http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 01216.html

Manassas Changes Definition Of Family
Activists Criticize New Housing Limits As Anti-Immigrant
By Stephanie McCrummen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, December 28, 2005; Page A01

Page 1 of 5-- (QUOTE paragraph from page 4-)


The inspector slid into his Crown Victoria, a police radio on his belt, addresses in hand. It was after 5 p.m., and he and his interpreter rolled into Manassas, down a street of benign ranch houses strung with lights. They parked, walked to a door and knocked.

"Mrs. Chavez?" Victor Purchase asked in the quiet evening.

Victor Purchase, an assistant fire marshal, and interpreter Adriana Vallenas question Jose Ortiz about the number of people living in his townhouse. A new law in Manassas essentially limits households to immediate relatives. (By Gerald Martineau -- The Washington Post)

Defining the Family***
A new Manassas ordinance narrows, for zoning, what the city considers a family:

A. An individual;

B. Two or more persons related to the second degree of collateral consanguinity by blood, marriage, adoption or guardianship, or otherwise duly authorized custodial relationship, as verified by official public records such as driver's licenses, birth or marriage certificates, court orders or notarized affidavits, living and cooking together as a single housekeeping unit, exclusive of not more than one additional unrelated person;

C. A number of persons, not exceeding three, living and cooking together as a single housekeeping unit though not related by blood, marriage, adoption or guardianship; or

D. Not more than two unrelated persons and their dependent children living and cooking together as a single housekeeping unit.

SOURCE: City of Manassas
GRAPHIC: The Washington Post

Most Blogged About Articles
On washingtonpost.com | On the web

QUOTE MRS CHAVEZ:

"If she fixed a few expensive fire code violations, and if she could find close relatives to move in, the family could perhaps stay, she realized. But it would be a hassle, she said, and one that might never end. She is hoping that things are easier in North Carolina.

"The living is cheaper there," she said. "We'll rent a little house, and we'll be comfortable."

ITS ALITTLE HARSH, BUT YOU HAVE TO START SOMEPLACE!

**TO READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE - GO TO URL ADDRESS.