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Homeless Shelter Coming to Ashburn - Meeting Oct.23

Discussion in 'Broadlands Community Issues' started by CdnJess, Oct 22, 2007.

  1. foodie

    foodie New Member

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    tyger31 and others--

    Tyger31--It would be nice to have you as our neighbor(s)--by the way--I am baking 3 dozen Apple Fritters after we return from our Mid-Atlantic Farm Show this weekend. I will be baking alot next week for some Fall Fairs at our kids' school and church--if you (or anyone) wishes "Free Food" --drop me a PM.:happygrin:

    Thanks for the nice compliments. Yes, we make sure our kids are involved; and they do get into the "real world and leave the farm". Do not misunderstand me--we are not "perfect parents"--just trying to "parent".

    Hopefully, this GSA "issue" will be resolved without alot of "political pandering".

    Have a good day--:)

    Foodie
     
  2. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    I've never questions the existence or need of GSA. I've questioned the appropriateness of the Ashburn location in terms of its placement compared to the identified need in the county and the justifications of its placement.

    Not sure what agenda you are attacking, but its not mine. Do I find the facility compatible with the surroundings? No. Does that mean I think the facility should not exist anywhere? No. You fail to separate those thoughts.

    Don't have a BMW.. but if you are offering, I'll take one. Us 'haves' have to settle for our Nissans and Hondas.

    Again you fail to separate the real issues. You feel that if someone is against this location, they must be against GSA, helping the homeless, volunteering, and everything else. Sorry, but you are drawing irrational conclusions that are simply incorrect.
     
  3. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    Don't speak such rationalizations t8er.. oh wait... t8er rhymes with h8ter! :ko:


    :D
     
  4. afgm

    afgm Ashburn Farm Resident

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    Flynnibus,

    Would you support the Ashburn GSA Center of Hope if it only had admin and thrift store components? No walk-in.
     
  5. Homer Simpson

    Homer Simpson New Member

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    I think the main issue is the busing in of people w/o the busing of them back out. Especially since we have no police presence in an urban area.

    I alos think the issue is the view of homeless. Sure there are nice families but there are also drifters and psychos, especially more when metro comes in to town.
     
  6. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    I think so - is it the wisest move for them? I dunno. The location for a thrift store may not be the best way to reach their target audience - but I can see how consolidation and cost benefits of owning vs. renting may offset that though.

    The location of the thrift store would be a bonus for those looking to make donations as well (I hate hate hate hate the piles of stuff lying around my house while we wait for the donation pick ups).

    To me operating a store that some may say label as a 'less desirable' clientele is not even in the same league as the justification for placing services remote from the need, in conflict with surroundings, and then busing people in to use those services.

    IMO - I wouldn't see any desire for people to gravitate to the area just to shop or to further loiter in the area after shopping. Is it the best location for their shop? See above The same arguements may be made (and have been) about opening convenience stores, or 24hr grocery stores, etc.

    I'm not a fan of trying to control what retail places operate where. Operating places that go beyond retail (such as a club, bar, etc) are different due to their noise levels, operating hours, etc.

    For controlling retail - I figure the free market will sort that out.
     
  7. afgm

    afgm Ashburn Farm Resident

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    Reasonable assessment, this idea maybe just what ends up happening.

     
  8. Homer Simpson

    Homer Simpson New Member

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    I see alot of what you are talking about with Original Steakhouse, Steve. Since they came into the shopping center there are beer bottles, drunks shouting at 12am, and condoms, yeah! Thats a good neighbor.
     
  9. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

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    We have these things in our community tot lots, woods and common areas too! :D
     
  10. Homer Simpson

    Homer Simpson New Member

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    Really, I frequent the ones up in B'North since I have a 2 yr old. Never seen it. I have seen it on Broadlands blvd. The shouting was:

    "Wakey wakey" and just happened to be after a Redskins game. Coincidence?
     
  11. amfm26

    amfm26 New Member

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    I think all you GOODY TO SHOES people who think you are above everyone else in this county should read!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    PROVERBS 13:3
     
  12. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    I can understand what you are saying Homer - and I suppose that's part of the reason counties and states regulate businesses such as those. But on the flipside, I can't draw comparisons with the situation here as much... considering you knew you were moving into an area directly across the street from a planned shopping center.

    Not saying you knew there would be a 2am bar there - but can't expect crickets and pitch black nights either. (and no I don't condone behavior you are describing outside). But what you can draw comparisons too is the fact the business does not control its patrons.. especially once they leave. Just the same way GSA no matter what its intentions, has no real control over its visitors once they walk out the door.
     
  13. marielaveau

    marielaveau Voodoo Queen

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    Closing thoughts to all:

    In the spirit of full disclosure, I need to explain where my anger came from and I need to apologize to anyone I may have offended.

    I did not start out life with much. It was rough and at times traumatic and I will leave it at that. I went to college and graduated, on my dime and made something of myself. But even then, things happen.

    I have gone hungry ... and not for 5 minutes. There have been many times in the past where all I had was Cream of Wheat. No money for groceries and a good for nothing violent husband spending everything we had on steriods and clothes for himself. To the point where there was nothing.

    I left .... with very little and it took years to recover.

    Long story short, I am now in a good place, but I have seen and been in the bad place.
    Have compassion for the women and children rather than fear them. That is all I ask. Some of you will continue to bash me. That is fine ..... again ... I know who I am.
     
  14. Mr. Linux

    Mr. Linux Senior Member & Moderator Forum Staff

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    Homer, have you filed a complaint with the Broadlands Commercial Association; not the exact name, but basically, it's the equivalent of the BHOA but for the commercial properties.

    I don't have their contact information, but I'm sure if you call the main number for the BHOA, they can get you the contact info you need to get in touch with someone there and lodge a complaint. You might also want to do the same with the property management company for the shopping center.

    There were issues with one of the bars by the Sunoco gas station a few years ago which I believe got resolved through the intervention of the commercial association and the property management company.

    Worth a shot...
     
  15. amfm26

    amfm26 New Member

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    REMEMBER everyone that at tonights meeting there will be CHILDREN present.
    There will be no :censored::censored::censored: or :censored::censored::censored::censored::censored:!!!!!!!!
    These children will be able to see first hand how you all behave and treating their fellow man!!!!!!!!!:rolleyes3::rolleyes3:
     
  16. Mr. Linux

    Mr. Linux Senior Member & Moderator Forum Staff

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    Such as using way too much upper-case, bold, and large text in your postings, preaching that you are more pious than everyone else and expecting people to take you seriously? Yep, new account with only 2 postings, both with the same 'message'. There's a lot of credibility...
     
  17. Baywatch68

    Baywatch68 New Member

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    Great, another moderator being all high and mighty. :happygrin:
     
  18. Sunny

    Sunny Chief Advisor

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    That must have been very difficult for you. It's great that you have been able to find good things in life after such bad circumstances.
    Everyone has their crosses to bear, and I will let you kow that you are not the only one on these forums who has gone hungry. It may seem on the surface that everyone here drives a beamer, but if you get to know your neighbors and their history, you will hear some tough stories to rival your own.
    Today I drove over to the GSA sight and took a walk around and talked to Mary, the manager of the thrift stores. She was very kind and answered some of my questions, of which I had many- and honestly still do. The need, she told me, was more of a timing thing than a location thing. Her lease was up in April and needed a new location. She did research before they bought, and found that the land was zoned for her GSA's purposes and they could afford the property. One of my questions was would they accept volunteers with children in tow (me and my baby) for short periods of time? Her answer was absolutely. So if this facility stays, I will help. However, I also asked her what she would do if faced with someone with nowhere to go on a cold evening. She told me that she would advise they go to Lucketts, and you need to catch a bus to Leesburg...and she said that if needed people without any place to go have slept in the store. I asked why the facility in Ashburn doesn't provide overnight "accomodations" and she prelied that it was not zoned for that. Honestly, she was a very nice woman, and I could tell that with all of heart she wanted the facility to get the green light so that case workers could help those in need in a location in a fairly accesible location.
    SO, still formulating my opinions in my head, I stopped by the fire station and talked to a few employees over there. Let me first say that if you are interested in helping out some individuals that work and sacrifice for all of us, bring these guys a veggie platter. They would love you for it and receive lots of sweets, but would really love some healthy treats too. So anyway, I talked to them about how they felt about having GSA as a next door neighbor. They let me know that they are not really allowed to talk openly about their opinions on such matters, but suffice it to say they would take more precautions to secure the building when out on runs, and perhaps additional crime is not what Ashburn needs right now.

    So now, after reading as much as I can about it, talking to a few people about it, I am molding my opinion...and to wait and see how the center fares in our town if you have doubts about it would be a mistake. Find out more, speak your (informed) mind at this meeting tonight BEFORE it is too late. Do not be naive. This center is not exclusively for women and children. There will be people bussed in (if the center caters to this group, provides fare for buses, let's call it what it is:bussing them in). There is a higher need in Leesburg than Ashburn. In the instances that Ashburn residents need assistance, they can take a bus to Leesburg if a facility is built oout there. THere are many options here, and we can all take a step back and look at what this entire community needs.
    The value of people's homes can be taken into consideration in my opinion. THere is a different demographic in Ashburn than there is in Leesburg, as well as Lucketts and so forth. To tailor each community to serve it's residents is key. The center will most likely meet some opposition wherever it ends up, which is why an IDEAL location must be found. On little old Ashburn Road, with it's suburban homes and upscale shopping and little place for a person without a home to find refuge at night, I cannot see that it is the right fit.
    I tend to be overly compassionate and welcoming, but in this instance, why turn Ashburn into something it is not? It is still the suburbs and Leesburg, with it's court houses, it's social services, it's medical care for the indigent, and many other services for those in need, is the better location.
    I'm going to try to go to the meeting tonight. I hope many others come to find out more about it!

    I am adding to this. My thoughts are all mixed up on this center. Just FYI.
     
  19. redon1

    redon1 aka Aphioni

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    Sunny you are awesome. thanks for your post. if everyone took the time to do HALF of what you did instead of jkust posting here- this debate would be more sane, less emotional and based of fact not fear. see you at the meeting.
     
  20. lilpea

    lilpea Member

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    Marie -Thank you for sharing and trusting us with your history, it put things into prespective.

    IMO - GSA is really trying to accommodate everyone from their clients to the potential neighbors. It is rather sad to see a solid organization like GSA come under so much public fire. One very solid lesson my parents taught me, was "always give back to the less fortunate" - I hope this is something my own children will also learn. Thanks again for your vulnerability and sharing your personal journey.

     

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