As I recall, Chairman York, as part of the previous BOS and the current one, voted in favor of a measure to go after those employers of illegal aliens who have official business with the county. The same current “Gang of Five” who gave a thumbs down to the Redskins Hall of Fame put the kibosh on the illegal alien employer measure as virtually their first official BOS act. Our anger should be directed at Kurtz-Burke-Miller-McGimsey-Burton, four Dems and an independent. Susan Buckley, the Dem now representing Sugarland District, is a far different story. She has proven to be one smart politico who actually listens to her constitutents on these issues and acts accordingly.

With the exception of Supervisor Delgaudio this board has acted much like the previous, they are all very good punters. Several are so good they could play for the Redskins.

Why this board should be taken to task for their inaction is simple. This board has ample evidence from surrounding jurisdictions that local action works. The previous board did not have this information although many of us provided some pretty accurate predictions.

The real crime is this board is taking a wait and see how bad it gets before being forced to do something. Conditions on the ground in Sterling were far worse in 2008 that in years previous. We all know why.

It was July of 2007 when Prince William County under the leadership of Supervisors Stirrip and Chairman Stewart passed their very effective legislative package against illegal migrants.
It was then when those migrants starting making their way to other jurisdictions. Sterling Park became a choice location for this exodus of illegal alien migrants. This is one important factor as to why 2008 became one of the worst years Sterling Parks history.

ACTivist, I’m not so sure that York feels there is much of a chance at present to move the “Gang of Five” on the central illegals issue, probably even less with the possibility of a Federal amnesty around the corner. You have some very stubborn people in that group. He and the other three supervisors appear, however, to have convinced the “five” to go along on at least some of the ancillary law enforcement and quality of life issues in an effort to mollify the angry citizens and legal immigrants in the Park. Even that is a long and difficult process.

York may feel that this is the best he can get for the moment and that pushing harder on the illegals issue might upset that applecart, especially in a time of county budgetary problems. He and the three have, indeed, managed to squeeze some budget dollars out of the BOS for the Sterling area law enforcement upgrade. I half expected the Sterling substation to go down in the budgetary crisis, but, so far, it has not. We should see the construction start soon, perhaps this week or next.

Now, you could claim legitimately that we are treating the symptoms instead of the central problem. However, sometimes you have to get what you want “by littles” — to quote Abe Lincoln, I believe. If we can get those “littles” to work, we might have a chance to avoid at least some of what is currently going on in Montgomery County with regard to violent illegal alien crime. Indeed, I am hoping that the “Gang of Five” is focusing on the news from across the river. This may help us in seeking more law enforcement upgrades and might even, in the end, result in a bit of needed convincing with regard to the illegal aliens issue itself.

As for the “loiterers” moving around the corner, ACTivist, you are right on when it comes to trying to clamp down with inadequate personnel and inadequate street patrol time. The whole idea of a quantum jump in street time is to arrive at a point in which the “loiterers” run smack dab into another cop when they turn that corner. Without that you’ve got nothing.

It’s a universal problem. I went through this agony for years with police squads of all kinds. There was always a battle between “street time” and everything else…enough to cause you to tear your hair out when the bad guys were able to take advantage of your own shorthandedness. Didn’t have the assistance of Neighborhood Watch either. In most places Neighborhood Watch means one thing: Watch your own ass and, when trouble erupts, run like Hell to some other part of the neighborhood to save that ass. And never, never be seen talking to law enforcement! Sad but a real fact of life.

ACTivist, I believe that the little office behind CVS is still there. It wasn’t a “substation” by any means. As far as I can see, it was just a place for the deputies, mainly the Community Policing Officers, to take their breaks, do some paperwork, and keep up a bit of visibility in the shopping area. That’s about it.

Since the LCSO has instituted a system whereby the deputies can submit end-of-shift and other reports via the computers in their patrol cars, I suspect that the shopping mall office is used even less than before. Nor do I think the deputies hang around there and kibitz before or after their shifts. Many of the guys I know or know about live way out somewheres, like in West Virginia, and head home immediately after the shift is over and the reports are filed. I have passed that shopping mall office often over the past few years and always take a look. It’s rare to see a patrol car in the parking lot, especially at night. Never have I heard a recommendation to go there if you need help or have questions. The answer is always to call the LCSO Dispatch or, if you are working with a particular officer and know he is on duty, signal him on his Blackberry.

No Sireeee, we need a fully-functioning substation manned 24-7 and having permanently-assigned road patrol officers; the electronics to Leesburg; the temporary holding cells; a tough, no-nonsense desk sergeant; and a captain and lieutenant in charge so we have someone right on the spot with whom we can discuss community law enforcement problems nose to nose. And let me tell you, we have a darn good captain coming in Rick Frye. I want that guy here every day and not off in Leesburg or roaming elsewhere in this large county.

I already ran the idea of a temporary substation up the flagpole some time ago, including the possibility of using Pepe’s old place. I understand the idea was looked at by the LCSO. The word I got back was that the costs were too high for the current budget, including some astronomical rent figures for anything in that shopping mall and the high cost of installation on only a temporary basis. It looks to me like we are going to have to make do with what we’ve got until the substation is up and running.

Yeah, yeah, I know about that BOS fear of lawsuits bit. It seems to me that it is a favorite mantra of the “Gang of Five” or, at least, some of them anyway. Sometimes I think it is just a bluffing act because they are unwilling to state flat out their real reasons for being “anti” on a particular issue. On the other hand, their party is the one in bed with the trial lawyers, so maybe they know something I don’t.