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Recent alert messages that were sent to members of the email
list:
3/24:
Pine Spring may be witnessing the birth of a fairly serious problem;
the MS-13 gang is not a trifling matter. The message that follows
was sent to us by PSCA President. At his request, the topic will
be on the agenda of tomorrow evening's PSCA meeting. Obviously,
our civic association will need to pursue this matter with public
officials. Please attend the meeting if you can.
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Sometime around March 12 the fence facing Rt50 was tagged with gang graffiti. I noticed it Saturday
morning and made a note to call the police Monday morning. By Monday
morning the original tag had been crossed out and surrounded by
multiple MS-13 tags. By Wednesday another, larger tag had been added
to the fence, which was again crossed out with MS-13 tags the next
day. I spoke to the police on Monday and Wednesday and was told
me that an officer came out and made a report on Monday. My
wife said she saw him there again Wednesday morning, before I made
my second call
I spoke a number of times regarding removal of the graffiti
and, ultimately, came away unsatisfied. Apparently, because it was
not public property, VDOT (they are apparently responsible for graffiti
removal) will do nothing about it. While to a certain degree I can
understand this position, I believe the potential for more serious
incidents, not to mention a great deal more graffiti, increases
exponentially in relation to the time.
After moving back to Northern Virginia in 1998 after ten years in
Los Angeles County, I got the distinct impression that Fairfax County
(actually, Northern VA in general) was dangerously far behind in
dealing with a gang problem that had been emerging steadily throughout
the 90s. After watching the developments in the Culmore and Lohmann's
Plaza areas for the past six years, I am more convinced than ever
that we are in trouble. Pine Spring Crew, while disconcerting, are
rank amateurs compared to the likes of MS-13. By the time we see
the first few guys dealing on the corner of Meadow View and Pine
Spring or hear the first gunshots, it will be too late to avert
serious trouble.
2/1:
The winter is not being kind to Pine Spring's senior residents.
First came the news about Helen Sattler's fall and broken hip,
and now comes word that another longtime Pine Springer also needs
the support and good wishes of the community. George Mandler broke his hip yesterday and was admitted to Fairfax
Inova. Please pass the word.
1/28:
We're sad to report that Helen Sattler fell and broke her hip
at her Pine Spring home yesterday. Helen and her husband John are
two of our community's best known residents, having lived here since
Pine Spring's earliest years. As of right now, it is planned for
Helen to undergo surgery, although we don't yet know when. Neighbors
who want to send cards, flowers, etc. can send them to the Sattler'
home. If you know
of any friends of the Sattlers who are not on this mailing list,
please let them know too.
12/25:
At 4:00 am on Christmas morning a man was observed entering unlocked
cars on Pine Spring Road in the block between Seoane Court and Woodberry
Lane. Witnesses describe him as wearing a down jacket. The police
were called, but as yet there has been no resolution that we know
of.
'Tis the season to be extra vigilant, what with many folks travelling,
vacant houses, etc.
We should all keep in mind that there might not be any more suspicious
activity than there has ever been, but now that we have this channel
of communication we have access to more information.
12/3:
As you may know, VDOT is considering a proposal to expand the Beltway
with four additional lanes in the center of the highway. These would
be "High Occupancy/Toll" (HOT) lanes, which could be used
by carpoolers (for free), express buses, and lone motorists who are
willing to pay a toll. Under a current VDOT study, these HOT lanes
would run between the Springfield Interchange and Georgetown Pike
(Route 193). Tomorrow night an advisory panel of Virginia officials
and academics will meet to evaluate a private company's (Fluor Daniel)
proposal for the expansion. Tomorrow's meeting is open to the public,
but no public comments will be taken.
The issue has raised some questions with regard to how it may impact
neighborhoods in our area. Here is a sampling of the kinds of questions
that have arisen, and have been brought to the attention of the
PSCA:
- How will our communities be protected from the additional noise
and air pollution from a wider Beltway? Will new sound walls be
constructed?
- Fluor Daniel has indicated that more direct access ramps to
the HOT lanes could be constructed in the future. How much will
these ramps cost and how will they impact local neighborhoods?
- A HOT Lanes project along SR-91 in Orange County, CA increased
emissions of smog forming pollutants along that highway. A similar
increase is predicted by the Metropolitan Washington Council of
Governments for Beltway HOT Lanes. Why isn't VDOT looking at transportation
initiatives that will improve air quality, not degrade it?
- The Metro DC area is in an air quality crisis, and one possible
way to combat this problem is to develop transit systems in the
area. Why doesn’t the Fluor Proposal allow any revenues from
tolls to be applied to area transit systems?
- Has a bus ridership and feasibility study been conducted for
Beltway HOT Lanes? And if not, how can Fluor Daniel claim that
the HOT Lanes will support express bus service?
- Last spring, hundreds of residents spoke out at public hearings
on the Capital Beltway, and most encouraged VDOT to include a
rail alternative in the DEIS. Why has VDOT ignored those requests,
but fast-tracked another proposal to widen the Beltway?
- A 2001 study by the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation
found that a Beltway corridor rail line was feasible and could
carry as many as 70,000 riders a day. Why isn’t VDOT considering
a rail alternative as a way to increase mobility in the area?
- Isn’t it possible for VDOT to move much of the $600 million
it receives from federal gasoline tax to be used for a rail system
that is dependable, affordable and accessible?
- In Orange County, CA, a non-compete clause taken out by the
private company that built HOT Lanes along Route 91 prevented
the County from making necessary safety improvements. Why is Fluor
Daniel seeking a similar non-compete clause for Beltway HOT Lanes?
- How can members of the Fairfax Board of Supervisors affect this
planning process? How does VDOT evaluate input from the Board?
You can learn more about this issue, and the concerns it raises,
at the website www.sierraclub.org/dc/sprawl/.
11/25:
There have been two recent incidents in our community that are cause
for concern:
The first incident involved a prowler in one of the backyards on
Seoane Court. This occurred in the evening, while the house was
occupied. A neighbor noticed a man coming from behind the house.
When the neighbor tried to ask what the man was doing there, the
man ran north on Pine Spring Road.
The second incident occurred on Meadow View Road, in the middle
of the block between Willow Lane and the apartments. A resident
was accosted by two young men who asked for money. The resident
did not give them any.
Let's hope these are isolated incidents.
