"We have lost our ambition, our imagination, and our willingness to do the things that built the Golden Gate Bridge" - Barack Obama (aka President Malaise)
Manassas Cleans Up The Peddlers
By Greg L | 6 July 2007 | Manassas City | 16 Comments
About a year or so ago, street peddlers started showing up in and around Manassas and since then the number of them pretty much exploded. Residents were concerned about the image of the city, and traffic safety, and concerns mounted significantly when it was learned that the vast majority of these vendors were improperly licensed, or even unlicensed. One report coming from the Commissioner of Revenue’s office in Manassas was that of all of the street peddlers operating in the city, there was a single licensee who was located in Texas when the requirement was that each individual selling merchandise was required to have their own permit. This problem got out of control quickly, and until very recently the number of street peddlers plying area roadways and sidewalks was unreal.
Many citizens, including a number of members of Help Save Manassas, started calling in complaints about these peddlers in Manassas, and began inquiring about the status of peddlers in Prince William and Manassas Park as well. After local law enforcement got a bit more clear about what the licensing requirements were, a number of these peddlers were cited for violations, and in some instances where multiple violations were cited, pushcarts have been seized and the vehicles transporting them have been towed. After several weeks of effort, the pushcarts have largely disappeared from Manassas and surrounding areas in Prince William County, although ineffective enforcement in Manassas Park hasn’t changed the situation there.
On Thursday evening the Manassas City Council held a worksession regarding the licensing of street peddlars in response to the concerns expressed by citizens, and are proposing to revoke all licenses for street peddlers, excepting those that are seasonal. Given the rampant fraud that has been observed, continuing concerns over sanitary conditions, and reports that some of these street vendors are using their businesses as a cover for distributing drugs, this is an effective response that will address these concerns and protect established businesses from competition by those who don’t follow the rules. It may also serve as a model for action in Prince William County, and eventually help get this situation under control in Manassas Park.
Congratulations to the Manassas City Councilmembers who have been so responsive on this issue, and the citizens who have helped to bring this issue to light and assisted law enforcement by reporting vendors when they’ve been observed. When citizens get involved in their local government, what has happened on this issue helps prove they can make a big difference.
The opinions expressed here are solely the views of the author, and not representative of the position of any organization, political party, doughnut shop, knitting guild, or waste recycling facility, but may be correctly attributed to the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy. If anything in the above article has offended you, please click here to receive an immediate apology.
You can follow the discussion through the Comments feed.
16 Comments
Views: 947
Loading ...
WHY is it that MP is the only place around that NEVER enforces ANYTHING when it comes to illegals?? Man this frustrates me about this town. I see these clowns rolling around the streets all the time now with these carts. ARGGG I hate this town and the people that run it.
park’d
I called the police last weekend on one of the peddlers and they said they were all licensed. Now I have a hard time believing that, for the simple fact that most of the peddlers in Manassas and Prince William were not properly licensed.
It’s a fact, folks, when you make it uncomfortable and enforce the laws, they move on. I rarely see them in Manassas or the parts of the County I drive in. So by default M.P. you get them. You need to stay on top of your elected officials and demand that the police enforce the laws.
The peddler I stopped in the Park didn’t speak English and couldn’t show me I.D. when asked so I could see if he was the one who was legally able to push that cart.. I don’t know if the police came out to investigate or not, but the people in the Park have got to be more proactive in these issues.
The Texas contingent of ice cream peddlers in Manassas operated right out of the townhouse next to me for the last 3 years. Despite calling the matter to Mayor Waldron’s attention last year that a business was operating in a residential community that brought in lots of traffic, both vehicle and pedistrian, nothing happened until they because an eyesore in Old Town. I wished the Republicans on City Council would be as worried about the less affluent neighborhoods as they are about those who live and work in Old Town.
It’s a shame they can’t make an exception for the ice cream truck. That’s a fond childhood memory that my children will apparently be deprived of.
I doubt that the Good Humor truck of your youth bears any resemblance to the filthy roachwagons I’ve seen plying the streets lately. Even if these trucks were running around, I doubt you’d be interested in feeding your children anything from them.
There’s still Dairy Queen, and that place is as clean as you remember it.
I don’t remember Dairy Queen ever being clean.
Nathan’s has been my number one choice for ice cream since the day it opened.
“WHY is it that MP is the only place around that NEVER enforces ANYTHING when it comes to illegals??”
I am convinced that some on City Council profit from their existence.
Greg,
You are right about the trucks today. They do not even come close to what they were like when we were growing up. I recall the men had white uniforms, the trucks were clean, and most of all, the drivers spoke to you more then just to ask what you wanted. These days it seems there is no oversight from good humor, which is a shame since their reputation is taking a huge hit.
There are plenty of other places to go such as Klines, Nathans, BR etc.
We can’t have our children eating from these roachwagons. Take your kids to Kline’s, on 28, by the airport. This is a family owned and operated business, it’s been there for decades and you might get to see a plane or two land. Growing up around here this was always a favorite treat for friends and family. I can remember growing up, they only served chocolate soft serve, on the weekend(there just weren’t that many people in PW).Obviously,this was many years prior the “illegal alien invasion”. They also, serve breakfast, along with you All American dirve-in fare. Odds are you’ll see somebody you know there. You will only hear English there. How many other places and or businesses do you think this is happening at?
The Park needs to get a grip now. How long before the Mexican flag will be flying in front of Town Hall and the Police Station?
I can’t believe, what has become of the Park, IT’S DOWN RIGHT DETESTABLE!!
park’d
I feel you and your fellow citizens down there in the Park. Well, let’s not forget there those out there, who don’t think we the concerned and civic-minded residents of PW should get involved with the Park. They are WRONG!!! The Park is situated in the PW afterall. I and others can see past our front porch.
Klines on 28 was also the only place you could find footlong hot dogs after the 80’s (I introduced them to my daughter there), and one of the few places you could still find old fashioned fountain-type milk shakes. Loved them!
There is another type of peddler we need the authorities to pounce on. In my home town of Minneapolis the city authorities are after brothels set up to service the illegal community. In the article I link to note that it doesn’t mention who the culprits are until well into the narrative–hint, they’re not from Europe, Asia or Africa. (NOTE: The Minneapolis Star Tribune ranks right up there with the Wash Post and the NY Times for its liberality).
Also note that the local illegal advocates are more concerned with the PD supposedly violating the city policy on not dealing with immigration matters than it is with cracking down on human trafficing in sex slaves.
http://www.startribune.com/crime/story/1289309.html
“How long before the Mexican flag will be flying in front of Town Hall and the Police Station?”
It’s not?!?
Correction to my post about the brothels in Minneapolis. There is also a large Asian community and some of the brothels they busted were run by Asians. The main raid the police conducted resulted in the arrest of 25 people, 18 of whom were illegals (no break down on where they are from).
From the Minnesota news story:
“When the women arrived from Mexico and Central America, their passports and other identifying documents were taken away and they were forced into prostitution. In one night, more than 80 men paid two women for sex in a south Minneapolis house.”
Moral:
When someone accuses you of being the immoral person for objecting to the illegal’s presence, tell them that these people are being exploited for the most part, frequently by members of their own group members.
This is a huge problem for many of these immigrants who think they are coming to America for the “American Dream” and find themselves instead in slavery here, (sexual or otherwise) while having abandoned their families in their native country in many cases. This is not good for anyone!
American’s who employ these illegals are guilty of placing these people in these conditions.
MP residents seem pretty dissatisfied with the lack of response they are getting from their council.
For all those who are in this group, let me recommend that you meet with Greg and the HSM board members at the next scheduled meeting and ask for help developing a plan to address your public officials on targeted issues.
You will be amazed at what you will accomplish with an organized group effort. Even one person can make a tremendous difference.
MP does indeed have some challenges, but none that can not have a positive outcome if properly addressed.
Proof: Look at what has happened in MC in the past five months, and what is beginning to develop in PWC as we watch. This will not happen overnight. Without your supporting effort it will not happen at all.
Stop complaining and visit with the HSM board for help with a plan.
Off topic a bit…”Good job by the PWC Supervisors”!
Let’s run all illegals out of the US!