It’s been a year since the County first adopted the ‘Immigration Resolution’ and because of continual participation from more moderate voices, it is now, but a shadow of its original proposed self. The Resolution is, at its core, faulted because of its assertion that illegal immigration has been determined to cause ‘lawlessness and economic hardship’. This declaration has never been substantiated and continues to remain an unfounded claim upon which this resolution was founded.
If you recall, the original version suggested checking immigration status at all public facilities even schools and parks. Thankfully, staff recognized that implementation of such a far reaching and radical policy was unwise. And, with the guidance and suggestion of more reasonable perspectives, began the process of affecting changes to mitigate not only the potential of costly lawsuits but to reign in the more radical elements that initially suggested the plan.
By October, we were left with a short list of 8 identified services that could be ‘reasonably’ restricted combined with a policy that mandated officers to inquire into immigration status with anyone they came into contact with that they believed had ‘probable cause’ to be undocumented. Shortly thereafter, it was determined that 2 of the previously identified services should also not be restricted and the list shrank to 6.
In April, with the start of the planning for the ‘09 Fiscal Plan’ another opportunity presented itself for another scale back when cameras became too costly of an investment. We then lobbied and succeeded in having the Resolution modified so that Officer’s could fallback to the previous policy of ‘reasonable articulable suspicion’ combined with a mandated post-arrest procedure for status checks, Now, the “Immigration Resolution” consists of the restrictions to the 6 services, mandated status checks after arrest and the general resolution. All of this, has born a price tag of $4 million dollars, and for all practical purposes has brought us full circle, back to the place, in essence where we started.
Well-spoken Alanna. I had similar thoughts as I drove home from the screening tonight, only I was thinking of the police portion since that has been my main preoccupation ever since the public services part was rendered harmless last fall. Four million dollars to get Corey Stewart on CNN and Greg Letiecq nearly thrown out of the Virginia Republican party. Four million dollars to ensure Prince William County will be last in line for economic recovery when things turn around nationally. Four million dollars to turn friends into enemies and even strain marriages. And what was the price tag for maintaining our senior day care center?
$4 million could have prevented the loss of the Adult Day Care program in Manassas…..
We saw an elected body attempt to manage day to day activities of local law enforcement, with the experience they’ve gleaned from TV, I guess. $4 million might be a light cost considering the shennaigans that have gone on throughout the county responding to various “civic” group activities, security for the BOS at their meetings, public assemblies and more importantly what on earth went undone so that everyone could focus on this issue?
PWC became home to one of 20 or so Nativists in the USA – remember of the 305,000,000 that live in the US, 20 were named and one lives here. (Diving donkey’s come to mind)
Did the resolution have an impact – yes. Is it over – no. Is this a public policy catastrophe – yes.
Hopefully, PWC will survive the rating evaluation this summer/fall. Thanks to some bright minds, their investment portfolio is intact and should be able to withstand the analysis…
The most important lesson from this is pay attention to who you vote for locally. They have a much larger impact on you day to day than the President or congress ever will. Make sure you know what their goals are and who they are respresenting. Larger counties like this will always be a stepping stone for many, however, more than half their focus must be local.
Are you kidding Alanna? “This declaration has never been substantiated and continues to remain an unfounded claim upon which this resolution was founded.” Exactly what declaration has not been substantiated? You appear intelligent and level headed. Please don’t prove you are an airhead!
Juturna, well said. The late, great US House of Rep. Majority Whip, Tip O’Neill (1971-1973) left us with these words, “All politics ARE local”. Good advise, pay attention!
statistician, alanna is speaking after having seen a scene in the film where Corey Stewart could not provide any empirical evidence that the “whereas” statement that begins the Immigration Resolution is actually true. He says the community identified the issue. But all he, OR the community knew for sure was that there were more Hispanic people in the county than before. How many of them were undocumented? No evidence. Did they “cause lawlessness?” Evidence to the contrary. Crime stats went down in each of the years our immigrant population went up. Did they cost us more in tax dollars than they added to our economic growth? Evidence to the contrary.
Just thought you might like to know what you’re talking about.
“The Resolution is, at its core, faulted because of its assertion that illegal immigration has been determined to cause ‘lawlessness and economic hardship’. This declaration has never been substantiated”
This is exactly the attitude that I keep hammering at. How on earth can this blog support the notion that no ills have resulted from illegal immigrants when the nations papers are full of issues with fraud, identity theft, crowded homes, petty crimes, etc. If there was no negative impact to our communities due to illegal immigration, then it wouldn’t be discussed constantly. That was the case eight or so years ago before it reached a boiling point with massive numbers crossing our border unhindered. Unsubstantiated my you know what!
Some here have ‘9500 Liberty’ as a rallying cry, well the other now has ‘9500 Lomond’ as a countering rally cry. In case you’re unaware of any negatives committed by persons of questionable legal, or ‘undocumented’ status. Just FYI.
@SA And some of us rally around “Burmingham Sunday” where four little girls were killed in their church after a bomb was tossed into it’s open door. They had come to rehearse for the choir, but the white cowardly hand that took their lives saw them only as the cause of his pathetic life’s problems.
Last night was a moment of clarity for me, I was able to see how an attempt was made by a handful of recklessly angry locals to manufacture a law that would limit the constitutional rights of people, citizens and non, based on “Unreasonable suspicion.”
There were a lot of angry and scared people in PWC looking for answers, and through a system of mis-information propagated by the Subversive Radical Nativist leader, Greg Letiecq, the people were convinced that this unwise resolution was best way to fix things.
Fortunately, our judicial system, which was established to defend the Constitution and the “Laws” it allows, were able to basically take this “Resolution Hand-Gun” and add a safety to the trigger by allowing Police Officers full discretion of judgment based off of “Reasonable Suspicion.” All in all, Chief Dean basically stopped PWC from committing suicide for if the HSM resolution were passed with their own wording, you would all be paying taxes to cover the retributions decided in court after all the violations of civil rights.
The “Rule of Law” resolution, is in deed a gun, but a gun that will not fire indiscriminately, though Greg would have every person know through his mill of mis-information that in deed, if you are Illegal, you will get shot.
…it is not true, and as the mindset of the country is coming to realize that the Illegal Immigrants here are not the root of the problem, bullet by bullet, the “Rule of Law” weapon will be disarmed, and stowed until it is really needed.
I woke up late and the clock is demanding me to stop now and get to work, but I just want to thank Annabel, Eric and their secret army of hard working interns for what they did last night. I will admit, I was blinded by the “Perception” of the resolution, you showed me the “Reality” of it. Now I can tell my organization to change focus on the real tyranny in PWC.
Also I had the extreme pleasure of finally meeting, KG, MH and I believe Censored, you are remarkable people with the courage and the spirit to stand up for the light of reason in darkening times, we will talk more in the future.
I’m sure many others of you were there also, but either did not see me or refused to meet me for varying reasons, I think we can all agree that what we saw cleared up some confusion, and perhaps exposed some very awkward truths in ourselves that will have to be addressed in time, but all in all it was a very illuminating evening and I hope to discuss the “Truths” that were established there later today.
Thank you all who attended and for those who didn’t, don’t worry, it will be coming to a theater near you.
SA, I do not think the people of this blog, have rallied around 9500 liberty, the place of the sign. No, not at all. In fact, some of us have been rather outspoken about it. (ahem) As for rallying around 9500 Lomond, which is close to my neighborhood, I would hope the other would not use this as any point other than child rapists are evil.
Many years ago, I was rather personally involved with a similar case. No, it wasn’t me or a family member…but I was involved enough to still remember many of the facts. The rapist was not an illegal immigrant. In fact, he wasn’t an immigrant at all. He had ‘special circumstances’ that allowed him to not be treated like the POS that he really was. He had raped a 3 year old.
The bottom line is, people (sub-humans) that rape children are just pure pigs. In my opinion, if convicted, they do not deserve to live. I don’t care what their legal status is. Someone on that level has so many other problems….status just seems unimportant. I am glad this POS was caught. If 287(g) allowed it to happen, great. I think most people on this blog want criminals removed from society where they cannot prey of the rest of us.
Rod, per usual, well said, and it was a pleasure to meet you last night! Annabel and Eric really did a superb job getting to the meat of process. I know one lady said she wanted more narration, but in fact, the absence of narration and the linking of one BOCS scene to another lent more credibility to a piece that I’m sure some would say was “doctored” or “skewed.” When there is live footage of meetings and BOCS members interviewed and NO commentary from the film makers, there IS no doctoring.
An interesting e-mail Greg claims to have received that he posted on his blog:
The word is spreading to law-abiding people across the region that this is an area where residents stand up for their community, and I get emails from quite a few people attracted to Prince William County and Manassas because of the Rule of Law Resolution and other actions to discourage the unlawful presence of illegal aliens. Here’s one I got today:
“This month I will move from Mongtomery County MD, where I have been a cheerful tax payer for 30 years, to Manassas City. My family includes hispanics, african americans, whites and mixed race human beings. During the past 5 years my rental lease has been violated every week by groups of 5-20 hispanic males blasting music from their vehicles, drinking and drugging openly, vomiting and defecating outside my home in clear view. Neighbors who do not approve, are afraid to complain, the police don’t want to be bothered, the land owner does not enforce lease rules (except for rent collection)and there is no affordable housing for me based on my income. I look forward to becoming a legal, tax paying citizen of Manassas. For me, that is the right thing to do.”
Next Place to see the film if you haven’t seen it already:
Screening of Immigration Documentary by Filmmakers Annabel Park and Eric Byler at BRUU Friday, July 18, 7 PM
On July 18 at 7 PM directors Annabel Park and Eric Byler will screen 45 minutes of footage of their interactive documentary in the BRUU Social Hall for BRUU members/friends and the general public. The filmmakers have been investigating what led to the decision on April 29th to amend the County’s immigration policy, conducting on-camera interviews with Board members, County staff, and the Police Department.
Sponsored by the Social Justice Committee, refreshments will be served and BRUU member John Werntz with both Byler and Park will conduct a discussion session after the screening.
“My family includes hispanics, african americans, whites and mixed race human beings.” Sounds like a big family. They better not all move in together or HSM will report them as illegals.
Alanna, Eric and Annabel,
I wish I could have stayed longer but my son was getting restless and it was past his bed time! I had a chance to talk to MH, Alanna, Annabel, KG and Censored and two very nice women at my table…not sure if they are bloggers or not. I didn’t out myself as TWINAD to them and I don’t know if they are posters or not. Anyway, everyone was very friendly and I was so glad to get the opportunity to view the video. Rod, I did see you but I had to go before any mingling could take place. I have appreciated your input and insight to the site even though I have been MIA for the most part as a poster for several weeks as I’m in full budget season mode at my job. WHWN, I wish I would have known which person was you! I really would like an opportunity to talk with you one day…maybe next time!
an oberserver
The operative word here is ‘claims.’
The cheap version is that the guy can’t afford to live in Montgomery County. I think this person is going to be in for a big shock if he tries to move here.
“My family includes hispanics, african americans, whites and mixed race human beings.” Sounds like a big family. They better not all move in together or HSM will report them as illegals.
KG, honestly, the jabs are getting tiresome. You contribute by posting informative items, but then stoop to a low level. Nobody here has started in with HSM on this thread until you bring it up, as you do continually. In nearly every thread, you start instigating against HSM/GL/FAIR even though that is not the topic of discussion.
Who got up this morning in time to see Corey Stewart on Fox and Friends?
Mr. F and the Manassas City sign were the lead in. No where did anyone mention that the sign is in the City and is not under the jurisdiction of Prince William County. No one mentioned that the sign is a zoning violation. Corey said “We just think it is unfair.”
Supposedly Fox News had tried to contact Mr. Fernandez to get him to speak. They had used the footage from the other night on the Washington News.
It was on about 6:45 this morning. Too early for most of the country to have seen it. Thank goodness. It was rather embarrassing to hear the chairman of the Prince Willaim County Board of Supervisors say “The numbers of students who don’t speak English in our school system has been decreasing”
How much mileage are those dudes going to try to get out of that? Someone please send Corey a new statistic he can hang his hat on. What will he do when a whole new group of ESOL students are ushered in, in August?
You Wish, sorry, but since they are the ones that authored the resolution along with JS who sold it to CS, they are always going to be part of the discussion. And since they are chronically MEAN, go out of their way to harass people, and serve to break up the county not fix it, I deserve to make some jabs just as people do to politicians all the time. I doubt FAIR is so thin-skinned. I also doubt any of them give a DAMN what I say about them because they are so entrenched in their own beliefs about immigrants and too busy fighting off the “invasion.”
If you kept track of all the BVBL posters relatives and ethnicity claims you would realize that one or two of them have more than one wife and they are a different race each time. I think KG’s point is the claim of multicultural families posting on BVBL is just about exhausted at this point. It is no longer credible.
KG 🙂
JUTURNA Said:
I think KG’s point is the claim of multicultural families posting on BVBL is just about exhausted at this point. It is no longer credible
______
I didnt get that point from KG’s post at all and there are few here that also could be deemed as ” no longer credible” ….
@ an Observer…
All of us are perfectly capable of going over to Greg’s misinformation factory when ever we feel like gettting a good laugh, or to remember the monster we are all fighting against.
Has BVBL lost so many viewers that Greg is now forced to have Propaganadroids come here and try to draw people back to the dark side?
Or is it that his worst fears were realized last night when the truth of his Reality/Perception distortion campaign was exposed for all to witness, and now is spreading like a clenzing wildfire leaving everyones misconceptions in ashes?
There was this river of reason and progress that flowed thru Northern Virginia and a con artist by the name of Greg Letiecq and his minions built a dam in Prince William County. They hoped to arrest teh flow of progress and harness the energy to empower their Nativist Agenda, but one year ago, a tiny microscopic crack appeared in the dam, a small clause in the “Rule of Law” resolution that allowed Reason to usurp madness. The Dam was doomed and Greg & Corey in a desperate campaign of fear, tried to cover up the weakness. The crack has been getting bigger and bigger, the flow of freedom cannot be held back by Greg’s lies anymore. Last night it was made known that Greg’s vision of a Nativist Utopia will not hold water, Even the politicians see that by standing by this dam of progress, they will be overwelmed in the flood when it finally gives.
All of this war for the past year has done is confirm the Boundries of the Constitution. The Rule of law resolution is not the first stepping stone to a solution, it IS the utter limit of the law, to go beyond is to break the RULE OF LAW in the roots of our constitution.
So was it worth 4 million dollars?
The law has been established, criminals will be punished, alien criminals deported (hopefully after serving sentence) What’s left is the workers, those who yearn to be free. ICE will tell you whatever you want to hear, but they will never deport hard workers. Citizens groups can form to try and scare minorities out of their communities, but they will treated as Terrorist organizations, prosecuted by the Government, opposed by Patriots. The rule of law is satisfactory for the Apathetic Voting Majority, my suggestion is to embrace it as it is and get involved in discussions about how we can have comprehensive immigration reform. Mass Deportation and Open Borders are the extremitys that willnever be reached, we have to find the mid ground, be it selective amnesty or be it programs to promote repatriation of the Immigrants in their home countries.
So let’s talk…
Ah, Rod, the most important thing that $4 million did was to propel Corey into the national limelight. And THAT was the larger goal. And we were just lucky enough to be used.
JC – you are correct. No one has a corner on right or sane. But really, the number of ethnic wives (specifically wives) has reached an all time high! Just as the number of times people are called Nazi’s has as well. Point taken. I skip over both.
rod2155 – OK, so here’s another counterpoint to your “the resolution has had no effect and is a waste of money argument”:
This was also posted on BVBL in the thread about the one year anniversary of the resolution:
“CW of PWC said on 11 Jul 2008 at 9:46 am:
I completely agree with the sentiments of this story. Three houses in my neighborhood that were vacant are now occupied. And, all of the houses have been bought by American citizens(I spoke with each) who are dilligently repairing and maintaining their properties. Mind you, two of these houses were former “flop-houses” where large groups of day laborers were residing. When I look out my window, and see my neighborhood returning to “normalcy,” I am both joyful and proud. The whole rule of law resolution scenario once again has given me hope in the American system. Americans can still make a difference, and in some situations, take back their neighborhoods! Amazing! Though, I do realize that this is an on-going fight. And truthfully, without the influence of Help Save Manassas and BVBL, I believe this would have never happened. Thanks to both. Now, if we could only make a difference in Manassas Park somehow. My local Wal-Mart(Liberia Ave.) is still a haven for some latino low-lifes who routinely leer and make comments to my wife and family. Mind you, this is always when I am not with them. I believe a lot of these individuals are living in close-by Manassas Park, that is still reminiscent of downtown San Salvador. Anyway, great job HSM and BVBL!”
And then there’s the WaPo article about Fairfax County’s Code Enforcement “Strike Team” which addresses zoning violations, overcrowding complaints, beuilding code violations, and other issues without making immigartion stsatus the central issue. A much better approach than our county has undertaken.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/09/AR2008070901243.html
Good to see some familiar faces as well as some new ones last night.
Wow. I need spell check. haha
Again, more questionable propaganda to help Greg and Corey save face, but now the truth about the powerless Resolution has been revealed.
I do not believe anything that is posted on BVBL unless it is backed up by an established creditable news source.
This is the end Observer, you managed to scare away many people with the propaganda, now you will taste the rewards. The Muslim Community for instance is growing in Manassas as it’s growing all over NOVA. They are primarily made up of Legal Immigrants as well as local converts. Greg has stated how unconfortable he is with ANY Muslims in America, but the Muslims have nothing to fear in the resolution, nor does any minority group, nor do the hard working Illegal Immigrants for that matter, if they stay on the good side of commonlaw, the resolution can’t touch them. With lowering housing prices in PWC, many minoritys will begin to live in the houses, especailly no that we can focus our efforts in promoting PWC as a place that can easily adapt to the culteral revolution, for the local terrorist front of HSM is an isolated entity, powerless to use local law enforcement to prevent minority groups their rights granted by the constitution.
Greg has implied in not so vailed terms that he would have Liberals, Homosexuals and Muslims follow the Illegal Immigrants out the door. He has no power to force their mass expulsion, only his empty rehtoric and fear tactics. The last resort he has is to form a domestic terror front, of which he has taken the first steps toward by transforming HSM into a vigilante front. The FBI is aware of this, as well as civic terror-watch organizations.
Some concerned members are only remaining as plants to make sure that information on the activities of HSM are distributed to the proper authorities. Ironically enough, HSM is being watched by a diffrent type of Minutemen organization now.
It’s time for free citizens to come foward and work together toward solutions. We do not care about your past, all of us have been angry before, all of us have felt helpless. Many of us have lagitimate concerns and as a community we should worke together to try and address them. Organizations like Help Save Manassas are not the solution, they will enevitably fall and will take down their loyal with them.
Rod- Ummmmmm but……..
I have noticed that this “dam of doom” you so eloquently mentioned must have some one adding sand bags cause I dont see the influx of immigrants that used to be here (once upon a time) and the day laborer hang out at the local 7-11 is pretty much dwindled and seems there are several vacant houses once occupied as “flop houses”
that are in forclosure now and according the Wapo article provided here yesterday, they are leaving because of “fear”…to me; one could get the impression that Greg is in fact making progress..
Rod said “It’s time for free citizens to come foward and work together toward solutions. We do not care about your past, all of us have been angry before, all of us have felt helpless. Many of us have lagitimate concerns and as a community we should worke together to try and address them’
Whats your solution?? Do you even have a “plan” to start with??
JustCause,
Here’s the plan – “Legalize them all, problem solved.” If that doesn’t solve the problem, then local, neighborhood, community involvement should.
ok..But how? Arent you worried about supply and demand?? I worry that the demand is soooo much that the supply will be dried up..Just look at the Gas prices and health care issues and food costs..What if (god forbid) somehting happens to me and I need assistance and there is NOTHING LEFT. How am I to survive ( or anyone for that matter)
I have to ask you a sincere question, Do you think the influx of illegals in PWC had no negative impact ??
Also Bring it on:
You mention ” If that doesn’t solve the problem, then local, neighborhood, community involvement should”
again, isnt that what Greg and the HSM are doing?? Maybe not in the way you like but involvement was there and it must of been supported by some Communities or he wouldnt of got as far as he has with it…
Bring it On,
My curiosity has gotten the better of me, so I had to post when I saw you back on. You still haven’t answered my question about this:
Whatever did you mean? Kindly inform us as to whether you are stereotyping an entire group of people here? What about West Virginians? Why won’t you answer for your own blatant slam against a large group of people?
The silence is deafening here…
Hey Emma – glad you’re back.
Bring it On: you mean community involvement like MWB, that has told people here illegally without licences to go ahead and drive anyway? Or maybe hiding in bushes like Eric does trying to get footage of HSM?
Rod: ICE will tell you whatever you want to hear, but they will never deport hard workers.
Even if they are breaking the law by outstaying visas or are here illegally? Doubt it.
I’m still trying to get a handle on what you and others believe the “problems” are here that citizens are suppose to work together to find “solutions” to. So far, anyone who raises a concern with the following gets dismissed:
residential overcrowding
day-labor sites and the hiring of illegal immigrants
the strain on healthcare and other services
overcrowding in schools
zoning violations
home overcrowding, trash accumulating in backyards and bad behavior by the inhabitants.
These are the issues that are making people mad in the first place, and these are what people see as the some of the “costs” of illegal immigration. And free people have–and continue–to come together to try to solve those issues. But when these issues are brought up here, they are often summarily dismissed and even ridiculed, because apparently these issues have nothing whatever to do with illegal immigration.
So what are the “problems”? If I suddenly decided to support amnesty for all 12-20 million, does that mean I have to eat all of the above, like it or not, because they are not problems that go along with illegal immigration, but just things that would happen anyway in any community by any group? And if the federal government suddenly decided to tighten border security and really mean it, I have to wonder how long it would be before the cries of “racism” and “nativism” would start to be leveled at our national leaders.
Just curious.
Any honest survey of recent history simply cannot be used to recommend a radical policy of removal by attrition targeting 12 million members of our nation’s inter-woven community. Neither can any honest survey of recent history be used as an argument against a reasonable, conservative approach to the immigration issue that involves legalization requirements and assimilation.
Rather, recent history has shown that governments go the WRONG way when right wing extremists seize power and moderates follow rather than lead. And, governments go the right way when the silent majority in the middle become motivated to fulfill their civic duty, vote, and participate in self-government.
Consider what brought us into the war in Iraq.
Most people associate “how we got in” with the lies we were told about WMD’s and the false connection between Iraq and 9/11. But along with misinformation, the political weaponization of fear-mongering and hate-mongering were vitally important tools … and are ALWAYS vitally important tools when right wing extremists seize control of a local or national government.
One thing will never change: Hate and fear are stronger motivators than best practices studies, wise leadership, and good policy. When extremists abuse power by, not only employing misinformation, but also hate-mongering and fear-mongering, it is incumbent on the moderates to push back. We did not, as a nation, do this in 2002. And thus the extremists were able to sell us a war for profit in Iraq. We did not, as a county, do this in 2007, and thus we are enduring the Duecaster Disaster.
Moderate Republicans and Democrats alike can be blamed for the war in Iraq because, in the face of war propaganda, fear, and hate, they lacked the courage, or, lacked the pride in principle to stand against it. When we see moderate leaders cower in the face of overwhelming propaganda campaigns for radical policies like war for profit or removal be attrition, it makes us likely to do the same. So off we marched to war in Iraq.
Moderate Republicans and Democrats can likewise be blamed for what happened in Prince William County. Here again, you have misinformation combined with fear-mongering and hate-mongering employed to seize control of a democracy. The moderates failed to take action, cowered in the face of electronically generated noise and hateful Citizens’ Time oratories. The moderates on the Board failed to oppose the short-sighted, soon-to-be proven disastrous Immigration Resolution.
I would like to think that each time history repeats itself (Jim Crow, Japanese Internment, McCarthyism and communism hysteria, War in Iraq, Neo-nativist immigration hysteria) we become less likely to repeat it again.
Perhaps this has been demonstrated in Prince William County, perhaps because the Iraq disaster was in the not too recent past. Or perhaps because Riverside, New Jersey and the state of Arizona had already passed ill-conceived and thoughtless laws only to rescind them as soon as they recognized the economic impact. For whatever reason, Prince William County officials were able to recognize the basic principle I stated above:
Governments go the wrong way when right wing extremists seize power and moderates follow rather than lead.
In April 2008, our Board members stood tall. The people stood with them. Justice was served, and our local democracy, although battered, proved itself to be the best form of government available on this earth.
Corey Stewart was right when he said in the Washington Post that one good thing that came about from the Immigration Resolution was that more people are aware of and involved in their local government. But for right wing extremists, this is the worst news of all. Because from now on, in a county of 400,000, it will take a lot more than 10 or 20 angry partisans, a blog, and an email list serve to seize control of our government. Why? Because the rest of us are paying attention now.
TWINAD, I was one of the newbies at your table last night. It was very nice to meet you and everyone else. I had a great time, and found the event very informative.
I love what Why Here Why Now said:
“One thing will never change: Hate and fear are stronger motivators than best practices studies, wise leadership, and good policy. When extremists abuse power by, not only employing misinformation, but also hate-mongering and fear-mongering, it is incumbent on the moderates to push back.”
It really bothers me that so many of the complaints I have heard about Latinos or Hispanics in PWC are not backed up by statistical data listing ethnicity as a causal factor. Everyone understands frustration with poor behavior, but I can’t trust that these complaints have nothing to do with racial/ethnic prejudice when so many people reveal their biases by making damaging generalizations.
I feel as though some people have found an acceptable mask for their prejudices, and thus do not feel the need to question themselves as to WHY they truly feel that way. With the efforts and causes of HSM, they feel justified in their anger against a whole group of people. It is easy to latch onto arguments that SOUND true (especially when they are repeated), but we should really look for the truth behind them. Statistics…just the facts ma’am.
I do hope that this mask is slipping for the general public, and that we have been awakened into action. All people have their prejudices; it doesn’t make people bad for having them. However, it is our duty to constantly examine our prejudices to ensure that they do not translate into acts of discrimination.
*Just a note…I have knowledge of many PWC schools on the extreme western end whose overcrowding issues don’t have anything to do with illegal immigration. I am confident that if you call those schools to check out this info for yourself, they will cite development as the causal factor.
The “powerless” resolutions are working, as lamented by this site and anyone who is educated enough to count. The illegal aliens are leaving PWC as intended. They will flee to FFX and Arlington, whose legal residents will tire of paying to medicate and educate the tired, huddled masses and pass their own resolutions.
WHWN, good summary. I hope the BOCS is now well aware of the electronic/phone call subterfuge that lead them to accept the initial poorly planned resolution. Too many of our tax dollars have been spent on this experiment.
Emma, your concerns (the items on your list) should be addressed to the proper PWC agencies. Those agencies have been mentioned numerous times.
to: Censored bybvbl
“I hope the BOCS is now well aware of the electronic/phone call subterfuge that lead them to accept the initial poorly planned resolution. Too many of our tax dollars have been spent on this experiment”
ARE you kidding me!!!!!!!! NOW that was a hypocritical statement, you DO realize that those you are trying mercilessly to protect, happens to be the same group that is driving your tax dollars up…Its called the Influx of illegal invasion experiement, if you are really concerned with your tax dollars, I might suggest you research how much of your tax dollars was spent towards free healthcare, living assistance, food assistance, Educational expense assistance etc etc towards the illegal population!
Emma- Censored has proved time and time again that what the “others” have to say makes no difference here. Your concerns are also the same concerns I have and no matter how many times those agencies were contacted, nothing was done, the same for it here, People want to talk issues and problems but when issues OR problems are mentioned, we are told to basically to “take 2 pills and call me in the morning”..
I am wondering if the only purpose of this blog is to see to the demise of Greg L and nothing more…
How can you be sure that the immigrants are illegal? I have a major problem with assumptions like this.
I would have preferred to take our rather finite resources and apply them to problem areas we have control over. Much can be done in the way of neighborhood services if the county were willing to pay for additional agents, develop flex time programs so people would be home, and beef up educating people about community standards. Instead, we are spending $4 million dollars to be right back where we started. Isn’t that what dogs do when they chase their tails?
No one have ever said illegal immigration doesn’t bring problems into a region. Let’s pretend for a moment that every single person HSM feels is illegal, was actually legally here in the United States. What would be different?
“I might suggest you research how much of your tax dollars was spent towards free healthcare, living assistance, food assistance, Educational expense assistance etc etc towards the illegal population”
This same question was asked to the county board and HSM, and they had no answer, because you see, they hadn’t actually bothered to do that research. Instead, they based their legislation on their own prejudices and hatred.
Just Cause,
Do you live in the city or the county? Perhaps there are people here who can help you walk through whatever problems you feel the local government won’t address.
Meanwhile, I feel certain that Censored was referring to the many emails sent in by FAIR and not local residents. How can they speak for the citizens of Prince William and why does that make Censored a hypocrit?
Just Cause, if the county agencies don’t address the problems, are you willing to pay higher taxes for more staff? If the agencies don’t round up people to your satisfaction, what are you going to do? Yee haw…let’s go round ’em up at 7-11 with our vigilante posse? Just what are your solutions, Just Cause, or do you have any?
As Gurduloo says – we were shown any cost/benefit analysis for this little experiment.
“were” should be “weren’t”
Censored, so what you are suggesting is status quo–just keep going through the usual channels. Well, we have tried that. Take, for example, the sign. I wrote letters and actually spoke to the current mayor and two city council members about that. Still standing. I have written to the City about other zoning violations–no action. Our leadership is so hyped about the race card they are expending enormous resources dotting i’s and crossing t’s to prevent lawsuits. And no, I never participated in any mass-emails, but I write or call directly to both PWC and Manassas City officials with my concerns, as do many other citizens.
I don’t think you would see half as many objections to illegal immigration if many of them just tried to assimilate more and respect our neighborhoods. Why not show gratitude to your host country by maintaining a clean home exterior and respecting your neighbors’ need for quiet enjoyment of their homes? Why not respect their families by refraining from leering at their teenage daughters? If you give respect, you deserve respect yourself. When I moved into my neighborhood, I don’t ever recall hoping it would someday look like an overcrowded, third world barrio. I think it’s safe to say that these folks bring some of the community’s hostility upon themselves.
If you move into a neigborhood and crap all over it and flip off your neighbors, your neighbors will eventually fight back. And, predictably, the bad neighbors will then start whining about not feeling welcome. Go figure.
Again, I ask, what are the “problems” that need to be “solved” if nothing of what I have said here is valid?
Emma,
If we abolish the resolution, I’m sure the sign will go down. Have you tried that option?
The sign is in the City of Manassas. The resolution was passed by the Prince William County Board of Supervisors. Mr. Fernandez doesn’t even understand the geography of this community enough to know that, apparently. What does he want the City to do, if it’s all about the PWC resolution?
And consider this: If, when Fernandez gets his day in court, he wins on some bs freedom-of-speech argument, he will have set a precedent for many other organizations–I’m thinking KKK, among others, to be able to erect similar FU, in-your-face signage that will be just as offensive–the law of inintended consequences. Will that really be a victory?