Reviewing the events of the last two weeks, it's hard to determine what is more curious about Del. David Englin's public housing legislation: his apparent failure to vet HB264 with police and local officials or his neglect in performing even a perfunctory background check on those whose complaints led to the controversial bill's introduction.
According to an article by Michael Lee Pope in the Alexandria Gazette, Del. Englin stated "I think the current policy treats people like chattel. It denies poor people the basic dignity and respect that any human being would demand from their fellow human beings."
Most importantly, Del. Englin was quoted as saying "Under the current policy, a police officer who doesn’t like the cut of your jib can bar you from ARHA property essentially indefinitely."
By contrast, Mr. Pope quoted ARHA Commissioner Carlyle Ring, an attorney, as saying "People get barred because they have engaged in the drug trade or domestic violence against a spouse or child. No one gets on the list without factual information that they’ve been convicted or arrested."
The Growler has no access to ARHA's list of individuals who are barred from its properties. But the Gazette story prominently featured the name of one individual who felt that her family was unfairly treated.
Knowing from the past that those who make the loudest complaint often have the most to hide, the Cranky One loped down to the Alexandria courthouse intending to find out more about this Adkins resident who was singled out as an apparent examplar of civil injustice.
Is Mr. Englin right or is Mr. Ring correct? Are police stopping trespassers on a whim or is there overwhelming evidence that those who are barred are just the sort of people that shouldn't be on ARHA property?
Suffice it to say, the Growler could have spent a week at the court house, parsing through this resident's family history and their entanglements with law enforcement.
But for simplicity's sake let's focus on one member whose records clog the computer databases at the court house: a son who was cited repeatedly for trespassing misdemeanors in past years, most recently in April 2009 when he was found guilty.
The trespassing citation he was issued was for violation of City Code 13-1-33, which is entitled "Trespass after having been forbidden to do so." So although ARHA is not specifically cited, it is reasonable to assume that this gentleman is on the barred list.
It is no exaggeration to say that he has a lengthy criminal record going back more than a quarter of a century. In his 2002 Circuit Court trial for assault on a police officer, the Commonwealth Attorney's office introduced a list of his convictions in both Alexandria and Arlington County dating from 1983, including misdemeanor and felony assaults, possession of PCP, possession of cocaine, distribution of cocaine, burglary, and assault and battery on a police officer. The sentencing report noted his lengthy record, his relapse into drug use two days after completing "an intensive drug treatment program," and his antipathy to law enforcement.
This was far from the end of his activities. In 2007, he was charged with beating a woman and pleaded guilty in Alexandria Circuit Court to unlawful wounding, impeding a police officer, and brandishing a machete.
Lest some persons think the Alexandria police simply have it in for this man, be aware that he pleaded guilty to 2nd degree assault in Prince George's County last October.
And most startling of all, in the past few years his own family has turned him in to law enforcement. His mother and sister reported him for taking his sister's car (which she had loaned to her mother) and not returning it. That led to a police chase on Route 1 near Potomac Yard, and yet more charges which underscore for the Growler just why PBA came out so strongly against the bill.
The son is not the only problem in this family. There are others, such as a sister who lived in Adkins with her mother. She was found guilty of a misdemeanor drug charge in 2006, briefly jeopardizing her parent's public housing accommodations.
The Growler could go on and on, but readers have probably grasped the point by now. Is this resident the best example that public housing advocates or reporter Michael Lee Pope could bring forward to back Mr. Englin's case that their families are being unjustly barred -- and on a whim?
42 comments:
Wow. Thanks, Growler for your penetrating journalism that cuts to the chase. I never would have dreamed that Ms. Scruggs' view of a permissible "lick" includes use of a machete.
Thank you Growler for taking the time to insert facts into this discussion. If only facts had been part of Englin's calculus instead of the simple rantings of a relatively small group whose "lifestyle" place them at odds with our outstanding police department and the Parker Gray neighborhood. So scared of the police you are afraid to come out of the house? Are you kidding me Lennie?
For Englin to assert that Alexandria police officers are targeting people based on how they look I find offensive. Englin has ZERO basis to say this other than the usual poison spewed by Harris and his cronies. Disgraceful.
So let me get this straight.
A man with a long history of multiple felony convictions, (including assault and battery on a police officer!!), is AGAIN convicted of similar crimes in 2007. And the Alexandria Court, with the apparent blessing of our commonwealth attorneys office, suspends all but 24 months of the sentence, PLUS gives him credit for time served? So essentially, he serves a few months for AGAIN assaulting a police, etc. etc. As I citizen, I find this an absolute disgrace.
You can damn well bet that if that piece of SH-T had assaulted a judge or an attorney, he would still be locked up.
It's time our criminal justice system here in Alexandria got serious.
Not a shock to any of us who live here, but maybe these facts will open the eyes of the people like Mr. and Mrs. Englin who genuinely may be trying to help, but who are actually doing great harm to this neighborhood and the people that live here.
As long as her son and daughter got their licks in, thats all that seems to matter to the Englins......
"a police officer who doesn’t like the cut of your jib can bar you from ARHA property essentially indefinitely.""
Yep blame the cops.
Did Lenny Harris write the bill?
An individual who doesnt like me can harass me on the street and tell me to go F%**$&$ MYSELF
Where is Mr. Englins bill to deal with that situation (which people who walk by public housing are all too familiar with)
Isn't anyone else concerned about the fact that the Alexandria prosecutor recommended (and an Alexandria judge imposed) an extremely lenient sentence (essentially a few months after suspending most of it and giving credit for time served) for a chronic violent offender who has repeatedly assaulted a police officer?? It's only a matter of time before he kills someone, whether it's a cop or a citizen.
This leniency appears to be a chronic problem. Remember the Gazette article of a few months ago? That Alexandria judges gave out the most lenient sentences of anywhere else in Virginia by far.
I agree with the comment on the repeatedly lenient sentencing. I also have to say that the Alexandria police showed remarkable restraint in dealing with the offenses to which Mr. Scruggs pled guilty in 2007. If I were the officer who was the victim of his admitted "unlawful wounding," "impeding a police officer," and "brandishing a machete" offenses, I would have felt free to use deadly force to stop him.
Growler - amazing work! This is the sort of research that should have been done before Englin write his bill or Pope wrote his article. How sad that the level of due diligence for lawmakers and journalists has shrunk to almost zero. What is your excuse Mr. Englin? What is your excuse Mr. Pope? Must we count on an unpaid blogger to correct your errors and oversights? I guess so.
"a police officer who doesn’t like the cut of your jib can bar you from ARHA property essentially indefinitely."
It could be that this was a misquote. The actual quote may have been something like this: a police officer who doesn’t like the cut of your jib, or the cut of your machete, or the way you strike with intent to maim, disfigure, disable, and kill, can bar you from ARHA property essentially indefinitely."
This bill was downright dangerous; there is no way to sugarcoat it, especially with all of these facts coming to light. Thank you to the City Council members who voted against this, as well as to Mr. Miller for speaking out against it.
"This was far from the end of his activities. In 2007, he was charged with beating a woman and pleaded guilty in Alexandria Circuit Court to unlawful wounding, impeding a police officer, and brandishing a machete.
"
I wonder if we would be getting a bill like this introduced if Shayna Englin had been the victim of that beating. Its really easy to propose "feel-good" bills from the quiet confines of Delray but what about the victims in these cases who are experiencing these crimes against them?
One of the major holes in the bill introduced by Delegate Englin is the lack of specificity regarding evidence. It seems the accused can bring any evidence they want to the table to fight their disbarment but its not clear what role witnesses or victims to incidents that may require debarment have. I know Mrs. Marra believes people just get barred for "being there too often" but in many cases victims had "multiple licks" delivered to them and may be too afraid to testify at an appeals hearing against the accused. What then?
"Its really easy to propose "feel-good" bills from the quiet confines of Delray but what about the victims in these cases who are experiencing these crimes against them?"
The victims who are, Mr. and Mrs. Englin may be surprised to learn, residents of public housing themselves. Any of us know who speak to public housing residents regularly (and who are NOT politicians seeking to garner votes) that they dislike the thugs as much as we do but are afraid to confront or complain about them.
The politicians hear from the same ol same ol....
"in many cases victims had "multiple licks" delivered to them and may be too afraid to testify at an appeals hearing against the accused."
Truthful statement.
I have complained on this blog from time to time over the last 4 years about Alexandria Judges going easy on criminals.
On occasions, I have sat in General district court to listen to cases. I once observed a judge give a person accused of trespassing a $100.00 fine without any jail time.
SCSA
And may the Growler add that it appears that most of these fines are never paid.
That is a good point Growler and very accurtate as well.
SCSA
"Any of us know who speak to public housing residents regularly (and who are NOT politicians seeking to garner votes) that they dislike the thugs as much as we do but are afraid to confront or complain about them."
Unfortunately these victims probably wouldn't show up at a barment hearing because of the same fears. I believe the term is 'Snitches get stitches'.
In other news, Alexandria has confirmed that Uptown Parker Gray has been accepted as an official national historic district. the city has also posted the 300+ page nomination form that won that status. Did they date and describe your home correctly? See http://www.alexandriava.gov/goto.aspx?u=http%3A//alexandriava.gov/uploadedFiles/planning/info/100-0133_Uptown-Parker_Gray_2009_FINAL%2520DRAFT_nomination.pdf&i=3&s=content&h=Uptown/Parker-%20Gray%20National%20Register%20District%20Nomination
" ... Alexandria has confirmed that Uptown Parker Gray has been accepted as an official national historic district."
I searched the website but cannot locate the City's confirmation that PG is now an official national historic district.
"the city has also posted the 300+ page nomination form ...."
The nomination form located at the website that was posted on the blog does not show it was approved, yet there is a section in the form that should be checked, no? It looks like the same form that has been on the website for several months.
Can someone please help me out with locating Alexandria/P&Z's official acknowledgement? Press release? Something? Thanks.
Nevermind, I found the news release, posted Thurs Jan 28 at 1:20 pm.
http://alexandriava.gov/news_display.aspx?id=29740
In fact that document does NOT describe my house properly. Is there a reason to be concerned about this? It's particularly frustrating because it notes we have vinyl windows when in fact we had to install more costly wood windows to comply with the Historic district regulations!
There is another article on alexandrianews.org about Mr. Englin's bill.
(http://www.alexandrianews.org/2010/01/proposed-no-tresspass-legislation-draws-more-criticism/)
In addition to everyone else on the planet (save a couple of felons and Mr. Englin's wife), Randolph Sengel has voiced his opposition. Says it could jeopardize scattered site public housing, too.
"'Section 18.2-119 allows a person to be forbidden to be on property either orally or in writing. This bill applies a different standard to public housing property by requiring a barment in writing. I would also suggest that it might well impede further progress toward scattered site public housing,” [Sengel] said. 'Why would a landlord be interested in incorporating public housing units in a property knowing those units would be subject to a more rigorous standard for enforcement of trespassing policies than other units in the same development?'"
Sengel's comments add a whole new angle, and I think he's right. Note also that the proposed statute requires a lot of signage about trespassing and barment procedures. That's going to ugly, offputting, and it will no doubt depress the price of the market units. Perhaps there is a hidden agenda here to keep all of these units in Parker Gray.
“Why would a landlord be interested in incorporating public housing units in a property knowing those units would be subject to a more rigorous standard for enforcement of trespassing policies than other units in the same development?”
Yes, in fact what would that mean to the new Bland development should, god forbid, this legislation pass? Will the machete wielding thugs be able to play a game of tag there, using the public housing units as a safety zone?
What now Mr. Englin? Are you going to accuse the Alexandria Commonwealth’s Attorney of not reading the legislation? Nice pickle you have yourself in. Don't you wish you had paid a little more attention to the concerns of the posters on this blog back on "Mon Jan 11, 09:49:00 PM EST" rather than so cavalierly and smugly dismissing your constituents? Now, greatly aided by your tweeting wife, you just look like a self-righteous buffoon.
I read the article .. looks like "liberal" Englin is actually nothing more than another southern Dem who wants to keep minorities locked [far]away in public housing.
from the article: "Why would a landlord be interested in incorporating public housing units in a property knowing those units would be subject to a more rigorous standard for enforcement of trespassing policies than other units in the same development?”
... or is this how Alexandria Council will get out from under the Braddock Plan's mixed-use public housing redevelopment?
"“After spending the better part of today in Richmond conferring with other prosecutors about the impact of projected budget cuts to our offices of between 12 and 13 percent of state funds, and being sensitive to the fact that many other agencies and programs in Virginia face very dire and immediate consequences of budget cutbacks, I respectfully submit that we have spent way too much time on this bill.” Sengel wrote in an email to Mayor Bill Euille and members of Council. “There are far more important issues that the General Assembly needs to focus on. If projected budget cuts come to pass, the criminal justice system in Virginia is going to undergo some radical changes. Most Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Offices will probably be without sufficient funds to even appear in General District Court and prosecute trespassing cases or other misdemeanors.”"
Couldn't agree more, why on earth is our legislative representative spending so much time on this bill? And why is our Council being asked to even consider this bill?
If the offices cant even prosecute trespassing cases then we should be passing tougher trespassing laws to make the trespassing statutes have a little more teeth.
Otherwise, what is Englin's bill going to do to those law abiding public housing residents who are harassed by the non-law abiding trespassers, who will know they can openly flout trespassing laws and get away with it?
"This bill applies a different standard to public housing property by requiring a barment in writing. I would also suggest that it might well impede further progress toward scattered site public housing,” he said. “Why would a landlord be interested in incorporating public housing units in a property knowing
those units would be subject to a more rigorous standard for enforcement of trespassing policies than other units in the same development?”"
This is a very interesting point as well Growler. Why would any landlord want Resolution 830 units on their property if they are subject to separate rules associated with trespassing that individuals who live in market rate units are not afforded?
I had thought that would be a major issue but had neglected to ever comment on it.
It would be like setting up two separate paths to deal with parking tickets; one for non-law abiding public housing residents and one for everyone else.
Re: the application submitted for the PG National Register of Historic Places District Nomination.
My house is significantly different then described, which is to be expected since the reporting was done in late 2006 (the house has undergone a FULL renovation since then). However, the year that it is listed as being built is 20 years earlier than ANYTHING else I've ever seen or heard. All our documents from purchasing the house, taxes, insurance, etc. have the house listed as being built in 1900. This report lists it, and my neighbors home that were all built at the same time, as 1880!
Oh well, there's worse things to worry about (like the lack of neighborhood restaurants). /sarcasm
" Why would any landlord want Resolution 830 units on their property if they are subject to separate rules associated with trespassing that individuals who live in market rate units are not afforded?"
Why would I want that next door?
" Why would any landlord want Resolution 830 units on their property if they are subject to separate rules associated with trespassing that individuals who live in market rate units are not afforded?"
--- on that note it looks like the sign for Old Town Commons is now up in Bland.
Its weird though. It says its coming in Spring 2010. Can they build that quickly
"The Growler could go on and on, but readers have probably grasped the point by now."
Yep, Englin is just another typical liberal dem. who tosses out the race card and pretends to care for the poor downtrodden to get some votes. The reality is he could care less, all he's doing is helping the thugs go about their business.
"Yep, Englin is just another typical liberal dem. who tosses out the race card and pretends to care for the poor downtrodden to get some votes. The reality is he could care less, all he's doing is helping the thugs go about their business."
Either that, or he is extremely pigheaded and unable to admit that he was wrong. I can understand the instinct to help people. But what he was wrong about was the instinct that all poor black people are good and in need of help and all the white people who complain about ARHA are evil racists.
If he (and those like him) could just try to supress his knee jerk, simplistic thinking, we could all get something constructive done.
Can he really not believe that nobody (save his mama) wants thugs like that in our neighborhood? Is it impossible for him to believe that the interests of the neighbors and the interests of ARHA residents are the same? We all want a nice neighborhood. We just don't need a smug, black-and-white thinking do gooder like him coming in and messing thigs up. We'll take do gooders, but not smugness, please.
"If he (and those like him) could just try to supress his knee jerk, simplistic thinking, we could all get something constructive done."
That's the problem, this is a typical liberal move to garner votes while painting your political opponents as racist meanies. I'm pretty certain Englin is a smart guy, what he's doing is a political, calculated move. It's worked for years, most politicians will do what works to get elected.
"on that note it looks like the sign for Old Town Commons is now up in Bland."
Where's the sign? I couldn't find it. There is a sign on Pendleton, but it's for a different project. Possible it's been stolen already, I suppose.
When you look up "out of touch" in the future, you will find Delegate Englin:
Bridging a Disconnect
What started out as legislative effort to drastically change to how individuals are barred from public housing property has been withdrawn, modified, withdrawn a second time and modified again. A third version of legislation introduced by Del. David Englin (D-45) will be considered by the City Council’s legislative delegation later this week.
"It’s possible that what we end up with might be so watered down it’s not worth the effort," said Vice Mayor Kerry Donely, adding that the bill has occupied an "inordinate" amount of time. "We’ll see when the legislative committee takes this up again."
Englin’s original bill required a hearing before barment took effect. But that version outraged some residents and police officials, who said such a change would be a threat to public safety. A second version of the bill was formally rejected by the council’s legislative committee, which concluded that changes could be made at the local level and that the bill was unnecessary. Now Englin is back with a third version he says has less prescriptive language that would give housing authorities more flexibility.
"There are some people who believe this doesn’t go far enough in protecting the rights of law-abiding citizens visiting family members in public housing, and there are others who think this entire effort is unnecessary because they see no problem with the current system and refuse to believe that anyone is ever barred unfairly," said Englin in a written statement. "For me, this effort has laid bare the unfortunate disconnect between those in law enforcement who see themselves as infallible defenders of the peace and public housing residents, their families, and legal-aid attorneys who see injustice at every turn."
"There are some people who believe this doesn’t go far enough in protecting the rights of law-abiding citizens visiting family members in public housing, and there are others who think this entire effort is unnecessary because they see no problem with the current system and refuse to believe that anyone is ever barred unfairly," said Englin in a written statement. "For me, this effort has laid bare the unfortunate disconnect between those in law enforcement who see themselves as infallible defenders of the peace and public housing residents, their families, and legal-aid attorneys who see injustice at every turn."
HAH. Talk about a disconnect. It seems to me that there is a disconnect between YOU talking to law enforcement BEFORE you presented this bill.
I really question not only what Mr Englin is trying to accomplish but why. Why bring this poorly thought out bill up 3 times? Why does he keep insisting that people are barred unfairly, yet is unable to provide even one example? Why is he running the risk of alienating the police by using phrases like "those in law enforcement who see themselves as infallible defenders of the peace" He has been unable to convince anyone including Melvin Miller and the City Council that this is needed. And yet he keeps trying and his wife keeps tweeting about "fighting the good fight" I am forced to wonder if is he so proud and stubborn that he is willing to commit political suicide rather than admit he is wrong and this bill is the bad idea we all knew it was from day one or is he hoping to reap some political gain.
From our delegate's Twitter feed "[David Englin] is wiped after 4 hrs hearing and presenting bills in subcommittee. "6 bills enter, 1 bill leaves!" (as a shadow of its former self!)"
His debacle of a trespassing bill was scheduled for a subcommittee hearing at 5:00 today. Wonder what happened.
Does the following mean it's effectively dead for this session of the General Assembly?
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?101+vot+H1101V0017+HB0264
"HB 264 Housing authorities; no trespass notices.
01/15/10 House: Assigned GL sub: #1 Housing
02/03/10 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (4-Y 3-N)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YEAS--Oder, Cosgrove, Peace, Comstock--4.
NAYS--Carrico, Dance, Bulova--3.
ABSTENTIONS--0.
NOT VOTING--0."
Like the Growler said, it's not that easy to put folks out. If it was, it wouldn't have taken a year to bar a family visited by the police multiple times and finally busted for dealing drugs. It also would not be impossible to get people out who continuously have multiple unauthorized people living in their units as well as unregistered cars parked outside their subsidized units. Makes it harder for the majority of working families trying to do the right thing and abide by the rules.
After reading the history on this young man i would say he shouldnt' be allowed ARHa property. but your missing the point. Most of the people in these housing units are mistreated, i knonw i see it on a regular day in the hood. why don't you stay in one of the units for a week. and get it first hand. Take care to the one's that dont show their faces.
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