News Channel 4 reported yesterday that Corey wants to ‘strengthen’ the resolution and would like it done immediately, claiming that he already has the 7 votes required to alter the resolution. Doesn’t the County have any other business to address? Stewart & Stirrup just voted to strengthen the resolution and now they need to strengthen it again? This is one of the oddest displays of public governence that I have ever witnessed. This smells of desperation on their part and it will be interesting to see what happens.

Update: Looks like we should show up again for the 2:00pm session. If you can’t make it please consider sending an email to the following Supervisors:

[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

Marty Nohe, Wally Covington, Maureen Caddigan, John Jenkins, Mike May, Frank Principi

Update #2:  Corey made a statement at the beginning of the meeting saying the resolution would not be voted upon today.  So, that’s that.  I don’t think it’s necessary to plan on speaking to the issue this evening.  I will keep you informed.

52 Thoughts to “Stewart Asks to Change Resolution Again!”

  1. Censored bybvbl

    It looks as though we’ll have to wait until the first police officer is sued to see what direction the County will take. Either they’ll have to fund that officer’s defense or they’ll see less stringent enforcement from individual officers who will have much to lose personally.

    The BOCS appears at this point to be doing what politicians do best…waffling and letting the employees take the crapola that’s sure to follow.

  2. I apologize for ever defending this man. I apologize for laughing at the idea of beating a dead and buried horse. Corey Stewart has not only lost his marbles, he’s lost his sense of dignity.

    This man would sooner see Prince William County’s economy, quality of life, and reputation around the world damaged for generations than admit he made a mistake. “Stay the course, Mr. Stewart,” was the advice from Disaster Duecaster three weeks ago. “You must support this Resolution” was the threat from Gospel Greg six months ago. Corey Stewart is Prince William County’s own G.W. Bush, with less intelligence, less diplomacy, and less contrition. I have mountains more respect for Bush. At least the plotters who duped him were credible at the time.

    I am now prepared to say that Corey Stewart, a man I once supported, would sooner earn the legacy “He Insisted His Board Cave In To F.A.I.R.,” than admit he got some lousy advice from these Washington D.C. lobbyists who fancied his constituents as lab rats for a hopeless experiment for reversing the inevitable trend toward a dynamic, multi-ethnic, and multi-cultural American society. That society, whether xenophobes and eugenicists like it or not, is coming. And Corey Stewart will be remembered along side segregationist governor George Wallace as the myopic fool of his era, blinded by his own ambition, and the backward thinking of the immoral extremists who corrupted him.

  3. Marie

    With Channel 4 news reporting 6,000 vacant houses in Prince William County one would think the BOCS has bigger fish to fry. In addition, it was reported that PWC has the more vacant homes and foreclosures than any place else in Virginia.

    What the H are Stewart and Stirrup up to? The Police Chief and the officers in Prince William County will be the victims of all this nonsense.

  4. admin

    Last I checked, the Stewart’s Privatized Legal Defense Fund only had $940. So it’s doubtful that anybody would come to the defense of an individual police officer.

    Donations to PWC to support the legal defense of lawsuits that seek to overturn the Immigration Resolution can be made to:

    Prince William County
    Attn: Chris Martino, Finance Director
    1 County Complex Court
    Prince William, Virginia 22192

    Also of interest, is the ‘Do the Right Thing’ Pledge of businesses that still only has 12 subscribers.

  5. Casual Observer

    Honest to God, as soon as I’m able to sell my house, my family is out of here. Fortunately, my husband can do his job from just about anywhere. Corey Stewart and HIS BOCS has made this county inhospitable for anyone who is not 100% in lock step with them on immigration, taxes, schools, development, transportation, social services, and everything else.

    Politically, VA may be purple verging on blue (at least in NoVA), but Corey has ensured that PWC will forever remain the deepest of crimson.

    Any family relocating to Virginia (for whom schools and community are primary considerations) will pass on PWC, no matter how “cheaply” they can get a house. Affordable housing alone can’t compensate for underfunded and unsupported schools (not to mention a BOCS who cannot or will not work with the elected School Board), underfunded and unsupported community services, underfunded and unsupportes parks and rec facilities, clogged roads, etc. Not to mention all the promises made but not kept, including the western library.

    Nope, the only people who will move here are people attracted to the likes of HSM and Corey Stewart. Those folks will come in droves. An invasion, if you will.

    And the BOCS clearly supports HSM and Corey Stewart, or they would have put a stop to this long ago. They talk out of both sides of their mouths. Marty Nohe, especially, is a huge disappointment.

    I want no part of it.

  6. Mando

    @ Casual Observer

    The hypocrits in Arlington want ya bad. Run!

  7. Casual Observer

    From the likes of you, Mando? Absolutely.

  8. admin

    Update: Looks like we should show up again for the 2:00pm session. If you can’t make it please consider sending an email to the following Supervisors:

    [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

    Marty Nohe, Wally Covington, Maureen Caddigan, John Jenkins, Mike May, Frank Principi

  9. Casual, first of all, never take anything Corey Stewart says at face value.

    He says he has 7 votes because he’s desperate.

    Claiming you have the votes without even checking with your colleagues is a Busch League bully tactic that isn’t going to work. They DO talk to each other, and I have it on authority that none of the competent Supervisors have EVEN SEEN the new Resolution, how could they know how they’re going to vote on it?

    A better way to interpret Corey’s “I have 7 votes” is: “I have 2 votes and I hope by saying I have seven I can bully Mike May.” Even if May caves into the Sorcerer and Apprentice tactic, and even if Covington caves into the Partisanship before Sworn Duty tactic (which is doubtful), that would leave Captain Corey with only four votes. Not enough.

    Caddigan has no problem standing up to Corey as she has shown numerous times. Neither Jenkins nor Nohe will be caving in after showing a great deal of courage over the past few months. Don’t be down on my man Nohe!

    Yes, be there at Citizens’ Time today or tonight if you can, and yes write emails to the Supervisors. But rest assured: just because Captain Corey and some jerk-off named “Mando” want to turn Prince William County into a bastion of economic and cultural regression, it doesn’t mean the rest of us are going to let them.

  10. Censored bybvbl

    Emails sent.

    This seems ironic in light of the recent discussion by the BOCS of providing a means for public safety employees to buy affordable housing in PWC. Its tantamount to saying , ” We’ll give you an incentive to live here, but if you’re a police officer, you may be on your own if you screw up a traffic stop.”

  11. Elena

    This is lunacy! There are serious land use issues that must be addressed today and Corey is pulling this stunt. I can’t make it today but did send e-mails. I am just so disgusted.

  12. Casual Observer

    Alanna,
    With all due respect, what could we possibly say in an email now that will change a single mind on that board? We’re looking at at 7-1 vote, and no amount of email or speaking at citizen’s time will change that. Maureen, Marty and John will all express dismay at the motivation behind Corey’s resolution, but they will vote for it.

    I hate to be a black cloud, but I’m being realistic. This Board is not even six months into a new 4-year term, which makes them accountable to no one. They clearly have an agenda, and have the support they need to enact it.

    I admire all of you who have spoken at citizens time. I haven’t done that, largely because public speaking is not my thing but also because I simply lack the courage to withstand the withering glares of Greg L, HSM, Corey and John Stirrup. I live in a very red part of the county, and it’s all I can do to stick a Dem yard sign in my lawn.

    I wonder if my energy might be better focused elsewhere for now. My child’s ES has been particularly hard hit by the loss of ESOL kids (who were not transient, as we have been led to believe. My child went to school with these children for five and six years) and budget cuts. I feel like the schools are in for a huge hit in light of the budget cuts, and I’d like to mitigate that somehow.

    I don’t know. A lot of our work here seems to have come to no good end. That’s not to say it wasn’t a worthy attempt — because it was — but the current makeup of the BOCS ensures three strikes against us.

    PWC is a pretty scary place to be.

  13. Casual Observer

    WhyHereWhyWhen,
    Your comment went up while I was typing, so I just saw it. I hope you’re right. I’ll send the emails, again, buy I’m betting Corey has the votes. And, I’m sorry, but I am down on Marty. He’s my supervisor. He talks a good game, says what you want to hear but, in the end, he goes along with Corey. Caddigan will disagree publicly with Marty, but she votes with him. I was so disappointed in her budget vote. At the same time she stated she wished there could be more money for schools, she was literally pushing the Yes button that cut even more money from the their budget. And she’s the former School Board Chair! Went down pretty much the same way with Jenkins. He’s the one you’d expect would support funding social services, but go back and watch his votes last month.

    I admire you’re ability to stay the course, Why.

  14. Not Me, Bubba

    This makes no sense. The traffic stop proof of citizenship was removed at the last meeting, now he wishes to reinstate it?

    There must be a fair (no pun intended) amount of political pressure being applied that the GP doesn’t know about.

    If this addendum is shot down, Corey and Stirrup will become even bigger buffoons – humiliated a second time. If it is upheld, it means the other legislators have been compromised.

  15. admin

    It’s odd that a board that voted unanimously 2 weeks ago would now consider another change. Honestly, I’m not buying it, even the 7-to 1 thing is strange. Who’s the 1, Principi? They need 5 and at best they have 4. I don’t think they’ll change it again.

  16. Not Me, Bubba said: “If this addendum is shot down, Corey and Stirrup will become even bigger buffoons – humiliated a second time. If it is upheld, it means the other legislators have been compromised.”

    I agree entirely with this analysis in light of the 8-0 vote only three weeks ago. That’s why I doubted (yesterday on a different thread) that Corey would even try this. It seems I have, once again, put too much faith in Corey as a pragmatic politician. Never again.

    In essence, he’s putting the other six Supervisors in the position of throwing THEMSELVES under the bus to save him some embarrassment. I can’t imagine which, if any, would be willing to do that.

    After watching that news report, I realize I was wrong to blame Gospel Greg for Corey Stewart’s downfall. At least Gospel Greg has his beliefs! What does Corey even stand for? I have more respect for someone I totally disagree with than someone who has no other motivation, and no other idol, than his own ego.

    Now, that said, there may be one other explanation. Perhaps Corey knows this is a fools errand. But he is doing it to appease the Cult of Gospel Greg. He’s seen what these crazed extremists (even if they are mostly authored by Greg) can do when they feel a public figure has wronged them. Maybe he’s tied himself to the mast of this sinking ship because he has no other choice. Now, you see, I’m apologizing for Corey again. Have to stop that.

  17. hello

    I could be wrong but it seems as if those that are attracted to PWC because of the resolution are indeed moving here. Take a look at the Washington Times article which shows that PWC has had a 130% jump in residential real estate sales in April. All of the vacant homes everyone gripes about seem to be selling like hot cakes.

  18. Casual, this is why I’m with Marty Nohe and will be: he is the diplomat on the board who seeks common ground and finds compromises.

    I’ll admit, sometimes, this works to our disadvantage. And Marty will too. For instance, when the Cult of Gospel Greg drew “a line in the sand” so far off the deep end of the extremist right wing, even the compromise between them and the citizens who spoke out on the 16th was a disaster. But Marty is not a buffoon who cannot learn from his mistakes. As a moderate Republican, his leadership was crucial when the Board voted UNANIMOUSLY to suspend the “Probable Cause” inanity on April 29th. Without him, we would not have the hope we fear is in jeopardy today.

    It is leaders like Marty, moderate Republican who stay and fight for the soul of this party — not the ones like Tom Davis who throw up their hands and retire — who will save the GOP from self-destruction.

    Likewise, it is the citizens of Prince William County who stand up for what they believe in, who don’t move away unless they absolutely have to, who speak at Citizens’ Time even though they are not comfortable with public speaking … it is we who will rescue this county from black stains of intolerance, ignorance, economic regression, and abuse of power that Corey Stewart seeks to earn for us.

  19. Hello: hello! The jump in sales came because prices have fallen so low that speculators have arrived to take advantage of our misfortune. Those houses will be empty for a long while, and when they are rented, they will be rented to people who can’t afford to buy a home, even at these prices, and can’t find affordable housing elsewhere.

    Whatever race or ethnicity these new neighbors are, but they will not be the types of neighbors Help Save Manassas had in mind. Once the neighborhoods are riddled with empty homes, once the upkeep of the neighborhoods fall upon absent landlords instead of proud home owners, there is no where for the property values to go but down.

  20. Do the Right Thing

    Hello,

    Even at the rate homes are selling in PWC it will take years to clear the backlog. April and May always have the greatest number of units selling, so if roughly 700 homes were sold in April, we can expect a comparable number in May…then the rest of the year it will be downhill from there. Someone pointed out there are 6,000 vacant homes in PWC…that doesn’t include all the homes that are on the market with people still living in them. Prices have already dropped in double digit percentages, most by over $100K since the same time last year. If you want to take that as good news, more power to you, but I don’t see this number of homes and prices as a plus for the County. Not at all.

  21. anon

    Agreed. Those cheap houses are being snapped up by investors, who will rent them out and not care what kind of people they rent to, as long as they are getting their money.

    It is not at all a positive thing regarding the uptick in sales. The only houses selling (and I should know as I’m looking at selling my townhouse in Manassas) are these foreclosures. A great majority of them are not being bought by people who will actually live in them, and it will just further degrade the quality of the neighborhoods.

    I’m sorry, I just see the whole thing going futher downhill, at least in my neighborhood where there is a bunch of these foreclosures. The ones that appear to have been sold, are still vacant – I’m sure awaiting to be rented out, and I am not optimistic they will be rented out to anyone who really cares about the property. A big problem in my neighborhood is the renters, and I just see a good percentage of this increase in sales being turned into rentals, ultimately.

    In any event, I’m moving out of my townhouse development in Manassas, and am glad to be doing so – I see it getting even worse once all these foreclosures become the rental units I expect them to ultimately be. Also, they are selling at really low prices (averaging $170K) so not a great thing either. A lot of sales at super low prices is not a plus.

  22. Mando

    @Hello

    Don’t buy the rhetoric here. Most that post here live nowhere near the problems most PWC citizens see on a daily basis.

  23. Casual Observer

    Hi, Why,

    Point taken.

    I’ve invested 20 years of my adult life in this county. I don’t speak at public hearings, but I write emails, and I have spoken to Marty many times about many issues. I’ve had one of my former school board representative meet with me, at my home (he and I were on opposite ends of the political spectrum, but I respected him) to discuss curriculum issues (a hot topic here many years ago). I attended many meetings waaay back in the day when the schools were doing a complete revamp of the curriculum (favorite citizen quote: “I don’t see why we have to invest so much time and money on kids who are struggling. Some people are meant to dig ditches”), and Ed Kelly and I spoke frequently during his tenure. I’ve been on the PTA board and Parent Advisory Council at my children’s schools. As a parent, I’ve been asked many times to represent my children’s schools at different administrative work sessions and community outreach meetings. My spouse has served on a school boundary committee. I’ve attended more than my share of meet and greets for BOCS candidates (alas, for candidates who weren’t elected).

    So, no, you probably won’t see me at citizen’s time but, rest assured, I’m active behind the scenes.

    As for leaving the county, yes, that is our plan. We’re exhausted after working hard for so long supporting social and political causes in a county where those points of view aren’t welcome, much less seriously discussed. I know first hand how unwelcoming a place this can be.

    I am trying to understand where you’re coming from, Why. Honestly, if Marty — or Maureen, or John for that matter — really wanted to stand up to Corey, they would have. They had their chance when Corey made a resolution supporting a higher tax rate, so long as the police got their cameras. Oh, and he was willing to sweeten the pot with $5 million more for the schools “to use however they want.” His resolution failed, of course, but why didn’t another supervisor publicly call him on his cheap political ploy that held our schools hostage for Corey’s cruiser cameras? Why didn’t another supervisor then make a motion to a reduced tax rate, no cameras, but still $5 million more for the schools? That motion, seconded and voted upon, would have been a real test of leadership. So, too, would have a second and discussion to Frank’s motion to cut funding for the resolution. But what did we get? Well, you could have heard crickets in the room in the one minute it took for them to vote down his motion.

    I heard from someone in a position to know that Marty was the architect behind the 2007-08 County Budget. This individual said that Marty’s efforts behind the scenes to resolve the disputes between Corey, Stirrup, the remaining BOCS and the School Board were nothing short of heroic. I never called him a buffoon, nor would I. Maybe he’s working now behind the scenes, but hasn’t had much success. But, then, why vote the way he has? Understand this: Personally, I like Marty. My husband likes him even more than I do, and he’s the one who convinced me to vote for him in the last election. Granted, he ran unopposed, but that was the first time EVER that I’ve voted for a Republican. Maybe I’m suffering from a little bit of buyer’s remorse, because that was a hard vote for me.

    Then, again, perhaps you’re correct and Corey will lose tonight. Nothing would make me happier, and I’ll gladly eat a little crow.

  24. I find it amusing that the only arguments from the Gospel Greg clones here has been (1) the transformation of our middle class neighborhoods into affordable housing units owned by real estate companies and speculators is a good thing, LOL, and (2) send all the residents with values, with sound judgment, with a conscience, and/or a capacity for free thought to Arlington, LOL even louder.

    It’s a good thing the Supervisors are no longer intimidated by people with no grasp on reality, no appreciation of cause and effect, and ability to appreciate the demonstrable impact of declaring a hateful culture war in a county that would otherwise be on the way to economic recovery.

  25. Marie

    Hello I have to second what WhyHereWhyNow, Do the Right Thing and anon.

    The houses that were auctioned in my neighborhood have been bought but are still vacant after 3 months. All have For Rent signs in the yards.

    The only houses selling are the ones that opportunists with money are buying.

    You must be listening to Greg L’s rhetoric.

  26. Marie

    Mando and Hello,
    I live close to where the problems are but I do not have the same hard heart as you have.

  27. Bring it On

    Mando,
    You are obviously buying the crap put out by the other side. Wake-up and smell their propoganda.

  28. It is against procedure to vote on a resolution the same day it is introduced. To pass this today, Stewart will need to win two votes: first one to change the procedure intended to allow public input and proper research before taking rash actions the Board ends up regretting later.

    Also, I have been thinking about what I said about Marty Nohe being a master at the art of compromise. The obvious compromise straw man being strung up by Corey Stewart is this “sue the Police Officers, not the county and all is well” proposal. This is lunacy and Corey knows it. His hope is that Nohe will say, okay, let’s give Corey everything he wants but shield Prince William County’s Finest from law suits as a compromise. No dice Corey.

    It’s time to put this dead horse back in the ground and return to doing the people’s business. As Elena points out, the people’s business is sorely in need of attention.

    Corey, if you can’t offer solutions, then stop with the distractions and get out of the way.

  29. Alanna

    Mando,
    We lived for 12 years in Bristow Station in the City of Manassas. We moved to Haymarket in 03, so the notion that we are far removed is not entirely accurate.

  30. Mando

    I wake up and smell the progress every morning. The two flop houses in front of me no longer have their screen doors propped open. I can actually park my vehicle on the street next to my house without being blocked in by 4 other vehicles. My fiance can go in the front yard without having to put up with the catcalls, whistles, and stares. I’m noticing new neighbors in former flop houses that, so far, seem to know what the term “single family home” means.

    Things aren’t back to normal but they definitely are improving.

    I don’t buy the hypocritical garbage being spewed on this website. When you are surrounded by flophouses and experience what I’ve experienced, then you can preach to me about having a hard heart.

  31. Not Me, Bubba

    “I could be wrong but it seems as if those that are attracted to PWC because of the resolution are indeed moving here.”

    This is as vague and unproveable of a statement as those who claim that people moved out of PWC because of the resolution, en masse.

    Did some people move out of PWC because of the resolution? Yes.
    Is the resolution the reason why we have such a huge amount of foreclosed/abandoned homes? No.

    Are some people moving to PWC because of the resolution? It’s possible…although contestable.
    Are people moving to PWC because of the glut of inexpensive housing? Absolutely.

    Tying the resolution as to the main reason why so many left – as to why so many homes are being sold now… is a rather hollow theory…

  32. Not Me, Bubba

    In my neighborhood the homes are selling to families, not to investors to rent out. And what is nice about it is that those who are buying are SINGLE families – not a family WITH their in-laws, their grandkids, their neices and nephews and friends from out of town….

    Single family homes are being occupied by single families yet again. There is one renter on our street…and he is desperate to sell his home and get out of the rental business altogether. And I sure hope he does – he was the landlord to the druggies. Not a very good judge in character to whom he lets his property…

  33. Sent to BOCS:

    Changing the “Immigration Resolution” (or “strengthening” it as Mr. Stewart calls it) contradicts the very decision the BOCS made when it chose to alter the terms of checking immigration status.

    A few weeks ago, Mr. Stewart claimed after that change, the BOCS’s decision resulted in an even stronger policy. If this is the case and the goal is to implement the policy, then there should be no reason to change it back. If this is not the case, then Mr. Stewart has lied to us and to the media.

    To continue to focus on this resolution is a waste of our tax dollars and time. Additional proposed changes put county employees and the police department at risk. Furthermore, there are far more pressing issues that need to be dealt with in this county.

    For the sake of us all, please let the dust settle so we can return to the usual business of solving neighborhood problems and rebuilding the sense of community and prosperity we have lost during this time of turmoil.

    Sincerely,
    Katherine Mercurio Gotthardt

  34. Mando

    “”Changing the “Immigration Resolution” (or “strengthening” it as Mr. Stewart calls it) contradicts the very decision the BOCS made when it chose to alter the terms of checking immigration status.””

    Problem was, those changes were made behind closed doors during recess kinda giving the middle finger to PWC citizens.

  35. anon

    Well, living on a street with some flophouses in my townhouse neighborhood, and walking around this weekend observing things on other streets – I can say that the foreclosed properties appear to be being bought by investors, who are getting them ready to rent. So to me it is not a good thing at least in my neighborhood. Perhaps it is an anomaly. Anyway, I’m past caring as I’m getting out of there. Although I probably will rent my townhouse out until it comes up in price to where I’d like to sell it for. However, having been in it for many years, it would still sell now at a profit for me even at a foreclosure kind of price ($170K seems to be what they all are going for – I don’t know why all 4 foreclosures still on the market seem to be at the same exact price). However, when 2 years ago they were selling for $350K, I’m not willing to price mine to sell at such a ridiculously low price. As much as I’d like to leave that neighborhood without looking back, it appears I will be doing so for one year at least – and then hope the price rises enough and I can sell for a better price. I only hope the price doesn’t deteriorate further, due to the renters who will be moving into those foreclosed properties. Unlike me – I will care who I’m renting out – these investors who are snapping up these properties won’t care – I think. It is another reason, I’m happy to be getting out of this neighborhood. I really don’t see it turning around, other than once all the foreclosures get sold, hopefully I can sell my house for a non-foreclosure price. Right now probably can’t compete when for one thing, i have a house right across the street from me (former flophouse) in foreclosure status (and vacant).

  36. The whole damn THING has been done behind closed door, Mando. Look at the emails they listened to. Not even from our county! That’s why this policy is a wreck and has created such turmoil. Had the BOCS followed process and adhered to true democracy, none of this would have created such a stir. But since its adoption, the rise of factions has created an imbalance that is crucifying this county.

    BTW, for anyone who thinks the resolution has increased home sales, think again:

    http://www.insidenova.com/isn/news/local/article/realtors_see_slight_rise_in_home_sales_this_april_over_last_year/15776/

  37. anon

    I also agree, the resolution is not responsible for the glut of houses on the market and all the foreclosures, and it is probably not why people are buying either (again cheap housing is why). People buying what was once cheap housing, at hugely inflated prices (and getting in over their heads due to crazy adjustable mortgages) is the reason for all the foreclosures, NOT the resolution.

    The argument that there are more foreclosures here than any other county – again it is because more cheaper housing was available here, that was still ridiculously priced (but cheap compared to other counties) and more low income people got in over their head. It is more simple economics, and it is kind of tiring to keep hearing it linked to the resolution.

  38. Mom

    “changes were made behind closed doors during recess kinda giving the middle finger to PWC citizens”

    Hey Mando, standard practice for the BOCS, don’t consider yourself special, they do it to everyone on almost every issue.

  39. Mando

    @anon

    Not saying I blame you, but that’s what the people on this blog want. They want you to move and give up your neighborhood to the blight. They’d have you think it’s for altruistic reasons, but that’s just a smokescreen. It’s an economic boon to have a supply of cheap illegal labor and those that have profitted off of it are going to great pains to keep that supply readily available. This supply must live somewhere and they would love for our neighborhoods to be sacrificed for it.

    When the blight starts leaking into their neighborhoods, their tune changes. Case in point, the ‘enlightend’ citizens of Arlington. Hypocracy at it’s finest.

  40. Do the Right Thing

    Mando,

    I live in Manassas in a neighborhood of single family homes built in the early 70’s. I am not far removed from anything, and we HAD lots of Latino families in our neighborhood, but nothing resembling a “flop house”. Still have a few Latino families left, but mostly just houses that have been vacant since March, but still are not for sale or in foreclosure yet because the people that lived there were not behind on their mortgages…they left because of the Resolution and they are just now or soon will go to foreclosure.

  41. anon

    Mando,

    I’m not moving for any ‘altruistic’ reasons. I’m moving because I’m fed up with what’s happened to my neighborhood, and resolution or no resolution, I don’t see it improving for the better. While others may have had traditional Latino families in their neighborhoods (or see them moving in) – all I’ve had is what appears to be a bunch of unrelated Latino’s in a townhouse – raising all kinds of ruckus and causing crime (which I’ve documented before in this blog). I’m not optimistic about it getting any better, and I’m fed up with it and just giving up on the neighborhood. No one would accuse me of altruism as to the reason I’m moving out of there. It is purely self interest – mine – and preserving my sanity and easing my stress. Living with what I’ve been living with – has been a severely stressful impact on my life in recent months.

  42. Mando

    I have Latino families AND flop houses in my neighborhood. My problem isn’t with the Latino families, it’s the FLOP HOUSES and scads of unrelated males that occupy them. The most notorious of them are gone. Whether that’s from the mortgage crisis or the resolution, I don’t know. My gut feeling is that they’re gone due to a combination of the two.

    I have yet to personally hear of any legal citizen that’s left soley due to the resolution. I do know of a family that IS leaving due to their illegal status. Not becuase of the resolution but becuase of the ICE raids and the construction business that employed the father figured the cost of breaking the law outweighed the benefit of employing illegal labor.

  43. Mando

    @ anon

    I don’t blame you. I’d do the same thing given the right circumstances. Personal safety and well-being of you and yours outweigh everything else.

  44. anon

    And as to Latino familes, those that are indeed traditional families are fine. The new neighborhood (well relatively new – it has been being developed for the past 3 years so some people have been there for awhile) i saw plenty of Latino FAMILIES walking around there on Saturday, and they all seemed like nice quiet types. If that was what lived in my townhouse development I think it would be fine. However, on the houses on my block (3) that have Latinos in them – they appear to be a bunch of unrelated males (mostly) and definitely not family oriented. All of those houses are noisy with people coming/going all hours of the day and night, including the one next to me. Not fun to live next to, that’s for sure.

    My other point is I’m not optimistic that any of these foreclosures (including the one directly across the street from me) is going to have anything but more of these kinds of people. I’d be highly surprised if a traditional family moves in there – Latino or any other nationality.

  45. anon

    “I do know of a family that IS leaving due to their illegal status. Not becuase of the resolution but becuase of the ICE raids and the construction business that employed the father figured the cost of breaking the law outweighed the benefit of employing illegal labor.”

    I have no sympathy for businesses employing illegal aliens and who profit by paying below market-rate wages. They are a good part of the cause of this mess. Any business who’s business model to stay profitable depends on hiring illegal aliens and paying below-market wages should be put out of business, I say. I’m glad to hear some businesses are getting scared by the ICE raids – good for them! Either stop being so greedy on your profits that you need to pay below market wages, or else get out of business!

  46. Moon-howler

    I live next door to a single family house that has been converted to a rooming house. They behave. When they stop behaving, I have a magic trick up my sleeve to use.

    There are many foreclosures in my neighborhood. Mando, I don’t think you can characterize people as all fitting into one mold here, any more than you can say people on bvbl are all crazed nativists. I hate sweeping generalizations.

  47. Flop houses aren’t good no matter who lives in them. There’s a big difference between a “flop house” and a “rooming house.”

  48. Red Dawn

    K,

    You know I love to laugh with you but that is really splitting hairs. Well, actually tell me the difference. ( I know you love those kind of questions:) )

  49. Yes I DO love those questions, Red–you know I do! Thank you for asking and amusing me.

    flop·house Audio Help (flŏp’hous’) Pronunciation Key
    n. A cheap rundown hotel or boarding house.

    rooming house
    –noun a house with furnished rooms to rent; lodging house.

    A flophouse is run down. A rooming house need not be. I used to live in a very nice rooming house in the city. I’ve also lived in what you would call a “flop house.” (I believe I used the word “tenement” at the time.”) Flop houses aren’t usually nice (though I fixed up my little room to look quaint). We had a bunch of perpetually drunk college students and their non-college friends living above us, and you were never sure who your housemates would be from one day to the next.

  50. Moon-howler

    Kgottardt,

    Thanks for clarifying the difference in flop house and rooming house. I agree. The house next door to me has become a rooming house, not a flop house. I would not like it if it became a flop house. Frankly, the residents there cause me a lot less trouble than the brats who belonged to the family who lived there a couple years ago. (good church-going white family as a matter of fact).

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