http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2006 ... 006/221631

Culpeper looks at housing


Culpeper Town Council looks at Hispanic population
By DONNIE JOHNSTON


Date published: 9/13/2006

By DONNIE JOHNSTON

In a move aimed squarely at what it believes is a growing illegal Hispanic population, the Culpeper Town Council last night voted unanimously to consider hiring a zoning enforcement official.

That official would be responsible for making sure that multiple families were not living in a single-family dwelling.

The council also voted unanimously to join with the county in sending a letter to Rep. Eric Cantor, R-7th, and Sens. George Allen, R-Va., and John Warner, R-Va., in an effort to seek federal help in combating the illegal immigration problem.

Those salvos were the latest in a growing battle to try and prevent Hispanics from buying or renting homes and then allegedly moving as many as 20 either related or unrelated people in with them.

"I think it has been spelled out pretty clearly what the people of Culpeper want," Councilman Steve Jenkins, who initiated the movement after joining the town body in July, told his fellow members.

While David Marciniak, who spoke during the public forum session of last night's meeting, argued that the immigrant problem in Culpeper is "being blown out of proportion" by both the council and the media, two other residents had different views.

"When a man, his wife and their child came over and said they were buying the house across the street, we welcomed them with open arms," said Steve Peacock, who lives on Elmwood Drive.

"Then they moved five brothers, a cousin, two sisters and their mother and father in there," Peacock continued, alleging, "And they're all illegal."

Peacock said that the 13 persons living in the house "come and go and they're not always the same people."

Patricia Baker, a Cypress Drive resident, told of a neighboring house where a dozen people now live.

"You do not need to write [a new zoning ordinance]," Baker said. "You already have one on the books. You have a zoning administrator who should pursue violations of this ordinance."

Baker, who referred to both the town ordinances and the Virginia Constitution, lashed out at councilmen, who she accused of making unfair remarks about her in the press. The Fauquier County schoolteacher also took exception to Mayor Pranas Rimeikis when he cut her speech short.

"You have an obligation to me as a taxpayer!" she said.

Jenkins, who said he had talked with Cantor about the problem just before last night's meeting (he did not elaborate on the content of the conversation), sought last month to have the Virginia attorney general define just what should constitute a family.

Marciniak said he thought that idea was out of line.

"I don't think it's the place of the government to define who a family is," he told the council.

Aaron Greso said that 20 people in one single-family dwelling constituted a safety issue and said he felt that there should be a rule defining one adult to one bedroom. He wasn't sure how his method should be adjusted for children.

Mindy J. Erchull, a psychology professor at the University of Mary Washington and a Blue Ridge Avenue resident, refuted that approach.

"I don't see how it is less safe for unrelated individuals [to live together in a house] than it is for related individuals," she said. "The issues behind [this] aren't safety."

Jerry Beckett, who said he recently moved here from California, warned Culpeper to take action before school and health systems are overwhelmed, as he said they are in his former state.

"If we do not take a stand here in Culpeper, we need to be prepared to pay higher taxes," Beckett said, adding that Americans must fight for freedom in their own country as well as around the world.

"This is not a racial issue," he continued. "Our laws are being [flouted]."

With regard to the letter to legislators, Councilman Duke duFrane insisted that both the council and its attorney look it over before the correspondence is sent.

"While this is an important issue, I think we need to approach it in a fair and legal manner," duFrane said.


Jenkins held a public meeting on the controversial subject 10 days ago which, according to one participant, "turned ugly" toward the end.

That meeting precipitated a march the same afternoon by Hispanics who were concerned about their rights.

Both the Town Council and the Culpeper County Board of Supervisors received a letter from Cantor last week saying that there was already pending immigration legislation in Congress.

Cantor added that he would help the local jurisdictions in any way possible.

"This is starting to ruin our neighborhoods," Peacock said last night.


To reach DONNIE JOHNSTON:
Email: djohnston@freelancestar.com



Date published: 9/13/2006