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Dependency Breeds Servitude
By Greg L | 1 January 2007 | Manassas City | 24 Comments
Over the past couple of days a Manassas resident has been filling my inbox with complaints about the Manassas City Council which seem to be triggered in part by a Washington Post story regarding Georgetown South’s continuing problems with crime (see “Enclave Looking To Bolster Security“, Dec 24th 2006). The neighborhood watch program has fallen apart due to lack of participation, and citizens have failed to even attend meetings where solutions for the problem are to be discussed. The Post reports:
“But the community council says it is having trouble engaging residents. The group has made attempts to invite participation. They have sent out bilingual monthly newsletters to attract people to their meetings, but to no avail, board members said.”
The problems seem to arise in large part not from violent crime, which has actually decreased in the neighborhood, but from large numbers of people who tend to congregate outdoors and generally cause disturbances. From the article:
“I’m seeing an increase in shots fired or complaints about these individuals that tend to hang on Buckner Road,” said Dawn Brown, a Hood Road resident and a member of the Georgetown South Community Council’s board. “Before it gets to where someone is hurt, just an innocent bystander, I would like to see them [city and police officials] at least work with us to find some way to resolve it.”
Instead of getting citizens to take responsibility for the quality of their own neighborhood, community “leaders” are calling for installing video cameras (and presumably additional city employees to monitor them), dedicated law enforcement personnel, and other efforts by the city to solve the problem. Not “work with us”, as might be the case with a neighborhood watch program, but “solve our problem for us” regardless of the impacts on personal liberty, public expenditures or economic sustainability.
Regardless of how much “investment” is made in Georgetown South, the quality of life there will continue to degrade unless the residents are willing to assume some degree of responsibility for improving the community. Tolerating residential overcrowding, lawlessness among roving bands of illegal aliens, residential eyesores and gang activity so far has made the decent residents of Georgetown South complicit in the deterioration of their community. In the end, successful remediation of the problem rests not in further dependency on the government, but in residents taking personal responsibility for their neighborhoods and forging strong and effective partnerships where government supports the efforts of the residents.
The Community Council’s lack of leadership in favor of begging for government solutions not only won’t ultimately work, but is a disservice to the residents who are depending on leadership, rather than passing the buck. The Community Council is fostering servitude to the whims of government, rather than the responsibility the residents must bear in order to improve the situation.
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24 Comments
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I seem to recall that, some years ago, the Manassas City Police did indeed take the proactive step of opening a substation in Georgetown South in order to stem the tide of criminal activities there. Unless, for some reason, the police have closed that substation, I can’t see how much more proactive they could be. It’s really not a large neighborhood.
What is funny about the Post article, is it came a couple of days after a “puff” piece on the Flea Market strip center on 234 that is a major hang out for hispanics. In that article, the post had no issues pointing out how the hispanics use the center for many different services, shopping etc, and pretty much put a positive spin on it.
Now, this article, does not mention hispanic once. Yet, clearly the increase in hispanics in GTS, is at the center of the problems(bilingual newsletters). Funny how political correctness controls how the Post reports.
You are right on with your point. You live by big government, you die by big government.
Hey COM,
If the hispanic population is “at the center of the problems”, then it would be save to say that GTS was a model community before the hispanic population began to increase. If you have been a COM for a long time you would know that GTS has been a problem area for decades.
GTS was well on it’s way to improving until the signs at the Mexican border stating “Need work? Go to Manassas” went up.
All previous comments certainly have some degree of real merit. The item that stood out to me in the article, however, is that the Manassas police force is short nearly 10% of its authorized uniformed officer staffing due to the so-called “budget crisis” in Manassas. This crisis can be layed directly at the feet of Mssrs Harrover and Aveni, who willfully ignored the budgeting data presented to them last year (including real estate tax assessment projections, financial estimates and the recommendations of the city’s own professional staff) in an attempt to prove their manhood as fiscal conservatives. The resultant revenue shortfalls have led to the decimation of the Manassas city police department (quite literally). Before the gun fire is heard on your block, you may want to consider whether or not it was worth it for Aveni and Harrover to have saved each household $100 (or likely much less) this year just so that they could beat their chests as “protectors” of the taxpayer, while the police department is left to raise money at bake sales. How about a sensible analysis of costs and benefits, with some weight being given to intangible benefits (like living in a neighborhood without gunfire on the streets).
Actually, another element that you haven’t mentioned that certainly is a concern in our neighborhood are the number of tenants versus homeowners living in the properties. This is especially a problem in townhome communities. You have a small minority of homeowners occupants who want to improve their community and a sizable number of homeowner landlords that just don’t care about who they put in the units, as long as they are getting paid. We have had several drug dealers/renters and they are impossible to get rid of, because the landlords just don’t care. Yes, there are some overcrowding issues here too, but to be honest, I think we all want the drugs out first. We have had great support from the city, but ultimately its an community problem - we haven’t had a quorum at an HOA meeting in years. It’s like banging your head against a wall.
It is more than the failure of the community council. This council is begging for help. It appears they are trtying to helps olve their own problem and it is now working. At that point any community should seek help from the government. Yes the residents need to take some responsibility, that would certainly help. I also sse the problem with with renters vs owners mentioned above. That certainly makes the situation harder to fix.
What has happened is that for decades the City of Manassas has let GTS deteriorate into a community that is dominated by law breakers.
The number one respsonsibility of any government is to keep it’s citizens safe, regardless of the effectiveness of any community council.
In this area the government has failed. I have always been amazed that Manassas has has let GTS, such a relatively small area, be such a problem for so long.
I think more exploration of GTS, (history, size, why Manassas can’t control crime in a relatively small area) would be interesting.
Sorry - mistake - - “It appears they are trying to solve their own problem and it is not working.”
Oh please people……. The neighborhood of GTS gets far more city resources than any other neighborhood in the City. Just take a look at the leadership of the GTS HOA. C’mon Greg, do your digging. The very top of the HOA is a flaming liberal who pushed (through the HOA) a letter to the Manassas City Council (from the HOA) demanding that the City ‘not’ send law enforcement through ICE training. She is more concerned with liberal political correctness than she is GTS. She even gave money to Rishell (I just checked vpap on a hunch, HHAAA I was right).
Tudor Hall, please explain further on Harrover and Aveni? I am curious. I didnt think they had voted on any police budget items yet?? Last year the City Council added a Police Officer to the Dept in the budget ( I think, not absolutely positive).
Some things to consider in this discussion-
- GTS had major problems in the early 1990’s that
led community leaders and their city government to
join forces and attack issues such as crime, property
neglect/slum lords and overcrowded housing. They
used intensive community policing, a rental
inspection program, a strong neigborhood
watch program and other actions to combat the
challenges. It had the support of city AND
GTS citizens - a strong partnership. This
led to a number of years when the crime rate in GTS
was, per person, equal or lower than the rest of the
city and home values soared, in percentage, higher
than most local areas. The City of Manassas was
even awarded a trophy from the Virginia Municipal
League for the tremendous turn-a-round in GTS.
- In now appears - 15 years later - that a top
priority for ALL of us is to refocus on stress in
areas such as GTS, Point of Woods, and Bristow Station.
- As a note, Andy and Mark took office 7-1-2006 -
AFTER the current fiscal year budget was adopted.
Anonon (9:12 am), I thought you lived in Manassas Park, not Georgetown South (City of Manassas)?
Tudor Hall, you need to pay somewhat closer attention. I haven’t voted on a budget yet.
Hey Longtime,
GTS started out as a very nice neighborhood, it then went down hill, then started to get better, now down hill again. With the increase in illegals, the City has seen an increase in crime. But, it hits closer in GTS, and as someone who lives very close to GTS, I see first hand the issues in GTS. Also, as someone who does have a few friends in law enforcement, I get to hear some pretty good stories, or in this case, not so good stories.
I do live in MP - some problems are universal.
Oh, OK…I was afraid that someone had “borrowed” your pseudonym.
Re: “in an attempt to prove their manhood as fiscal conservatives”
better than proving gayhood as anal lubricators.
No borrowing going on, though I would be interested if anyone in PWC has been effective in re-engaging homeowners in an HOA? GTS is hardly unique, except for the murder in the community. Gangs, drugs, overcrowding, parking - townhome communities especially have these problems. I don’t think any municipality is going to be successful without the support and active participation of the residents in cleaning up a neighborhood. But with the number of tenants in townhome communities, it is a difficult task. We don’t have a great management company or a particularly active board (save one person, who can’t do it alone) - it’s such a daunting job, no one wants it. Something tells me Cheney just might have some ideas…
Ultimately, it’s our neighborhood, our homes, our responsibility.
Anonon, “community” should be more than just a description, it should be a state of mind. Unfortunately, the more transient our area becomes, the less a sense of community is present. This is particularly a problem in townhouse developments in the suburbs (especially low to moderate end) because most residents look upon them as just a step to something better. When townhouse communities become overtaken by rental properties, that sense of “community” becomes even more fleeting.
This is the attitude which must be addressed if the townhouse community is to become a “community” where people are willing to, themselves, become proactive in taking back their neighborhoods from those who would violate their sense of safety and peace. This sense of “community” is what is needed to get people on those community boards and participating in that neighborhood watch.
How to accomplish that, you may ask? How about getting to know your neighbors, and neighborhood activities which bring neighbors together? How might that neighborhood newsletter in GTS be distributed? I bet it’s not with a knock on the door and a “hello.” That could be another way. Actually, if I recall correctly, when the police first opened that substation in GTS, they initiated community events which brought neighbors together…and made the police’s job much easier. It all takes time, but has to start somewhere. Just a few ideas, Anonon.
If I remember correctly, the townhouse that the substation was located at was sold years ago. I don’t believe they have a substation in GTS anymore. Someone correct me if I’m wrong. I would love to see a substation go back in GTS. This would be a big deterent to the drug problems they are facing.
The government can’t solve all problems, but they can take a leadership role. The City Council holds Townhall meetings quarterly maybe they can be more involved with GTS by holding Townhall meetings specificly for GTS.
The police department are short police officers at this time, but some of that is beyond the Councils control. The police are waiting for officers to come out of training.
I’m glad Andy corrected Tudorhall about the budget, he didn’t take office until after the budget process was completed.
I hope EVERYONE will come together and work on a solution to make GTS a better, safer place to live, for it affects ALL of Manassas and its residents.
The GTS substation in GTS closed when the crime rate
fell to a point below the city average - resources
were then balanced to meet the then current needs of
the entire city.
Provision was made in the Georgetown South Community
Center for a police presence- if needed. (Although
staffing is always an issue - many feel it is always
better to have police on the street - rather than in an office.
A key of community policing is for officers to be
pro active).
GTS, with over 850 homes and 3,000 citizens, is far
too important for a 10 square mile city to ignore.
Manassas helped GTS turn around a decade ago -
and we must be prepared to do it again.
Footnote: Google “Georgetown South Community Center”
If you check out todays’s MJM, there’s a story on Neighborhood watches. Weems is hailed as the biggest and most successful. An earlier poster in this thread hit the nail on the head. There are very few owner/residents living in GTS. Look at the ratio of owvers to renters in Weems, and you’ll find only the smallest fraction of renters. It’s all about being part of the “ownership society”. Those that chose not to participate in it, take little interest in making it better. They rely on the State to provide for their needs, even when disproprtionate to what they contribute to the State. So, Manassas will have to dedicate more resources to GTS, Bristow Station, parts of Point-of-Woods, and Cannon Ridge, places where housing for the lower income is more readily available. Absentee landlords are part of the problem. I know that if I owned a rental unit in the City, I would want to protect my investment, and would pull my time on a neigborhood watch. I can only benefit from it. My property taxes would remain lower, or, my property values would continue to rise.
Mr. Belfry,
First, you are are right about the need to have
a good balance of owner/occupied homes in relation
to rentals - once a community hits 40-50% rentals then
it quickly goes down hill. In the early 1990’s the
City of Manassas saw this as one of the challenges in GTS
and helped start the “Manassas Housing Trust Fund”
(you can Google it) to help worthy people with a
down payment and financial planning skills - it was a
key player in creating more owner occupied GTS homes
and the improvement of the community. (Will have
to check the % balance for the last year).
Second, GTS benefited at the time from a
strong Neighborhood Watch program - the police were
and are proactive in supporting these. But, they trend,
over time, to unravel once the major problems
are contained. Would hope to see this restart in GTS.
Overcrowded housing was an issue in 1992
but the city was able to deal with it - that was well before
the HUD Gestapo started sending in PC troops to
torture local governments.
Big Dog,
Good insights. I hope the city will look at what worked before in GTS, as a good starting point for today.
As an odd aside, I lived in another “Gerogetown” development as a child, in the early 1970’s, just outside of Annapolis. I beleive it was developed by the same company. This was called “Georgetown East”. Same situation exists there today, as exists in GTS.