Corey Stewart Scoffs at Stimulus Money

MoonHowler

Stimulus money is beginning to arrive in Prince William County thanks to the efforts of Congressman Gerald Connolly. So far, $1.1 million dollars has been secured for the Greater Prince William Community Health center. $19.1 million has also been designated for Prince William County Schools. $530,000 in additional law enforcement funding is also slated to come our way.

Supervisor Frank Principi elaborated that the center treated 4,000 patients in 2008, 75% of whom were uninsured. This year, if trends continue, the clinic will see 7,000 patients. Principi is executive director of the clinic.

Officials in Prince William County have a long laundry list of needs drawn up to help offset the economic crunch which threatens to cripple the county. County legislative affairs director Dana Fenton indicated that his office has a list of priorities totaling $371 million. This wish list contains requests for money for law enforcement, roads, and neighborhoods impacted by foreclosure issues, to name a few projects that will go unfunded without stimulus money.

Chairman of the BOS, Corey Steward, has dismissed the incoming money according to the Washington Post:

But Board of County Supervisors Chairman Corey A. Stewart (R-At Large) said he wasn’t impressed, dismissing the stimulus money allocated so far as “a drop in the bucket.” Residents will be shortchanged if Connolly, who entered Congress two months ago, doesn’t secure at least $50 million for county schools, he said.

“Our county is the ninth wealthiest in the country and pays a lot of income tax,” Stewart said. “This is going to be a test as to how much pull Gerry Connolly has inside his own party.”

Stewart didn’t spare Connolly criticism for the allocation to Principi’s health center, either. “It looks suspicious that his friend and ally has been given $1.1 million in federal money to help pay his salary,” he said.

But Connolly said Stewart “can’t have it both ways.” His office provided a copy of a Feb. 9 letter from Stewart thanking Connolly for working to relieve traffic congestion through stimulus funding.

“I think Mr. Stewart’s time would be better spent writing my Republican colleagues and urging them to vote for a stimulus bill he now wants me to bring home the bacon from,” Connolly said. The former Fairfax County chairman was the only Prince William representative to vote for the stimulus, as Reps. Frank R. Wolf, Robert J. Wittman and every other House Republican opposed it.

A “drop in the bucket?” Is Stewart serious? Stewart has always shown himself to be the quintessential opportunistic politician but this is a bit much. That cool $19.1 million to the schools will provide just under 300 new teachers, just as an example of what Stewart thinks is a drop in the bucket is.

He also implies that Frank Principi is profiting from the federal money. This is the first time I have ever heard of obtaining what is the equivalent of grant money being a bad thing. Perhaps Corey Stewart should consider that every penny that comes into the country from the state of federal level pays HIS salary. Wasn’t he looking for grant money this time last year? Let’s see…something about dashboard cameras?

Prince William County needs to grab up every penny of federal stimulus money it possibly can. Corey Stewart needs to stop with the political shenanigans and just act like an adult without political motive every time a microphone is shoved in his face. He appears to be rude and ungrateful. Congressman Connolly needs to be thanked both in writing and in general conversation. He is dismissing this money much the same way he dismissed the millions he planned to spend on the Immigration Resolution.

Neighborhood Solutions

CindyB

An article on third page of the Prince William Extra in The Washington Post this morning, “Residents Given Reins to Improve Neighborhoods: Manassas Program Lets Neighbors Discuss Issues, Generate Solutions:

 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/06/AR2009030603810.html

 

Check out the Neighborhood Leaders Group through the county also – their next meeting is Wednesday, March 11 from 7 – 8:30pm and is in the Occoquan Room of the McCoart Building.

 

 

 

Fewer Illegals, More Crime

Alanna

In 2007, Prince William County Supervisors passed the “Immigration Resolution” which stated in part that “illegal immigration has been determined to cause economic hardship and lawlessness.” Has our outcome supported the assertion that ‘more illegals cause more crime and worse economic conditions’ with the converse being ‘less illegals therefore less crime and a better economy’?

According to the Prince William County Crime Report for 2008, crime now, one year after the resolution’s passage crime is slightly increased. This effectively ends our 5 year decreasing crime rate trend which obviously must have existed during our “influx of illegals.”

In financial terms, can we state that our economic hardships have lessened since the introduction of the resolution? Prince William County now leads the state and ranks top in the nation in foreclosures, and our home values have dropped 32%. The neighborhood issues that existed prior to the passage of the resolution are resurfacing as foreclosed homes bought by real estate investors are turned into rental properties. And our County budget is facing deep cuts this year with an equally dismal prospect for next.

Many predicted dire consequences but Supervisors refused to heed their warnings. Probably nobody said it better than Oklahoma Republican State Representative Shane Jett, who opposed similar legislation in his state, when he stated:

“[the passage of these types of legislations] will be the single most destructive economic disaster since the Dust Bowl,”

Now with almost one full year of crime figures, foreclosure numbers, home values, and tax revenue numbers compiled can we definitively state that the assertions in the resolution were completely unfounded?  Strictly speaking, we had lower crime rates and a better economy when the ‘illegals’ were here.  Will the status quo remain, as Stewart continues to assert that the resolution is working well?

Obviously this issue has been the single most divisive issue to happen here.  Will Supervisors heed Dr. Fuller’s advice, and change course?  Or, are they content with allowing Chairman Stewart to continue down this path hoping that voters will only hold him responsible?

287(g) Program Riddled with Ambiguity

MoonHowler

A GAO report released Tuesday night exposed some major flaws in the 287(g) program, according to the Washington Post. The report said that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E), the overseer of the program, intended for 287(g) to be a plan to identify serious criminal offenders who are illegal immigrants and who needed to be removed from the country.

Some of the 67 jurisdictions who have trained for 298(g) with ICE are using 287(g) as a way to harass immigrants and to put ice detainers on individuals stopped for minor infractions like urinating in public and open alcohol containers, contrary to the objectives of the program.

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ICC issues warrant for arrest of Sudan’s President!

Elena

With my little 6 month old Rachael on my hip, wrapped in her baby sling, we ventured to join a protest in D.C. against the ongoing violence in Darfur. That was almost four years ago, and sadly, little has changed in that region. Today, however, is a good day, for if Al-Bashir, the president of Sudan, steps foot outside his country, he could very well be arrested. This may not stop the violence happening in Darfur, but it sends a strong message, the world is watching.

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Math Investigations on the Agenda Tonight

Alanna

Tonight might be one of the last opportunities for parents to plea with Board Members to allow a traditional opt-in program for teaching math.

On the agenda, are two recommendations.

  1. Gil Trenum’s proposal for the “traditional opt-in” program.
  2. Dr. Otaigbe’s proposal for a “blended approach”.

I strongly prefer the recommendation from Gil Trenum which would allow parents a choice in the manner in which mathematics are taught to their children.

We have discussed this topic in some detail previously.

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The BOS Meeting 3/3/09: Open Thread

MoonHowler

The BOS is now meeting to discuss the FY10 budget. Today is the day they vote to advertise the rate. They can always lower the rate in April but they cannot raise it. That is what has people all in a dither.

Please contribute if you are watching on channel 23 comcast or channel 37 FIOS or if you are beaming in the meeting some other way.

To start us off, we were told that rather than being compared to Alexandria or Fairfax as far as tax assessments/services, we would be more like Stafford County.

Prince William County Tax Rate Discussion $112,500 Home Value Loss equals $548 ‘Savings’

Alanna

At tomorrow’s PWC Supervisors’ meeting, an advertised tax rate will be determined.  Last year’s discussion, included no less than 7 votes before a final rate was adopted.  This year should be equally as interesting.

I have concerns about the numbers proposed by Chairman Stewart as he proports to claim an average $548 savings.  Our personal property tax bill is determined by our Assessed Value divided by 100 then multiplied by the tax rate plus some additional fees ie stormwater.  Our previous tax rate was 98 cents, Stewart now proposes $1.19 which is a 21 cent increase.  The proported decrease in the bill will be due to the lowered assessed rates.  So, how much value will you have had to lose in your home to qualify for the $548 ‘savings’?  $112,500.

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Prince William County Crime Stats After Passage of Resolution

Alanna

Chairman Stewart wants to claim crime statistics have decreased since the passage of the resolution. Maybe he should check the numbers. In fact, what we had was a decreasing crime rate during the time period where Stewart claims an influx of illegals. And well now… 2008 rates show increased burglary, auto theft, larceny etc… Maybe he should rethink his line of argument?

Personally, it seems related more to the economy than anyone’s immigration status. Remember, murders and rapes supposedly are non-trendable anyways so we should not make any assumptions based on those numbers.

The yellow highlighted row is mine. It’s a year-to-date calculation, whereby we can compare 2007 numbers to 2008 running totals.

Statistics come from the Prince William County Police Department’s website. As of today, there are no reports available for fourth quarter of 2008.

Note: Based on the explanation given to me by Officer Chinn of the PWC, negative numbers in the Rape statisitics are used to offset a previously reported case. I presume an example would be someone who recants their account.

Ghost Busters Proclaim Evidence of Paranormal in PWC

MoonHowler

It seems that here in Prince William County, things can definitely go bump in the night. Every once in a while it’s good to set the politics aside and check out what else is going on in the world around us, or in the netherworld around us in this case. What better on a snowy Sunday than a good ghost story or two!

I have long heard people talk about apparitions and strange occurrences happening out in the battlefield. Stories have been featured on the History Channel and other cable spots about ghostly happenings at the Stone House which served as a hospital during the Civil War. It makes sense that war and death might create the perfect setting for specters and paranormal events.

However, today’s News and Messenger takes us to the other side of the county to the Weems-Botts Museum in Dumfries for our scare of the week. All sorts of tales from the dark side are supposedly happening over there—so much so that a team of ghost busters was brought in last fall to investigate and document some of the paranormal phenomena.
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