go after all criminals, but just as if there was a drug or other specific type of crime exploding in the City, the police and or City Council would adopt polices to address those issues. We need to find out why illegals are coming here to the City, why they feel safe to do so over other jurisdictions and come up with solutions that will pass legal review, and or State law. Having on street parking restrictions, not assigned parking, but limiting on street parking will help. Have an E-verify program will help, etc.
March 31, 2012 at 7:13 am
“Citizens Oppose Plan
For Georgetown South
A group of Manassas citizens voiced strong opposition at a
public hearing before the town council Friday night
against the construction of a $5 million dollar
Georgetown town type housing development.
A crowd of about fifty persons turned out to tell why
they were opposed to the council’s amending the
zoning law to permit the proposed type of construction
by the Merit Developers of Washington.
C. Lacy Compton speaking for Merit Developers as
their legal advisor, stated he felt the project as a whole would
benefit the town.
Speaking against the request were L. Lonas who felt
the development would be just another Manassas Gardens and
C.J. Mclain who opposed reducing lot sizes. Others opposed
included Jerry Gregory and Mrs. Phillip Park who opposed the
project ‘because of the large influx of children it would bring
into the county, thus adding to school overcrowding.’
Lee Rubinstein, a partner in Merit Developers, spoke at length
on the benefits to be gained from the development – quality
affordable homes, tax revenue for the town, and spending in
the town by the new residents.
Rubinstein said an estimated 400 units were ultimately planned
on the Ralph Johnson tract. He estmated the sale prices, depending
on size, would be between $13,000 and $18,000.
The town council is expected to vote on the change at its regular
meeting on Monday.”
Manassas Journal Messenger (2-2-1962)
(Note – By 1968, 860 units had been built in GTS)
March 31, 2012 at 11:53 am
Steve,
Thanks for another interesting bit of history. Of course looking back, I do not think anyone could foresee the issues we know have, and have had with GTS, but sometimes it’s better not to build.
March 31, 2012 at 8:17 pm
“A group of Manassas citizens voiced strong opposition at a
public hearing before the town council Friday night
against the construction of a $5 million dollar
Georgetown town type housing development”.
Smart people. I wonder how many still live in the City to say “I told you so”?
April 4, 2012 at 10:42 am
Mr. Randolph, It’s been nearly a week now. Have you finished your research yet regarding your statement that one cannot assign parking areas on a street, and therefore cannot use parking as a deterrent to illegal aliens?
Any citations of “the law”? State law? Local law? Federal law? God’s law?
Just to let you know, I haven’t forgotten, and am still waiting.
Thanks.
April 4, 2012 at 3:50 pm
CS,
Can start with 46.2 – 1230 of the Code of Virginia.
A jurisdiction may limit parking to a defined group
such as GTS residents or Old Town residents, but not
convert public parking spaces to the use of a specific individual.
If you want to discuss this more, you are
welcome to give me a call.
April 5, 2012 at 6:09 am
Steve,
I do not believe anyone is asking for assigned on street parking, what we want is to limit parking all together on many streets, or restrict it to one side of the street only.
April 5, 2012 at 9:12 am
One of the 7-11’s on Dumfries was robbed again this past weekend. That is either the third or fourth time in the last few months. Add the robbery at BR in Wellington Station and that’s a lot of robberies in a three to four block area. Welcome to the Manasssas home of illegals and store robberies.
April 5, 2012 at 11:24 am
Mr. Randolph, the citation you provide is:
46.2-1230. Authority of counties, cities, and towns to issue parkingpermits.
The governing body of any county, city, or town may by ordinance provide forthe issuance of permits for motor vehicles parking on public streets, to setthe rates for the permits, and to set the term of validity of the permits. Insetting the rates, the governing body may differentiate between motorvehicles registered in the political subdivision issuing the permit and othermotor vehicles.
After your “research” that’s the law that you hide behind to avoid taking any action?!!
It seems to be the City has all the authority it needs to implement some parking policies!
What’s lacking is any creativity or backbone of the City Council.
April 5, 2012 at 11:35 am
Thats what we need. Charge out of State, which will mostly be from Maryland, vehicles double what we charge in State vehicles.
April 5, 2012 at 12:29 pm
All this crime yet some of our “leaders” balk at supporting our police!
April 5, 2012 at 5:41 pm
CJ,
Went back and read our postings. It appeared that you were
first upset about my post that we couldn’t assign GTS residents specific
parking spaces because the spaces are public property as are the roads
in that community.
What you apparently wanted to complain about though was crowded
parking in other areas. In answer to that, the city has taken numerous
measures including controlling long term, mostly commuter parking,
in the Old Town area, helped “open” Main St. between Baldwin and
Wellington by making one side no parking and placed a ban on
truck parking on Breedon near Didlake and the Best Western.
As Councilman Harrover explained in one of his post, before
taking action, we have to examine where the vehicles will go if they
are forced to move from an area. We don’t want to simply push it
over a block.
One advantage of getting back up to traditional staffing
levels in the MCPD will be greater inforcement of parking regulations
and checking of vehicle tags and registration.
Once again, feel free to call me and/or apply for the city citizen’s group
that helps address issues like this one.