Not too embarrassed
Published: July 24, 2008
As noted in a recent editorial in a nearby national newspaper, it’s been a year since the Board of Supervisors in Prince William County “launched its drive to hound, harass and humiliate illegal
immigrants.” The editorial cites what it calls the toxic effects of the board’s resolution against illegal immigration and claims that “across the nation,” our county has become known as an intolerant
community.
We have said before that the resolution doesn’t accomplish anything valuable and the machinations necessary to pursue the policy set by that resolution — like all the hoops through which the county
police must jump — have certainly put an unnecessary strain the pocketbooks of taxpayers.
But your local paper agrees with the national newspaper that the board’s action is embarrassing for most of us who live here.
It’s not necessarily this newspaper’s job to practice boosterism and, certainly, part of our job is to point out some of the blemishes we see when the community looks in the mirror, but a year after the
board’s regrettable move, we thought it might be appropriate to remind ourselves of the county’s attributes of which we can be proud.
So we turned to the Prince William Regional Chamber of Commerce for some
assessments that are far from embarrassing:
1. Our location: We are close the capital of the free world and home to many federal government employees. We have access to good housing and affordable office space.
2. Transportation: Yes, we have issues, but we also have access to three major airports and two smaller ones and a county government that, in the past, has stepped up to build needed some road
improvements like the Prince William Parkway and the extended Va. 234.
3. Education: The county is home to a university research and development facility at George Mason and a huge public school system, where teachers work hard to foster success among 72,000
students. (That’s more people than a small city.)
4. Quality of life: We have a couple of symphony orchestras, several community choral groups a thriving theater community, national parks, local parks and — despite the impression left by the
resolution — a diverse population that brings much to any table. We also have a huge heart, demonstrated by ACTS and SERVE and many smaller groups that focus on taking care of those in need.
Yes, that 1-year-old resolution is an ugly zit, but the overall reflection from our mirror shows us a pretty good place to live, work and play.
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Reader Reactions
Way to go Vic.
What has and is ruining our County and Neighborhoods are the many houses that have been walked away from and taking all that they could from inside these houses.Most were lived in for a few years with filth and loads of people that did nothing to keep the enterior clean.
Because they got those fancy mortgages from their fellow beings and were paying $2500 to 3000 a month,it got so they couldn’t keep up the payments. They walk away and go elsewhere to do the same thing in another neighborhood.
DO YOU REALLY THINK THESE WERE CITIZENS?
Go look at some of these houses.Some need to be destroyed as the mold will
kill someone,if not destroyed properly.
Is this in the best interest of Health,
The resolution to root out illegal aliens is just a political game played by people with no human decency, treating illegal immigrants, including children, less than irrational animals is the most embarrased picture that PWC is showing to the world. it’s ironic, how we criticize and sometimes condemn other nations for violating human rights when we violate the rights of all these people everyday and yet, we demand respect? what a shame! in one way it’s good that many immigrants are leaving this county, it has nothing to offer anyways. the most idiotic idea for resolution supportes is that all these immigrants are leaving the country
when reality is that they are just moving to neighboring counties where they will be treated with dignity, like humans. what will be next in PWC? concentration camps? I’ve always believed that only the Jewish people were victims of ethnic cleansing.
When it launched its long overdue crackdown on illegal aliens, Prince William County realized it must do what the State of Virginia and the national government have thus far failed to do—that is, enforce state, national and international laws on immigration and border security, promote appropriate health, safety and labor practices, and stem the rising tide of human trafficking in those who steal jobs and livelihoods from honest citizens, disrupt neighborhoods and communities, pay less than their “fair share” of taxes, don’t invest in local community services and generally, remit most of their ill-gotten monetary gains to other countries.
While some county leaders and citizens continue to worry about the high cost of the initiative, most also realize that the cost of inaction would be so much greater – in such things as declining property values across the county, lost jobs and livelihoods for honest citizens, higher costs for running county schools, hospitals and other community and social service activities, higher crime rates, and fewer revenues from the county tax structures.
Since the resolution took effect, there have indeed been a few more arrests of suspected illegal aliens in Prince William County. According to county police chief Charlie Deane, most of these arrests would have taken place anyway – regardless of the resolution – because those being arrested are also accused of other crimes. The only real difference is that county officials are now also looking into the citizenship of their suspects, and checking with ICE to see if the federal agency has placed any retainer on these suspects.
The editorial you cited from the Washington Post is part of that newspaper’s continuing agenda to offer its unabated, unabashed and often outright dishonest support for illegal aliens and other lawbreakers, the and undermine the efforts of the leaders and citizens of Prince William County.
Yet, even the critics cannot discount the fact that the modest efforts to date have already resulted in some desired effects and outcomes. Independent reports from around the county indicate that many illegal aliens are realizing their days are numbered, and so they are voluntarily leaving. County school leaders report substantial drops in the numbers of illegal alien students –and fewer requirements for English as Second Language classes, additional teachers, equipment and instructional materials. The county’s emergency health care facilities are no longer as crowded with illegal aliens as they once were, nor are there as many lost costs and other unreimbursed expenses to be written off or passed along to paying customers.
And perhaps most important of all, county citizens are starting to feel that it just might be safe to venture out again and enjoy life within their neighborhoods and communities. And that, perhaps most of all, simply infuriates the critics of law and order in Prince William County—to include, it seems, the editorial staff of this newspaper too.
When they launched a long overdue crackdown on illegal aliens, Prince William County leaders realized they must do what the State of Virginia and the national government have thus far failed to do—that is, enforce state, national and international laws on immigration and border security, promote appropriate health, safety and labor practices, and stem the rising tide of human trafficking in those who steal jobs and livelihoods from honest citizens, disrupt neighborhoods and communities, pay less than their “fair share” of taxes, don’t invest in local community services and generally, remit most of their ill-gotten monetary gains to other countries.
While some county leaders and citizens continue to worry about the cost of the initiative, most also realize that the cost of inaction would be so much greater – in such things as declining property values across the county, lost jobs and livelihoods for honest citizens, higher costs for running county schools, hospitals and other community and social service activities, higher crime rates, and fewer revenues from the county tax structures.
Since the resolution took effect, there have indeed been a few more arrests of illegal aliens in Prince William County. According to county police chief Charlie Deane, most of these arrests would have taken place anyway – regardless of the resolution – because those arrested are also accused of other crimes. The only difference is that county officials are now also looking into the citizenship of their suspects, and checking with ICE to see if the federal agency has placed any retainer on these suspects. And unfortunately, given the high number of illegal aliens that continue to reside in Prince William County, the number of arrests managed to exceed the “amount of available bed space” that ICE had for detaining illegal aliens – and forced a slowdown of some inmate transfers.
County officials consequently worked with ICE to develop some options – and came up with a fair and equitable solution.
This week’s editorial in the Washington Alien Post is part of a continuing series of insults against the people of Prince William County and a clear challenge to anyone who believes in enforcing law and order. Through its unabated, unabashed and often outright dishonest support for illegal aliens and other lawbreakers, the Washington Post has dishonored the efforts of the leaders and citizens of Prince William County, and done a real disservice to its shrinking number of readers.
Yet, even the critics cannot discount the fact that the modest efforts to date have already resulted in some desired effects and outcomes. Independent reports from around the county indicate that many illegal aliens are realizing their days are numbered, and so they are voluntarily leaving. County school leaders report substantial drops in the numbers of illegal alien students –and fewer requirements for English as Second Language classes, additional teachers, equipment and instructional materials. The county’s emergency health care facilities are no longer as crowded with illegal aliens as they once were, nor are there as many lost costs and other unreimbursed expenses to be written off or passed along to paying customers.
And perhaps most important of all, county citizens are starting to feel that it just might be safe to venture out again and enjoy life within their neighborhoods and communities. And that, perhaps most of all, simply infuriates the critics of law and order in Prince William County.
In todays Opinion (7/24/08)titled “Not Too Embarrassed” the paper again spews its over stated opinion on the immigration issue in Prince William County. I normally skim over your opinions as they do become old and tiresome. I did see something that stood out though that I believe needs addressing. Your comment: “But your local paper agrees with the national newspaper that the board’s action is embarrassing for most of us who live here.“ I’d like to know what evidence you have where most of us who live here agree that the board’s actions are embarrassing. Maybe in your small world in the editorial room but in real life I hear just the opposite. I have no proof that most agree with the boards actions but I don’t believe you have the evidence either that backs your claim. If you do I’d certainly like to see it posted. By all means you’re entitled to your opinion but comments such as the one above do not belong in your paper unless you can back it up.
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