Look what welcomed me back into Old Town late this afternoon (big version). There are many irritating things about this sign, not the least of which is that it is addressed to Prince William County but stands smack in the middle of Manassas. I understand free speech but I find it hard to believe that it is legal to put a 40′ billboard on private property w/o some kind of permit.
September 16, 2007 at 7:38 pm
Andy,
I know that when a sign is in the historic district you NEED a permit. Please tell me you are going to take care of this first thing Monday morning.
September 16, 2007 at 7:52 pm
Ms. Wood, not every sign in the historic district requires a permit. And we may not like it, but it is free speach. We have a lot more problems to worry about than this, please worry about important things.
September 16, 2007 at 8:09 pm
Sam,
I hate to tell you this but Maureen is right! City code states that a sign on residential property can be no larger than 32 Square Feet. Well, as you can see in Andy’s comments it’s 40feet long, now that’s certainly larger than 32 sqr. ft.! I hope Code Enforcement gets on this ASAP.
I heard on a report on Channel 8 MCPD, checked this sign out, and said was legal. Well, since when does the MCPD enforce Property Code violations.
The police have serious crimes to solve. For example, the second murder in the City of Manassas. I’ve live here my entire life, and I can’t believe 2 murders in 2-3 months in the City of Manassas.
September 16, 2007 at 10:23 pm
I’ve already spoken to the City Manager and hope to have an answer Monday morning.
September 16, 2007 at 10:37 pm
Thank you Andy. I knew you and others would not stand for this.
Keep up the great work!!
September 16, 2007 at 10:41 pm
CP, you are wrong when it involve free speech. Now, if this were to go to court, I would bet you a dinner I am correct. You and I may not like it, but that is the way it is. I am not saying the City shouldn’t ask the owner to take it down, but the owner could tell the City to take a hike.
September 16, 2007 at 10:52 pm
CP, as I see it this sign would be considered a non commercial sign message and is permitted as long as it complies with all other sections of the sign section. Since the 32 square feet you cite is for a community sign, of which this is not and real estate sign in a residential zone are allowed to be 18 square feet, of which this sign is not, the City code does not adress the size of a non commercial sign, so I have to assume that the City is not concerned with the size of non commercial signs. If you take the time to read the code completely, it is pretty clear that this sign is legal.
September 16, 2007 at 11:25 pm
Sam,
Well, I’m not a lawyer nor do play one on tv. I’ve put the little information I got a quick glance at. Perhaps, I should’ve looked a little further, but quite frankly I’m pretty busy try to get Zoning and Building code violations addressed in PWC. I still think when it’s said and done, the sign will be in violation. Please, just my humble opinion. I know this would a violation in PWC. I’m not here to argue really. I know the city has it’s own laws as the county does. Maybe, this is just yet another way PWC is setting an excellent example for leading the way.
I’m sure WE will both have the answer Monday. I don’t care which one of us is right or wrong. I think you would agree, this size sign is a bit large to have on a residential property. Well, either way do agree with the fact that the city should ask the owner to take it down,right. I really do care about our community and this is an eye sore as far as I’m concerned.
September 17, 2007 at 8:00 am
I drove by this on my way to work this morning and it is quite a eyesore. I am sure all the people traveling by train via VRE or Amtrak really think highly of Manassas when they drive through Old Town and see this sign.
Also it would be nice if these people realized they reside in City of Manassas and not PWC, maybe they should move over to the PWC and voice their opinion about it instead of causing problems in a seperate jurisdiction.
I am all for free speech but at least make sure you are speaking to the correct party!
September 17, 2007 at 8:39 am
I say. let them leave it up. It does more harm than good to their cause. I am sure the residents of Old Town, and the VRE Commuters will look at the rantings of this pro-illegal-alien schmuck as representative of their cause. Lest we not forget, the sign stands on the site of a formerly over-crowded house that burned down. I agree, it is an eye-sore, but in this election season, what do you think the average voter will think when they see this? I think they will say: Just another reason to run all of the illegals out of PWC, Manassas, and Manassas Park.
What is even better, the moron-owner doesn’t know the difference between Manassas and PWC. He/She is part of the “Boycott Manassas” crowd I’ll bet.
September 17, 2007 at 9:10 am
Steve,
I hadn’t thought about the “harm factor” you pointed out. That’s excellent point. Heck, leave it up let them continue to look like the fools they are. Honestly, the pro-illegals don’t even know the two cities have their own governing board and laws.
Thanks for pointing this out!
September 17, 2007 at 1:44 pm
Andy,
any update for us?
September 17, 2007 at 9:31 pm
The City Manager indicates that this sign is protected free speech. It does not, according to the information I recieved, matter which of our ordinances it violates – since the sign is political in nature it is protected by the 1st amendment of the Constitution.
September 17, 2007 at 9:32 pm
While I do not agree with this sign and thinks it makes the illegal immigrant apologists look silly, I told you so!
September 17, 2007 at 11:33 pm
Across from the White House on any given day you can be accosted by carriers of signs calling you a “F**KING NAZI” for attending a secure the borders rally. According to the uniformed secret service officer I asked, this is free speech, and it is allowed!
While I got a real burn in my blood when I stood in front of the sign reading it, I agree with Steve Thomas, “leave it up”!
September 18, 2007 at 12:39 am
I too agree with Mr. Thomas, “leave it up”. This shows two things.
1) How GREAT our nation is. (Freedom of Speech).
2) It just shows how it does more harm than good for THEIR cause.
It doesn’t change my disgust for this sign.
September 18, 2007 at 10:35 am
It figures that a bunch of illegal allien supporters would resort to posting an illegal sign that complains about something that didn’t even happen in the jurisdiction in which they are violating the law… Then, we have to let it continue because their rants in favor of openly violating our laws is protected by our constitution (the same laws that they violate with illegal immigration). My GOD, what a great country.
This sign isn’t freedom of speech it’s an eyesore that openly disrespects our historic district, and a true demonstration that the property owner does not want to assimilate into the US or be part of the solution.
Enough of my rants… maybe previous posters have a point, the sign (which at some point will make Manassas yet the brunt of more national jokes), does more to show how stupid the support illegal alien cause is rather than advocate for it.
September 18, 2007 at 4:08 pm
HTS,
The boycott didn’t upset me. The demonstration didn’t upset me. The sign doesn’t upset me. Nancy Layall, John Stienbach, Ricardo Jaurez and Terisito Jacinto’s rants don’t upset me. On the contrary, their actions dill me with glee! Anybody who knows me, knows I am in the thick of this fight, so why don’t things like this upset me? Well, they used to. Then I saw polls that showed that everytime the illegals held a massive demonstration, staged a school walk-out, boycotts, etc., support for their cause diminished. For Mr. and Mrs. Apathetic Voter, illegal immigration hasn’t been a big deal. Hey, how are the ‘skins looking for this season? Did those tires I want go on sale? Becky is going to the Prom and Jr. is a star at swim-club. Did that a**hole Jeff Gordon win another race? That is what these folks care about. However, the demonstrations, boycotts, and now this sign have shocked these folks out of their apathy. They are getting angry AND active. They will vote this election-cycle. They will join HSM. They will help take back their community, inspired to do so by knuckle-heads who put up ugly signs.
September 18, 2007 at 7:40 pm
This post is not directly related to the sign but to the property itself where the house has just been demolished. That is another example of neglect that went on for years right in front of everyone’s nose. That house was a boarding house with junk cars in the backyard, it was altered without ARB approval and the owner of that home kept promising that he was going to fix it up and restore it. He never had any intention of doing that. He snubbed his nose at our laws and those of the historic district. His sign is insulting and so is his total disregard for his fellow neighors and community in the way he let that house deteriorate.
September 19, 2007 at 8:22 am
What does free speech have to do with the size of the sign?
So I can wrap my house in a HUGE sign that says…Yard Sale….OH and Vote for Monica Lewinski’s boyfriend’s wife for President…that’s OK?
(I saw that on a bumper sticker and just cracked up laughing!)
September 21, 2007 at 11:39 am
I disagree that this sign is “free speech”. And I believe the City has the right to enforce the “Historical District” restrictions, else you are allowing a huge “can of worms” to be opened and in essence must throw out all restrictions in the Historical District.
September 21, 2007 at 1:15 pm
Think folks – the people who put up the banner are attempting to incite
a rash reaction that will result in even more publicity for them. The best
policy is to leave it . They want us riled up – frustrate them
by being cool and calm on the free speech/private property high road.
Please – that is in the long term best interest of everyone – except them.
September 21, 2007 at 7:28 pm
I love the sign. It is free speech. If you want to put a big banner in your yard as the one at 8900 Weir St or put a political sign on your property, it is permitted. No one’s free speech is restricted because they live in the “historical district”. I suspect the constitution of the united states bumps historical district rules. If there was less ranting, finger pointing and irrational reactions to immigration, etc., perhaps some creative thoughts might emerge that don’t include a new tactic to “get those people out of my neighborhood”. You all are an embarrassment.
September 26, 2007 at 8:43 am
Patryot wrote: “If there was less ranting, finger pointing and irrational reactions to immigration, etc., perhaps some creative thoughts might emerge that don’t include a new tactic to “get those people out of my neighborhood”. You all are an embarrassment.”
I couldn’t have said it better myself. I despise visiting to the various forums of either political party and seeing stupidity and name calling like we see above. As much as it may hurt ones cause to display a sign such as this, it also hurts one cause to act and speak like a brainless frat boy. Remember, a mob mentality = bad.
October 8, 2007 at 3:47 pm
The Human Torch- free speech
The Thing- uneccesary…
Mr. Fantastic- blech
The Invisible Woman- this ia manassas!! not prince william county!!
December 3, 2007 at 7:02 pm
I drove by this property today and there was a group of people gathered on the property. They have built two structures that I am assuming is going to be a manger? They were burning something and there was some type of tent set up. The City really needs to step in and do something now This has become more than some type of sign protest. This is a residential neighborhood, I wonder how many other residents would be getting away with this. I cannot believe that the immediate neighbors have continued to complain about this. These people are just waiting for a confrontation from the City and this is why people are becoming more unwelcoming to immigrants. This property needs to be used for what it is zoned for, a residential property.
January 19, 2008 at 10:26 am
Cool site! Helpful topic! 🙂
April 21, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Excellent Sign!
Why are you angry? It tells the truth!
Apparently many of you are racial profiling many Latino citizens. Shame on you!
When are you going to stop all of the hate!
April 21, 2008 at 3:05 pm
The problem most of you commenters have is, you lump in ALL Latino citizens and because they have brown skin, you racial profile them as illegal immigrants.
Don´t you see this?
Read the sign. It says Hispanics. It does not say illegal immigrants. It says Hispanics. This has nothing to do with illegal immigration. It has everything to do with how most of you racial profile ALL Latinos and call them illegal immigrants.
Go back and read the sign. Then, read ALL the comments. Substitute Latino Citizen where you say illegal immigrant. See the Truth for yourselves.
April 21, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Both sides (PRO and ANTI) talk about Immigration Issues and all the Racial Profiling that is happening to American Citizens on my Blog. If you wish to discuss this issue civilly, stop by.
http://immigrationmexicanamerican.blogspot.com/
May 8, 2008 at 9:55 pm
Hi bunch of idiots who are bother by this sign. Love to all of you. You are bunch of unhappy people.
July 20, 2008 at 10:54 am
The sign is still racist by saying all whites are responsible for the terrible things done to Native Americans and some Hispanics as well as other minorities. Hispanics also have killed other minorities as well as Native Americans. Notice how i separated Native Americans and Hispanics. For Native Americans were here before Hispanics were. My ancestors have not enslaved anyone and they are recent immigrants as well. Coming over in the 1870’s and 1960’s respectively.
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