Fireworks on WMAL
By Greg L | 14 May 2007 | Fairfax County, Illegal Aliens | 32 Comments
Today’s Chris Core show on WMAL radio followed up on yesterday’s Washington Post article on overcrowding in Fairfax County, and for those of you who missed it, it was a stunning show with caller after caller talking about outrageous overcrowding problems right near their homes, the complete ineffectiveness of Fairfax County’s meager attempts to deal with this issue, and their frustration with the complete lack of leadership on this issue from county elected officials. Now that someone is willing to talk about this, judging from Chris Core’s description of how many calls and emails he received this morning, it looks like this may become a very significant issue in Fairfax’s elections this season, where every member of the Board of County Supervisors is up for re-election.
Chris called me and spent a few minutes with me live on the show, and later on Gerry Connolly spoke with Chris Core, and seemed to backpedal from his quotes in the Washington Post. Connolly announced he is forming a “strike force” to deal with this issue, which would “bring everyone to the table”, “inventory the problems”, and then “devise a strategy” for dealing with the problem. Too little, and far too late. If you have any doubt, consider his little vignette where he toured a neighborhood in Springfield and say a house with a sign in spanish advertising rooms for rent. Not only did he fail to take action on the spot, but to his knowledge this brazenly illegal boarding house is still in operation.
How about you start with inventorying that problem, and “devise a strategy” to actually get off your butt and get a zoning inspector to visit that residence, Supervisor?
It’s clear to me that the only interest the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has in this is covering their butts from the type of fierce public backlash that was evident this morning. This problem isn’t new. One caller went so far as to describe Fairfax County’s policy on illegal aliens as “an active amnesty program”, which appears to be a pretty accurate description. Connolly and his gang have known about this problem for years, and have steadfastly done not a thing to solve it, or even address it. Now that this serial leadership failure is clearly evident to so many Fairfax County residents, perhaps the voters of Fairfax County will hold them to account for this malfeasance and kick them out of office this November.
Residents deserve a lot better than this.
You can listen to this show here.
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32 Comments
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Greg,
Prince William County is no better. John Stirrup does nothing about overcrowding in our district. It seems he will not even acknowledge that there is a problem. Everytime I call in with a complaint (and forgive me if I spell her name wrong) I’m transferred to Michelle Casciatto whose only advice is to pick up trash. It is interesting to note her take on overcrowding. In fact she says that you can have as many as 50 people living in a house and that is perfectly legal and perfectly acceptable to her. This is the kind of person our supervisors hire. Isn’t wonderful how are tax dollars are at work. I think she makes a six figured salary.
Prince William County needs better supervisors. As I write this there are at least two houses within eyeshot of my front window that are used as hotels for illegal aliens. Get a good look at the hotel they built on 10131 Lomond Drive. John Stirrup let that happen and he will not do anything about it.
I understand Fairfax has problems but we do too! We need
better supervisors!
Patty,
I’ve had great response from Supervisor Stirrup on this issue, and I can personally attest that he is extremely concerned about it. He spoke on this issue at the last Help Save Manassas meeting, is a strong proponent of the Section 287(g) program, and has promised to introduce proposed legislation regarding overcrowding as soon as the HSM executive committee completes drafting it.
Honestly, it’s hard to find anyone more on-board with the citizens on this issue than Supervisor Stirrup.
I am a resident of Mason District in Fairfax County and Penelope Gross (D) is my supervisor. I am absolutely ashamed to say that she has done nothing but help to drive down property values and the sense of safety that once existed. I, along with other residents, have made numerous calls to Penelope’s office on this very same issue. The standard respons is “thank you for calling, someone will follow up with you.” Guess what? No one ever follows up. Instead, she and Mr. Gerry Connolly ignore this issue and continue to push the dumb-ass notion of cramming “affordable housing” into the already dense Fairfax County. I am sick and tired of the current regime and I want a change. I am sure most resident want a change, regardless of their political affiliation. After all, the numbers speak for themselves — overcrowding, gang crime and the steady rise in the crime rate can no longer be ignored.
PATTY, DID THEY SUGGEST YOU TAKE THE SHOPPING CARTS BACK TO THE STORES TOO? TAKE A LOOK @ URBANNA DR….I SAW 5 ON THAT STREET AND 2 ON A CROSS STREET YESTERDAY….
Greg,
I’m sorry to say that he probably says that to you so that you and Help Save Manassas will support him (John Stirrup), but when the “average” citizens call to complain about illegals, he gives us the deaf ear or transfers us to Michelle Casciatto. I’ve got to be honest with you. John Stirrup is losing support in my neighborhood because he has done nothing about the illegal aliens.
One prime example is the house on 10131 Lomond. The illegals built a huge house over top of the existing house and it is used as a hotel. You should see the number of vehicles parked in the back. It doesn’t even have a back yard. It is a parking lot. I was told that a property was limited on the size of the driveway or parking area. This property exceeds the limits that code allows. What has John Stirrup done about it. Nothing!!!!
There are houses on 9700 King George, 7702 Woodstock and others on Woodstock that are used as hotels. Just come by at night and see the screen doors that are propped open to advertise safe houses for illegals. Lafayette also can be considered a hotel alley.
John Stirrup has done nothing about this. He will not even talk about illegals during Surpevisors time at the Board meetings. Wally Covington is the only one that had the guts to say that illegals are not welcome in Prince William County.
I’m sorry, we need a stronger supervisor for our district to combat illegals and John Stirrup has not demonstrated that he is that person. Believe me when I say that I’m not the only one who feels this way.
This problem is endemic to every NoVA community: Fairfax, PWC, Loudoun, Arlington, Alexandria. To say there is an absence of leadership is an incredible understatement. There is clear dereliction of duty by Board after Board, and, in some places, law enforcement themselves.
What kind of dystopia have we created for ourselves? Is it really worth not having to mow your own damn yard to have these kinds of problems? Is there some sort of God-given right to having a cleaning lady in the D.C. suburbs?
And always we are told WE are the problem–because we speak up about rampant overcrowding, eyesore properties, and multi-family/generational “homes”. We are told that there are not enough inspectors, and that even if there were, they would have to stake out places to see who actually “lives” there. We are told in every way but directly to our faces that we have NO choice but to sit by and watch as EVERY neighborhood and locality across NoVA becomes a “sanctuary” city.
GOD FORBID that I don’t mow my grass–because you can bet your sweet ass an Inspector will show up to fine me for that. Same goes with Home For Sale, Yard Sale, etc., signs. Evidently the ONLY thing NO ONE can be cited for is running a hellish, teeming bario uglier than the worst Dickensian nightmare.
THANK GOODNESS NoVA IS SO SOLIDLY TURNING THAT DEEP, DEEP SHADE OF “PROGRESSIVE” BLUE.
(Will the last single-family to leave the area switch off the lights so the new inhabitants can find their pupusa trucks?)
Patty, I’ve worked with Supervisor Stirrup for quite a while, and I know him fairly well. He’s on our side on this issue, and has been more supportive of what HSM is doing than any other member of the PWC BOCS. When I need help in the district on these issues, John Stirrup is among the first I call, and I’ve always gotten all the help from him and his staff I can ask for. Really, I can’t imagine having a better supervisor to work with.
Thanks for the mention of those properties. One of those is on my list to check out already (a tip which came in the HSM PO Box) and I will take a look at the others — they’re all pretty close to my house.
Greg, I don’t think you’re hearing what Patty is saying. She and her neighbors get lip service while Supervisor Stirrup appears to give you the attention you expect. Maybe he feels you, your blog, and HSM have more to offer him in terms of political value than a bunch of common citizens. So is he really doing anything to help solve the problem or just giving you lip service too?
Thank you Statistician. And Greg anytime you want to take a tour of my neighborhood send me an e-mail. You can talk to my neighbor who is also frustrated with John Stirrup. The conditions you describe in Fairfax County are right here in Prince William. We’ve been living with this situation for almost six years and Mr. Stirrup has done nothing. Last time I called his office about 10131 Lomond Drive, his assistant told me that they are in compliance with code. I didn’t know that a homeowner can make their entire back yard a parking lot! I would love to do a photo journal for everyone to see the conditions in PWC and in my neighborhood. If John Stirrup has done anything it would show and it doesn’t. I’m conservative and I vote republican too but when someone is not doing their job they need to be held accountable regardless.
I’m free tomorrow after work. Drop me an email and I’ll walk with you. I’m behind on a report or two in that area anyways, and this will help get me caught up.
Thanks for stopping by anon from Mason District.
Vellie Detrich Hall is challenging Gross this fall.
For more info you can visit her website http://www.votevellie.org.
Also, feel free to email me at novamiddleman@hotmail.com for more info.
Speaking of the house on Lomond Drive, check out this real estate listing from March 2007. The house is advertised as newly built in 2005.
“Its true: 9 bedrooms, 5 full baths in this gorgeous home. House was totally redone, top to bottom. It has large size bedrooms, large dining room, 9 ft ceilings on both levels. huge level backyard with a detached garage for two cars. bring your clients and they won't be disappointed. Open house 3/4/2007 12-4″
If those are 9 official bedrooms (a window and a closet), then I think county code says that something like 18 people can live there and not be “overcrowded”. Of course, common sense would dictate that 18 people living on a little suburban lot IS overcrowded.
A little more:
The house is for sale for $800K.
And it seems that someone associated with the house, as of April 2007, is a tax delinquent in Delaware to the tune of $12K
Seven Brothers Carpentry Inc, 10131 Lomond Dr, Manassas VA 20109-3110, $12,637.52
King George:
Solises Painting
9700 King George Dr, Manassas, VA
(703) 330-8699
I wonder if they actually run the business out of the house and have a permit for that, if they do.
I wonder if PWC approved 9 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms for that house on Lomond. Isn’t that a little insane if they did?
the county knows: PARCEL ID 7696-69-9968 CARD 1 of 1 ADDRESS 10131 LOMOND DR RPC/Acct # 18828
OWNERSHIP & MAILING ADDRESS
ISIDORO PELAEZ JOHNNY
10131 LOMOND DR
MANASSAS, VA
20109
PROPERTY DESCRIPTION
WEST GATE OF LOMOND
L 749 SEC 1-B
GENERAL INFORMATION
NBHD Code: 2408 Westgate West
State Code: 100 Resid (Urban)
Prop Type: 011 SFD, Detached
Zone: R4 Suburban Residential (4/acre)
SALES HISTORY
Owner Date Deed Book/ Page Sale Price
ISIDORO PELAEZ 3/2/2006 $0
ISIDORO-PELAEZ 2/1/2005 $0
ISIDORO-PELAEZ 10/28/2002 $234,000
MCGLOTHLIN ALTO 2/1/1991 1786 1120 $123,000
HITCHCOCK HARRY 3/1/1987 1459 0170 $90,000
SILVIOUS STEPHE 11/1/1980 1132 2016 $0
ASSESSMENT HISTORY
Year Land Use Improvement Total
2007 $135,500 $376,900 $512,400
2006 $135,500 $245,900 $381,400
2005 $83,700 $208,400 $292,100
2004 $72,900 $165,800 $238,700
2003 $64,000 $150,400 $214,400
2002 $64,000 $121,200 $185,200
2001 $57,600 $90,300 $147,900
2000 $52,500 $84,100 $136,600
PUBLIC NOTES
{ WEST GATE OF L 749 SEC 1-B }
LAND INFORMATION
Zoning Front Depth Acres
011 SFD, Detached 0 0 0
Total Acre(s): 0
PERMIT INFORMATION
Permit # Type Description of Work
05-15521 CA Commercial Addition ISIDORO - DECK DEMO
06-00950 RA Residential Addition ISIDORO-PELAEZ - DETACHED GARAGE
06-04421 RA Residential Addition ISIDORO - HOUSE REMOD
Page No 2 PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY - RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY RECORD CARD Created on 5/15/2007 at 3:50:52 PM
PARCEL ID 7696-69-9968 CARD 1 of 1 ADDRESS 10131 LOMOND DR RPC/Acct # 18828
USE CODE 011 SFD, Detached
DWELLING CHARACTERISTICS
Style: 03 2 Story, 2 plus Story
Grade: S4
Stories: 2.00
Ext Walls: 22 All Alum/Vinyl
Heating: 01 Forced Air
Addn.Heat: No
Cooling: 01 Yes
Floor:
Roofing: 1 Composition
Attic:
Fireplace Type: 2 Gas
FP Openings: 1
FP Stacks: 1
Total Rooms: 15
Bedrooms: 9
Full Baths: 5
Half Baths: 0
Basement: 8 Slab
Fin Bsmt Sqft: 0
UnFin Bsmt Sqft: 0
Total Finished 4256
Base Area 2141
Year Built: 1963
Additions
Type Description Area Year Built
POR Porch, Open 60
Improvements
Type Description Area Year Built
SS1 Storage Shed 120.00
PROPERTY PHOTO
PROPERTY SKETCH
the county is aware see link to the prince william county real tax info http://www4.pwcgov.org/realestate/LandRover.asp
Are these houses used as “employee housing” by companies that hire illegal aliens?
I’m starting to wonder–else, how would “Seven Brothers Carpentry” get associated with that address?
My suggestion is that you call John Stirrup’s office and ask him about 10131 Lomond Drive. I’ll bet you’ll get an interesting response.
Greg, I’ll send you an e-mail but the last time I sent you one I didn’t get a response. I’ll try again.
I have dug into that issue, and superficially checked the property out yesterday. My understanding is that zoning enforcement has been there about 6-9 times already, and under the current zoning laws they cannot identify any infractions. I think there might be some additional opportunities here, but need to make sure I get a good handle on what the specific ordinances and laws are that I’m thinking of having employed.
What in the he** is the county doing approving a 9 bedroom, 5 full bath house in the first place?
I would say it’s probably going to be an impossible feat to nail the owners for overcrowding. The house isn’t technically overcrowded.
Of course, the presence of a house that can quite legally have 18 adults and the corresponding 18 vehicles in a tightly packed residential neighborhood was a dumb decision from the start. This county creates its own problems sometimes.
That had to go through the planning commission, no?
We need to start gathering and researching information on these “company vehicles”. I’ve done some checking on Solises Painting, Seven Brothers Carpentry and Mario’s Painting, and none of them have filed a Fictitious Name in PWC(legal business file these).
Mario’s Painting has at least nine of these vans on given night on the 9700 block of Lafayette Ave. This along with at least 5 boarding houses, all of which have about 6 cars/vans per house. I’ve lived on this block my entire life, this is sickening.
Obviously these people are a special class not expected to obey the same laws as the rest of us.
Correction of spelling to read Governor. This is name given to be by one of my neighbors. I think we should all be “Governors” of the block we live on.
I would like to say BEWARE OF DOG, on Strasburg between the 9700 blocks of Lafayette and King George. This dog was running wild while students were walking home. My daughters friend was jumped up on by this dog. Animal Control, came right out to take care of problem. The dog also came at the AC Officer, he said he had declared the dog to be dangerous. The owners weren’t home at the time, he said he would be back to get the dog. I’m sure the dog didn’t understand English, when the Officer tried to get the dog back in it’s yard.
Back to 10131 Lomond Dr., this house is zoned r-4, which means you can only have 40%lot coverage, this property appears to have 85% coverage. Who is the Zoning Inspector for Lomond Drive? I just had to go to Zoning to get approval for expanding driveway, and other items. I was within 500 Sqr Ft. of reaching that 40%. I asked them if there was more than 40% coverage, what would I have to do. They told me, I would have to remove some of the lot coverage. I know our block is being looked at by our Zoning Inspector, weekly. There are still many things that need to be taken care of. I, must say there has been some improvement over the last month.
just a thought occured to me re: 10131 Lomond dr, according to the tax info., it is a 15 room dwelling…..14 being bedrooms and bathrooms…..is there a living room, a huge kitchen or make shift kitchens in each bedroom as a potenial hazzard…….
“Back to 10131 Lomond Dr., this house is zoned r-4, which means you can only have 40%lot coverage, this property appears to have 85% coverage.”
Either no building permit was obtained for the work, or the owner had to get a variance. If I am not mistaken the process of getting a variance involves the planning commission, which must vote to approve or disapprove of it. If the variance is not granted then it can be appealed and the Board of Zoning Appeals hears the case. (And, in Manassas Park, if the Board of Zoning Appeals doesn’t vote the way the city wants then the city sues them).
PERMIT INFORMATION
Permit # Type Description of Work
05-15521 CA Commercial Addition ISIDORO - DECK DEMO
06-00950 RA Residential Addition ISIDORO-PELAEZ - DETACHED GARAGE
06-04421 RA Residential Addition ISIDORO - HOUSE REMOD ….
a variance?
Perhaps, since Greg has a good relationship with Supervisor Stirrup, he can ask him point blank to detail exactly how a 9 bedroom house got approved here. Is an approval not necessary - have Supervisor Stirrup answer that. If it is NOT necessary and one can build anything one chooses, then tell Supervisor Stirrup that the citizens of his district implore him to get together with his fellow “conservative” Chairman Stewart and put forth changes to the regulations. There is NO WAY there should be a nine bedroom house on a generic residential street. Nine bedroom houses are fine - for 5 acre country lots.
“a nine bedroom house on a generic residential street”
Isn’t that the sort of high-density development that smart-growth supporters want?
Let us all not forget the crux of the problem being illegal immigration. My parents, both from China, taught us to work hard and be good citizens. We must reclaim the American identity . Hold the Supervisors feet to the fire!