You are completely wrong about the building code. Part III of the Virginia Uniform Building Code Section 404 specifically deals with overcrwding residential structures. In addition, State law allows for the Statewide Fire Prevention Code to be amended locally. The City amended the local fire code to address residential overcrowding. That is why the City of Manassas Fire Marshal Office enforces residential overcrowding. I did a lot of research on this subject.

Also, Sir I never called anyone a racist. That would be an irresponsible comment since I do not know you. I believe what I said was maybe you should look in the mirror and ask your self if you are. If you took it that way or I incorrectly wrote what I ment to write, then I sincerly apologize. But one good thing has come from this. People are talking. I want to say I again, I agree with almost everything that has been said, less and except the ordinance that the city crafted the prohibited certain family members from living together. I fully admit I have a huge problem with the government telling me which family members can live with me and which can’t. I wish I could remember which councilmemebr made the comment about his family needing space and that he would let them even if it ment that his house was overcrowded. I do know it was said, just not who said it.

I also agree that the ispanic community does not involve itself enough into the community. I think a lot of it is because of fear of the unknown.

I apologize if I offended anyone but i do see alot of misinformation going out that if you are going to have an opinion, you should have an informed opinion. I actually did a research paper on this subject for one of my college courses that I am taking and I believe that I gained a lot of knowledge about this subject through my request for information from the City and reading. I thank everyone for taking the time to discuss the problem.

Number of hispanic citizens that have applied and
been rejected in the past decade — zero.

The Parks and Recreation Comm. being an exception -
two new hispanic members helped resolve the
problem of hispanic soccer teams suddenly appearing at
fields without reservations (this is needed since we,
like most of N. Va., are short on locations to meet
growing demand). A compromise was worked out.

The point is — Be part of a solution and not part of
a problem.

___________________________________________

Just to correct the above statement, please see http://fl1.findlaw.com/news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/terrorism/usmrtnzflrs1001indt.pdf

otherwise known as U.S. v. Luis A. Martinez-Flores, wherein we learn that two of the 9/11 hijackers were aided and abetted in securing fraudulent Virginia IDs by illegal immigrant day laborers who routinely congregate in a 7-Eleven parking lot in Falls Church, VA.

These IDs were necessary to board the fatal flights.

This “service” is widely known to be available among illegal immigrant day laborers.

We are well beyond a simple immigration problem. This is a very serious public safety problem.

(Interesting piece on the Slate site yesterday
that compared the challenges of illegal immigration
with the Iraq war - in both cases we seem to be
in a classic damned if we do - damned if we don’t).
But like Iraq, we simply aren’t in a position to walk
away without leaving a huge problem that will
continue to damage our nation. My concern with
illegal immigration isn’t to lambast any group, but
to perserve the civic fabric of our community- schools,
the legal system, medical care - and have a safety net
for all our citizens - it is starting to unravel under
the stress.

Would add, that while I know you get what you get on
a blog, I was still surprised to be called a “racist” - have
spent most of my long life being more often labeled a
“bleeding heart do-gooder “. Anyway, the country
and the net are still free, and may we all give thanks
for that.

The following was taken from your post of 01/28/07…….

seems like maybe citizenofmanassas that as long as your neighbors are white then you could care, but put a hispanic family next to you and all hell breaks loose. I don’t know you so I do not like to generalize, but maybe you should wake up, look in the mirror, and ask yourself if you are racist.

That statement seems to be directed at me only, not to people in general. Besides, how do you know I am white? I don’t think I have ever posted what my race is. I might be a Native American, Asian or whatever.

I believe you are the one that has issues. You accuse people of being racist, and then when comforted you change your tune. I would expect you to read more and post less, rather then keep going back on what you have posted. If you want people to understand your point of view, write it in a way people can understand. I have no quilt whatsoever, but you can keep playing the liberal tactics if you like, but they will not work here. Lets see, you have used the “R” word, and now guilt.And using all caps is a nice touch. Scream much do you? As I have already posted, I don’t care who is breaking the law, I will call the police.

You have stated you are against illegal immigration, and I have said the same. How does that make my views are irresponsible, but not yours?

I would add that at one time the Supreme Court up held slavery as a legal institution. Who is to say the current Court would just follow what the court said in 1977?

My my aren’t we testy today. Do you have a guilty conscience? You really SHOULD READ THE POSTS FULLY. I never said you were against hispanics. I said, I’ve seen what happens when white americans generalize all hispanics, but if the shoe fits, wear it! I never said you only call housing violations on hispanics or that you said all hispanics are illegal. It really seems you have a guilty conscience and you are trying to justify your irresponsible beliefs. Please, read what I write fully and quit trying to justify those irresponsible beliefs. I know and everyone else knows that if your family needed assistance you would provide it even if it ment overcrowding your house. And if you wouldn’t then that really says alot for you and maybe what is wrong with family values today. You seem like you are an educated man SO PUT SOME OF THAT EDUCATION TO WORK AND READ, UNDERSTAND, THINK, THEN WRITE. technically, you are wrong about entering the country illegally. It is not a criminal charge but rather a civil charge. But I agree it should be a criminal charge. But what I ment when I said all illegals aren’t criminals is that they aren’t all out committing crimes. I think most people with half a brain knew what I ment, I hope you knew. I really hope that one day our government gets a handle on this problem, which in my belief is second only to terrorism, so people like you will feel better about yourselves.

Where did I write all hispanics are illegal? Where did I write I was against all hispanics? You say I should look in the mirror for what? If as you say you are also against illegal immigration as I have said, would that statement also apply to you too? Where did I say I only wanted to call the police on hispanics for housing violations? In fact I think, I said I will call the police on anyone who might be breaking the law. Based on that statement, how did you arrive at your opinion, I would only call the police on hispanics?

The City leadership caved into pressure from people who live outside the City. I would have kept the policy as it is clear HUD did not have a case based on their actions. If someone entered into the Country illegally, they have committed a crime. So, your statement that all illegals are not criminals is wrong.

I went back and reread your post, and I must say, you clearly have some racist overtones in your message, and I do not say that lightly. Such as “you folks might try it sometime”. Who the hell is you folks? You understand why I leave!? I never said I left anywhere, again you generalize. Also, I don’t think I ever asked you to respect me, you don’t even know me. And as far as me respecting you, I don’t know you so how can I respect you. Rather than putting me down, why not try to learn a little about the hispanic culture and you might learn a little.

Funny, how you resort to the “R” word. Sorry, but that liberal rant stuff does not work with me. That is only used when folks have nothing left to defend their position, and so they have to resort to name calling in hopes of changing the topic. I follow the law, and expect others to do the same. The City says I have to buy a sticker for my car, which I do. I don’t agree with it, but I buy it to stay within the law. If I see someone breaking the law, I will call the police, and have done so a few times with my, to use your words again, “WHITE” neighbors. There is the rule of law that makes this Nation great, and if we do not follow it, there goes the Country. It seems the illegals who have already broken at least one law(entering the country illegally) do not agree with that.

And, I would venture to say that illegals terrorize us plenty, or do you have your head up your A$$?? Do you keep up with the National news? There are plenty of examples of illegals committing crimes. I think our economy would do just fine without illegals. It is estimated 1/3 of the entire DC area population is made up of illegals. Picture 1/3 less population.

Law enforcement rounds up thousands of criminals all around the Country, they do not throw up their hands and say well we just can’t do it, so why should that policy not be used for illegals?

Common sense, not PC police, would tell us that we
should be able to determine who is illegal and then
be able to collect from the Feds the amount needed
to educate those children. Washington, by neglect,
has permitted massive illegal immigration, and they
should make local communities whole.

I certainly have no problem with legal immigrants,
but do have a major problem with the huge negative
impact of illegal immigration on our civic fabric.

Perhaps we should learn from Mexico on how to
treat illegal immigrants - read “Migrants Stream
Into South Mexico” in the 1-28-2007 New York Times
- where other hispanics are beaten, raped, and
robbed by the Mexican police on a regular basis.
But we don’t do that here because we believe in
common decency and the rule of law - you folks
might try it sometime.

Not sure what you mean, “the truth finally comes out”. I am sure I know more about this situation than you could ever imagine. I never said something doesn’t need to be done. The truth is we ( I say “we” because I am a citizen and I vote, REPUBLICAN) need to take charge in a way that does not violate the laws of the United States. I also said I do not believe that the City intentionally violated anyones constitutional rights, but this ordinace did. I hope our polititions wake up and secure the borders, send home all illegals who have been convicted of ANY felony, work out a soution for the ones that are here illegally and can show that they have lived here without committing any crimes and have worked without living off mine and your tax dollars. If you think that if all illegal hispanics packed up an moved home and our economy wouldn’t be hurt, then you have your head stuck up your a**. Sorry, I just call it the way I see it. I know that the city’s program pointed out a lot of good information to families that were living and sleping in unsafe bedrooms and who used that information to make changes in the way that they were living. But I notice that you ignored my question to you if the city told you that you couldn’t have your neices and/or nephews living with you even if your house wasn’t overcrowded, what ould you do? I believe you would do the same thing as any good family man and fight the city. It is funny how today we say that ther is less emphasis on family valuse and here we have a group of people who take care of their family and we put them down for that, seems like maybe citizenofmanassas that as long as your neighbors are white then you could care, but put a hispanic family next to you and all hell breaks loose. I don’t know you so I do not like to generalize, but maybe you should wake up, look in the mirror, and ask yourself if you are racist. Also, I do not think that any hispanics have ever committed any terrorist acts against us, in fact I believe the last domistic terorist act was committed by you guessed it, a white american! I believe we should be more focused on securing the borders which I am all for. I agree with you and everyone else on here about the problems, we just disagree on how they should and shouldn’t be addressed. Please don’t pretend that you know me or know what I am about. I am willing to put my background up against yours anyday. I served my country, I travel everyday to DC to work so my wife dosen’t have to work and can home school our children, and obey all laws including the occupancy limit of my house as set by the Commonwealth of Virginia and I have never had any city official knock on my door wanting to measure my bedrooms or tell me I need to get my cars off the grass or pick up my trash, so I hope that you are not generalizing me.