Then And Now
By Greg L | 11 April 2008 | Illegal Aliens, Manassas Park, Manassas City, Prince William County | 49 Comments
Over the past several months, enforcement efforts to reduce the number of illegal aliens unlawfully residing in our communities have made a dramatic change in the quality of life in our community. Residential overcrowding has dramatically declined, hospital emergency rooms are vastly less overcrowded, there’s less gang graffiti defacing our community, and school overcrowding has abated, saving taxpayers millions of dollars.
What have you seen in your community? Compared to where we were last summer, have you noticed a change?
Loading …Also of interest is this poll, which started in September of 2007:
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49 Comments
Views: 1011
Last summer I had eight overcrowded houses on my block. It was a nightmare of trash everywhere, rats, empty beer bottles on the front lawn every morning and derelict vehicles all over the place. Every one of those houses has been cleared out, and we just got a new neighbor in one of these houses. The rest are still vacant, but I’ll take a temporarily vacant house over one stacked to the gills any day.
I still have many vacant houses on my street. I will take that any day over the illegal aliens and the cars and white (ladder) vans parked all over the street. In time, I am sure that these houses will be filled with people that are here legally. They are a bargain right now and with the crack down on illegals in PWC, many people will want to come and live here for a better quality of life.
The two flop-houses across the street from me are still in operation. I’m guessing at least 10 adult residents in each. Both back up to the woods so it’s hard to tell how many cars are parked behind them. I’ve counted 6 cars pulling out from behind one of them in the span of about 30 minutes. It appeared that the one that wanted to get out must have been blocked in by the rest. 2 of the cars didn’t have plates. Those were quickly pulled back behind the house. It would’ve been hilarious if it weren’t for the fact that they live right in front of me.
our flophouses are all gone in my neighborhood, i feel comfortable now running in the early morning hours without fear of being run over by illegal aliens in their work vans.
i also have quiet nights and leave for work refreshed, rather than spend my nights calling police with crappy neighbors and their salsa music. I’ll echo the other poster, it’s well worth the empty houses on my street.
I have noticed less crowds everywhere and yesterday, I actually went into Walmart!
Look, I’m all for legal immigration, work visas and anything done legal while being controlled. There are areas of the economy which could use legal immigrants to do work but also, you’ll see American workers fill the jobs.
Why can’t the lawn companies hire students for summer jobs? Same for the restaurants…heck, in the 80’s as a teenager we could get full time summer jobs doing contruction so let’s get back to doing this. Lot of teenagers, college kids, young adults who will do the jobs for MARKET pay. The housing market went through a period like this in the mid to late 90’s, corrected itself and the samething will happen again. Still, there is work to be done and it starts by holding the employers accountable for hiring aliens who have no right to be here. This is where the hammer should fall down the hardest on those who turn a blind eye and play ignorant to the false/forging of documents.
I don’t know what world you are living in. I still see boarding houses and day laborers. I just see more empty houses. Too bad these are ones that were taken care of. I see more empty stores. Yes Walmart doesn’t have as many people….is that good for business? Prices will just go up. Walmart is not going to lose money
One thing I haven’t seen is empty stores. I don’t go to Walmart very often, but Lowe’s has been packed every time I’ve went there in the past couple of weeks. Same for the grocery store and restaurants.
Casa Furniture closed and the laundromat near my house has a decreased number of people washing clothes in it.
All but one of the overcrowded houses are empty now in my complex. We have about 30 units in foreclosure, funny enough, every one of them had a hispanic surname attached to the foreclosure notice. Go figure. We are working with zoning to investigate, but you know how that works, if they come to the right address.
The stores I go to don’t seem less crowded to me, went into K-Mart on Sudley last week and all I heard was spanish being .
I’m thinking that when the schools let out that we will see a bigger migration out of the county. Just a thought.
On my block, in Bull Run, most of the illegals have left and most of the flophouses are gone. There is less foot and car traffic and the whole area resembles the area I moved in to 8 years ago.
I have five less boarding houses (four still remain) which are empty, my dog hasn’t caught a rat in our backyard for four months (hallelujah), the yards are cleaner (thanks to turning in more than 80 zoning violations in Westgate - and the hard work of the 7 of the 8 zoning inspectors), only one night where there was loud music being played and disrupting my sleep, and we have a lot more parking on our street! I haven’t had a hit and run on my block for about four months now as well.
The Westgate Giant has less customers and shopping there isn’t so bad now.
All in all, a good improvement, and I am looking forward to further improvements since Zoning in PWC now has implemented a new 3-month trial overcrowing “task force.”
Last summer we could all walk down the street without our IDs like free men and women in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.
It looks like this summer we’ll all have to carry our electronically stamped identification papers in our back pocket like the like to good little Juden we are. Pretty soon we’ll dispense with the cards and just embrace chip implants. Isn’t progress grand?
Last summer, our culture still embraced innocent until proven guilty…now we embrace probably guilty until proven innocent.
Josh said: “i also have quiet nights and leave for work refreshed, rather than spend my nights calling police with crappy neighbors and their salsa music.”
Whats wrong with salsa music?? Doesn’t anyone here like to dance??
How many Wal-Marts does Manassas need? The only businesses that are affected are the ones catering to illegals. The owners will sneak out in the middle of the night and reopen in FFX and Montgomery Counties.
I am a responsible adult. I carry valid identification whenever I leave my house, even while exercising. I have no problem proving who I am upon request. I thank store clerks who ask me for I.D. when I present a credit or debit card for payment.
My elderly mother is no longer afraid to go for a walk in her neighborhood.
Good riddence to the illegals.
I do not think that is the way it is at all. I have legal ID in my wallet. As I have said before, if you are legal, then you have no worries if a police car pulls in behind you. Acting suspicious will cause problems for you. A person carries “papers” on themselves now in the form of a VA ID card or Drivers license. SHEESH!
I have no quarrel with Salsa music, that doesn’t mean I should be forced to hear it or Rap or the car with 200 speakers in it.
Howdy Loudoun!!!!
Solo, I never leave my property without ID. If I were knocked unconscious for whatever reason, I would like the authorities to know who I am and where I live.
You racists should know that Salsa Music is Puerto Rican, and Puerto Ricans are American citizens. Greg’s neighbors are Puerto Rican, because he said they were listening to Salsa, and only Puerto Ricans listen to Salsa. Of course, if you can’t tell the difference between Salsa, Cumbio, Tejanno, Mariachi music, you should be ashamed.
I have noticed a change. All the children are scared. They look at me and say “go away scary gringa”. I say, “don’t worry children, I am a guilt-ridden liberal. I am on your side.” They say “what? Go away scary strange gringa who keeps crying and telling us we are beautiful”. Ha, Ha, children can be so cute, even when they are scared. The children are scared.
I didn’t know that certain races could only listen to certain types of music. What are the fines for this and do the music police visit often?
Loudoun said on 11 Apr 2008 at 3:31 pm:
The Westgate Giant has less customers and shopping there isn’t so bad now.
The line for overseas money transfers is still substantial.
Solo said on 11 Apr 2008 at 4:06 pm:
Last summer, our culture still embraced innocent until proven guilty…now we embrace probably guilty until proven innocent.
You brought it on yourselves. People got tired of the flop houses, trash filled yards etc etc etc etc.
Not Alanna Almeda said on 11 Apr 2008 at 4:33 pm:
You racists should know that Salsa Music is Puerto Rican, and Puerto Ricans are American citizens.
YEAH, AND NON TAX PAYING ONES AT THAT!
Not Alanna Almeda said on 11 Apr 2008 at 4:33 pm:
PUBLACITO!
NAA - If a crazy liberal lady came up to me I’d be scared too. Stop bothering the kids…
Not Alanna Almeda- I am with you. These people probably do not even know that Puerta Ricans are citizens of the US. I have not seen any changes in my neighborhood. I have seen Woodbridge, however, and it looks like a ghost town. Businesses are suffering and houses are vacant. They hated the immigrants there but now they will all have to deal with the blight that comes from vacant homes. Westgate will have to deal with the same thing. Guess what? No one will move here anytime soon. It will take years to rebuild this place and the cost will be higher than dollars and cents.
I have never been one who believed that 14 people should live in one house but there were ordinances on the books that should have been enforced. Too bad the governing bodies did not want to enforce their own codes. I guess there was a different agenda.
You are right the children are scared. The legal immigrants are scared. Those legal immigrants who are now citizens are scared. I would be scared, too.
solo,
nothing wrong with a little salsa or even a mariachi band..however in the early morning when working folk are trying to sleep is a bit much. It’s a whole lot quieter. Oh, and for the person who said something about being a “racist”, I asked my hispanic neighbor previously (the one who was listening to it) what kind of music it was and that’s what they told me. I’m not big into the hispanic music scene but if that’s what they say it is, then that’s what it is!
A lot quieter in this neighborhood to be sure, I’m really enjoying it. I figure this summer we’ll start to see some of the houses fill up from people looking for good deals. I’m optimistic!
j
FYI, NY Times article….
U.S. to Speed Deportation of Criminals in Jail
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/15/us/15immig.html?_r=2&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&pagewanted=print&adxnnlx=1207958544-tbkX7l/vFkxICXdmOKQrAQ
Oops! That was dated January 2008. Thought it was recent. Mea culpa.
Solo,
Do you take a breathalyzer before driving? Even though the cops are cracking down on drinking and driving, one does not have to worry about being pulled over and charged with DUI if one has not been drinking.
I’d love to have just one of these criminal supporters bring forth a person who was stopped, charged and wrongly deported after being thought an illegal.
Who leaves the house without ID? That would be stupid.
Plus, if you are here illegally, or are aiding and abetting illegals, you SHOULD be scared.
Medic - greetings!
FHL - you are incorrect about the Westgate homes remaining vacant. In the last few weeks we have had new homeowners on Loudoun, Lafayette, and King George. People are purchasing the abandoned/foreclosed homes in Westgate.
Thank you Neighborhood Services and zoning inspectors for ensuring that our community gets cleaned up and that homeowners follow the laws.
Although the Resolution has had an impact, do not give it all the credit. Many of the illegal immigrants leaving this area is due the economy and lack of construction jobs (less new houses).
ON MAY 1, 2008 THERE IS GOING TO BE ANOTHER WELL ORGANIZED AND FUNDED, MARCH FOR IMMIGRANT RIGHTS. ONE OF THE ORGANIZERS IS JUAN ANGEL GUTIERREZ. THE ARTICLE BELOW WAS TAKEN FROM A MEXICAN NEWSPAPER. GUTIERREZ IS CALLING FOR MEX PREZ CALDERON TO GET INVOLVED IN THE PUSH FOR AMNESTY. BEFORE THE ARTICLE, I WANTED TO SHOW YOU WHAT GUTIERREZ HAS ALSO SAID.
” The border remains a military zone. We remain a hunted people. Now you think you have a destiny to fulfill in the land that historicallyas been ours for forty thousand years. And we are a Mestizo Nation. This is our homeland. We cannot-we will not- and we must not be made illegal in our own homeland. We are not immigrants that came from another country to another country. We are millions. We have an aging white America. THEY ARE NOT MAKING BABIES. They are dying. It’s a matter of time. The explosion is in our population. THEY ARE s**tTING IN THEIR PANTS WITH FEAR. I LOVE IT! WE’VE GOT TO ELIMINATE THE GRINGO, AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS, IF THE WORST COMES TO THE WORST, WE HAVE GOT TO KILL HIM!”– Jose Angel GutierrezProfessor, Univeresity of Texas at Arlington,Founder of “La Raza Unida Party”
PARTIAL TRANSLATION FROM:
http://www.laopinion.com/latinoamerica/?rkey=00000000000003631910
MEXICO, D.F.— “It is time for president Felipe Caldron to stop with the hollow speeches and truly support an migratory reform for the Mexicans in the United States”, said Juan José Gutiérrez, of the Latin-American Movement USA.
Yesterday, migrant leaders requested the Mexican Executive to call and to support the marches in Mexico parallel to the ones that will be carried out on May 1st in the United States, where they anticipate mobilizations in 200 cities with the participation of around a million workers.
Street marches, boycott the consumption of American products, border blockades in the northern border, pronouncements, prison sentences… any action that arises in this country would be like a cane of support in the long road for legalization plagued with violations to their rights, they say.
“We want to feel that support from over there because we are all Mexicans and for growth we depend on each other”, stood out María Jiménez, activist in Houston through a teleconference organized in the Mexican Chamber of Representatives.
Last year, the remittances added the figure record of 23.979 billion dollars, 1% more than in 2006, according to the Bank of Mexico, although it also expects a fall in the shipments due to the anti-immigrant raids.
“It isn’t possible that even when it is known that we have so many problems there, here in our country of origin the issue is half-forgotten and completely out of the national agenda”, emphasized Gutiérrez.
Rosendo Delgado, of the latin American organization Latinos United in Detroit, explained by telephone, the importance of having the boycotts on the consumption of U.S. businesses in Mexico to declare the nonconformity that generates the abuse of our contrymen in that country.
“It is only for a day and we will be able to give a sample of what we can do”, he emphasized.
Francisco Chavira, president of the Front Mexico USA, in Laredo, Texas, pronounced that it be the border cities the ones that set the example to the rest of the country organizing the main mobilizations against the criminalization of the immigrants.
“In the two previous years they have been organized in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, with the participation of migrant organizations in Texas”, he comments. “That zone is more sensitized to the issue because we see the families separated by the raids and the persecution of the undocumented.”
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ESmonticup said on 11 Apr 2008 at 9:05 pm:
Who leaves the house without ID? That would be stupid.
Plus, if you are here illegally, or are aiding and abetting illegals, you SHOULD be scared.
ETOY ASUSTADA, MUY ASUSTADA!
I have seen a change in my mother’s neck of the woods (dale city) and in Woodbridge too. Less cars on the streets, less trash in the yards. Unfortunetely Ive seen more grafiti and a few boarded up houses. I am worried that if we cant get these houses filled soon that the “broken window” theory will apply. Where are all those young buyers?? nows the time? affordable housing? here it is! lets get young professionals their starter homes and get these areas up and running again
Businesses- if businesses who’s main clientelle were illegals are failing, then so be it. The wise man built his house upon the rocks not the sand.
The house up the street from me in Lake Ridge that was housing at least two Latino families was suddenly empty when I returned from a week long business trip, and there’s a foreclosure notice taped to the front windows and door. All of the six cars associated with this house are gone from the neighborhood, and the group of Latino kids always running in the streets in front of cars have not been seen for sometime now. I’ve also noticed less and less pedestrians trying to cross Prince William Parkway in the middle of traffic between I-95 and Smoketown Road. I’m seeing fewer men in front of a Rt. 1 7/11 that for years had been an informal day laborer gathering site, and I actually am hearing more English in the Sprint Store near borders.
Rebelreggie, that is powerful stuff (rebelreggie said on 12 Apr 2008 at 12:32 pm)!! There is a WHOLE group of enablers over at AntiBVBL who really should be educated in the beliefs being taught by the leaders of the illegal alien movements to not only their own, but to OUR youth. They claim that WE are the racists and that WE are those who are precipitating violence. Perhaps they should be awakened to the truth, for a change.
May I suggest (actually, request) that you post that comment, along with its source (I couldn’t find it) over there and offer them a wake-up call? Let’s see how they put a spin on THAT!
Manuel Labor said on 12 Apr 2008 at 2:58 pm:
” ETOY ASUSTADA, MUY ASUSTADA!”
If you are illegal Manuel…GOOD!!! And, as they say, don’t let the border…oops, I mean door… hit you in the back on the way out!
Rebelreggie, I just checked out that enabler site (AntiBVBL) and noticed that you DID post that over there. It’s very interesting that it is being COMPLETELY IGNORED…not one comment of shock or agreement or any reaction! I guess that any truth which might fly in the face of their own prejudices and racism is something in which they have absolutely no interest. That really says more about them than anything else.
I have not seen a single pick-up truck emblazed with the Mexican or El Salvadoran flag, or the bumper stickers or license-plate holders declaring where the occupants would rather be. Anyone else notice this?
I’ve noticed that Greg is a bigger a**hole in the last year or so since his bigotry went off the deep end.
I seriously wonder if he shouldn’t be involuntarily committed to a mental institution.
[Ed note: comment edited.]
“Interested Observer said on 13 Apr 2008 at 9:15 pm:
I’ve noticed that Greg is a bigger a**hole in the last year or so since his bigotry went off the deep end.
I seriously wonder if he shouldn’t be involuntarily committed to a mental institution.”
Hahaha Observer, you are too funny.
You know, I like the idea of computer chips….
[Ed note: quoted content edited.]
How much of this is directly attributable to the Immigration Resolution and how much of this is because the housing market has tanked (and taken much of the construction industry with it)?
Many people (legal and otherwise) are leaving the county. While I’m sure the crackdown on illegal immigrants has had an impact (probably more as a result of rhetoric, hyperbole, and gossip surrounding the issue than the actual teeth of the resolution), I wonder if that impact is really as great as this blog would lead us to believe or if it’s more a matter of good timing. The passing of the resolution coincided with a marked decrease in the amount of new construction in Prince William County brought on by a decline in the demand for new homes and the collapse of the housing market. I have said from the beginning that it is jobs and the promise of a good living that draws immigrants (legal and illegal) to our nation and specifically to our area. With a large portion of our economic engine slowing down and the demand for skilled and unskilled laborers decreasing, it only stands to reason that we’d see people moving out of the area.
So, before you all hurt yourselves trying to give yourselves a big pat on the back, let’s wait to see if these “gains” hold true when the housing market rebounds. Once the economy picks up again and the construction industry sees an uptick, does anyone truly believe that the community you are so happy to see leaving now won’t be back?
In the end, all we have gotten is a reputation for being somewhat hysterical, national media as an intolerant community, and a $14-26 million tax bill to pay for those honors.
Oh, and school overcrowding has far from “abated.” We are still bursting at the seams at many PWC schools (seen Brentsville District High School lately?). Given the current economic outlook and the demands to further cut the school budget (another $11 million if the tax rate stays at $1.00, $6 million more for each penny below $1.00 the final rate is set at), we shouldn’t be at all surprised if the next round of people fleeing Prince William County are our teachers, fire fighters, and police officers looking for better wages and better working conditions in neighboring jurisdictions.
TWB,
Funny how Brentsville is overcrowded and yet Stonewall has plenty of room. Probably because of those fleeing away from illegal aliens.
Yes, the day the resolution was announced one particular house full of illegals stopped their daily outside beer parties, along with the loud music and public urination. In fact we haven’t seen many of the beer parties and public drunkeness.
I’ve seen less driving on the wrong side of the road. I have a better expectation that people driving on the road actually have driver’s licenses and insurance.
I’ve see a dramatic improvement in my neighborhood. I’ve seen seniors and children walking the sidewalks. I’ve seen runners which I haven’t seen in a long long time. I’ve seen a lot more community involvement.
My neighborhood is no longer looking like a third world slum area and is starting to look like it was a few years ago - a family friendly neighborhood.
Yes the resolution is worth it. I thank God everyday for the resolution. I thank the supervisors for their continued support of it and God bless them.
Actually, Patty, Stonewall is at capacity as well (2177 is a school designed for about 2100). Brentsville and Battlefield are both well over capacity. Most of that has to do with the way boundaries are drawn and the role transportation plays.
Again, I’m not saying the resolution hasn’t had any impact, but to place all of these changes at the feet of the great and mighty resolution misses several other factors that I’m sure play an equal role–chief among them the economic downturn which has stalled the construction industry in the county. I’m sure we can all agree that construction and related services are/were the primary industries in PWC hiring with a blind eye to legal residency status. With no jobs available, what reason would someone who worked in those fields have to stay?
Turn PW Blue,
I question your numbers. I based my comments on statements made by parents who have students at Stonewall High School. You know, the here and now. You know, where the rubber meets the road.
Do you live in Arlington or Fairfax County?
I’m still seeing multiple families in single family homes. The clues are:
5 cars or more parked outside of these houses, with multiple adults (5-10) coming out of each house at 5:00AM to 6:00 AM. If the street is crowded, they give each other rides to cars they have parked in other neighborhoods overnight. A lot of differetn cars rotate in and out every months, some homes as many as 10 different cars in any given month. A lot of GARAGE CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS, AND INTERNAL HOME IMPROVEMENT TO ADD NEW LIVING UNITS without either zoning permits or building permits displayed
I see 8 to 10 trashcans per house, and multiple levels and entry ways into homes, with new rear “apartments”.
The owners of the home are likely “legal” residents, but they are hosting a large number of “illegal” residents, that leave the house on bicycles, or in cars that have the wrong tax stamps, or outdated stamps, or stamps that have benn lightly pasted to the windshield so they can be easily moved and placed in another car as needed. The biggest numbers of people living in homes seem to be those affiliated with lawn businesses, dump trucks, and construction vehicle parked in homeoweners association areas thjat prohibit parking of construction vehicles in resiidential areas. There needs to be enforcement of homeowner parking permits given only to legal owners and residents.
I’m also seeing a lot of illegal power line taps (orange extension cords), modified power lines bypassing the meter and going through a hole in the wall directly to the fuse box, and then running to nearby Electric Power utility junction boxes, and hidden so the meter readers cannot see them as they steal free electric power.
Apparently the Power company is either not aware of the theft, or has meter readers “on the take”.
The fire code laws need to be changed to prevent this domestic spirial into low property resale values. Who wants to buy a house that’s been made into multiple dwelling units and Quad-plexes?
You know I read all your comments and think how IGNORANT are all of you? but then again that is the AMERCAN way. It is all about me, me me. first who said that all those white trucks with ladders belong to illegal immagrants, who said that all those forclosed house belonged to illegal immagrants? I myslef are in the middle of forclosing, my husband and I are LEGAL immagrants, we bought our house because we could afford it and we knew we would have to refinance HOWEVER we did not expect our house to drop 150k in less than six months, do we blame Illegal immagrants NO it has nothing to do wth them. This is just an excuse, because Americans have to blame someone and what better to blame the people that dont have a voice. Did any of you stop to think that 95% of these Illegal immagrants pay taxes, ask yourself what does the goverment do with this money, because they dont file taxes at the end of the year, so they pay into it but get nothing back, so they are paying into a SS that they will never use, medicaid that they will never use and they also help fund for things that are not needed.
As far as the schools being less crowded do any of you know how many teachers and admin staff are losing their job because the schools have to cut budget due to the lack of attendance. Who are kidding as far as thenm taking jobs away from our teenagers, Americans are taught to be better than everyone and they wont wash dishes or mow lawns, they are to good for that, yeah sure the companies could offer to pay more money but it still would not help because eventually they will go out of business because they cant afford labour cost, because Americans are greedy and no matter what they get paid it will not be enough and they still wont clean houses, cut grass, climb up a ladder to clean gutters and what ever else those so called illegals do. Face we need them here, now I agree get rid of the ones that have commited a serious crime, and that does not include just crossing a border.
I ask each and everyone of you tell me who in this country is a full blooded AMERICAN, almost everyone here is an immagrant. I dont see any of you picking on the Asian culture, not all illegal immagrants re Spanish.
I challenge you to get educated and know what you are talking about before you make stupid comments on any website.