tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post8268527296860621680..comments2023-09-16T04:58:07.261-04:00Comments on the Annandale Blog: Fairfax County supervisors to consider proposal to expand women's shelter Annandale Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07543558586252790593noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-45923542734455557712014-08-19T13:01:32.313-04:002014-08-19T13:01:32.313-04:00The public hearing process is the ONLY way to move...The public hearing process is the ONLY way to move forward with the expansion. The hearing was for zoning purposes and would have had to be done at any potential site as well, creating the same results. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-77747126133955208612014-08-19T12:54:50.841-04:002014-08-19T12:54:50.841-04:0015 is the max occupancy number and includes the st...15 is the max occupancy number and includes the staff member who lives in the residence and children of the women seeking shelter. The max total number of adults would be 8 (staff member included). The shelter is not always at full capacity, as the number living there varies based on family size. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-4081359547307275332014-08-05T15:12:23.743-04:002014-08-05T15:12:23.743-04:00I can't imagine a special exception hearing, s...I can't imagine a special exception hearing, such as its Executive Director herself requested, that would not expose Bethany House to public scrutiny and exposure many times greater than a single blog posting would. The special hearing will have pictures for certain and locations etc and will be aired live and available for viewing on Channel 16. So just who erred here. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-15250988787647531762014-08-05T11:45:59.285-04:002014-08-05T11:45:59.285-04:00“Oh my. battered women flee for their lives. But y...“Oh my. battered women flee for their lives. But your house might lose some its value.” <br /><br />“I am so glad I will soon be putting Fairfax in the rear view mirror. You people are unreal.”<br /><br />Those of us who call this home are so glad you’re leaving. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-45181695486118358852014-08-02T20:04:49.823-04:002014-08-02T20:04:49.823-04:00Many women and kids that go through Bethany House ...Many women and kids that go through Bethany House are whiteAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-30385147764893664472014-08-02T20:01:28.555-04:002014-08-02T20:01:28.555-04:00If neighbors never raised concerns, they would not...If neighbors never raised concerns, they would not know there was ever an issue. You can go to their website to contact them. You can contact Penny Gross's office to complain. You can contact the police. How many of these complaints were logged in the 20 years Bethany House was in operation in the neighborhood, virtually NONE!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-6987272895272539182014-08-02T19:58:31.794-04:002014-08-02T19:58:31.794-04:00If I hadn't raised complaints prior to them ex...If I hadn't raised complaints prior to them expanding then shame on me for not bringing these problems to their attention. If you have a problem w/something you need to say something so it can be resolved...don't come crying about problems that happened years ago only because now the shelter is upgrading it's facilities. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-69696330057469921112014-08-01T19:58:03.324-04:002014-08-01T19:58:03.324-04:00Because Bethany house chose to expand through a pu...Because Bethany house chose to expand through a public hearing process, instead of buying another property, you can find a picture of the house and their address, and a drawing of what it will look like after the expansion on the internet with very little effort. Ellie did nothing to expose the house compared to the organization itself.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-92176481532353611852014-08-01T16:49:02.927-04:002014-08-01T16:49:02.927-04:00So you have never made a mistake caused by poor ju...So you have never made a mistake caused by poor judgment?<br /><br />You sound like an intolerant, judging, person no one would want to be around.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-27284881588827801102014-08-01T11:18:30.581-04:002014-08-01T11:18:30.581-04:00It was irresponsible and reprehensible of you to p...It was irresponsible and reprehensible of you to post it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-21237508799335502402014-07-30T13:45:03.687-04:002014-07-30T13:45:03.687-04:00It was removed.It was removed.Annandale Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07543558586252790593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-15340560384037350832014-07-30T13:38:01.662-04:002014-07-30T13:38:01.662-04:00Why did you publish a picture of the house? Why did you publish a picture of the house? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-32173269924757073422014-07-30T09:48:31.775-04:002014-07-30T09:48:31.775-04:00If you follow the arguments closely it quickly bec...If you follow the arguments closely it quickly becomes apparent that 90% of the supporters were brought in by Bethany House from outside the neighborhood. The 3 people, over 2 hearings, from the neighborhood that are in favor don't actually live close enough to experience the shelter clients behavior on a daily basis. <br /> Nobody that spoke against the expansion opposes the Bethany house mission, only the expansion of an organization that needs to improve their operations and neighbor relations prior do doubling their size. At the public hearing (channel 16 broadcasts) 2 speakers "against" the project, specifically stated that they put up with the prior inconveniences because they knew it was a shelter, and supported the cause. <br /> Put yourself in the neighbors' shoes for a minute. A corporation (yes Bethany house in incorporated), directly connected to domestic violence, chooses to do business in your neighborhood and establishes a pattern of poor neighbor relations. Then suddenly, and without talking to any immediate neighbors, (actual transcripts point toward willfully avoiding immediate neighbors) applies to double it's size. Would you really welcome that with open arm? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-65468283150441340422014-07-30T09:29:07.086-04:002014-07-30T09:29:07.086-04:00I would assume so as well, but since Bethany house...I would assume so as well, but since Bethany house chose not to communicate with the neighbors all we know is it happens. So either they don't have a rule, or they have one they don't/can't enforce. Either option doesn't bode well for those living closest.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-51193819115328009302014-07-29T16:53:58.648-04:002014-07-29T16:53:58.648-04:00My goodness.occupants.
"The neighbors of the ...My goodness.occupants.<br />"The neighbors of the Bethany House Shelter are opposing this expansion throughout this permit process to preserve the safety and character of their neighborhood, and the value of most likely their single largest investment"<br /><br />Oh my. battered women flee for their lives. But your house might lose some its value. <br /><br />Maybe it would be better for our communities if we had more renters? Then we could welcome those in need. Our charity to those in desperate circumstances would not be conditional on its impact on our "most important asset". <br /><br /><br />"While I support the mission of the Bethany House, they are not a good neighbor, and their expansion will not be welcome until they take the time to develop a history of being a good neighbor. If they truly believed they had a "Duty to take care of our neighbors" they would withdraw the permit application,"<br /><br />Obviously the duty to neighbors they meant was to their neighbors who need safe shelter, not to their homeowner neighbors worried about their equity. <br /><br />If duty to neighbors means the latter, I think I have been reading the bible all wrong. <br /><br />I am so glad I will soon be putting Fairfax in the rear view mirror. You people are unreal. <br /><br />. Unlike the private residents of the neighborhood, Bethany House engages in fund raising and gets grant money that can choose to quietly purchase a house and expand their mission. Unfortunately, they have chosen to engage in a public process and attempt to bully the neighbors into accepting their expansion. <br />While I support the mission of the Bethany House, they are not a good neighbor, and their expansion will not be welcome until they take the time to develop a history of being a good neighbor. If they truly believed they had a "Duty to take care of our neighbors" they would withdraw the permit application,Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-22305669975014801112014-07-29T15:12:57.174-04:002014-07-29T15:12:57.174-04:00How about a shelter for white people?How about a shelter for white people?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-9436853134482641862014-07-29T13:19:50.888-04:002014-07-29T13:19:50.888-04:00I'm assuming there are house rules or court or...I'm assuming there are house rules or court orders regarding such contact.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-71266710182413465692014-07-29T13:07:03.775-04:002014-07-29T13:07:03.775-04:0012:27, that may be the case. Sadly, victims of do...12:27, that may be the case. Sadly, victims of domestic abuse aren't always able to break ties with their abusers. But that hardly gives OTHERS permission to do things that might endanger them and the other clients who don't act in this manner.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-14955026760494825462014-07-29T13:02:33.135-04:002014-07-29T13:02:33.135-04:00I call BS. There's a difference between matte...I call BS. There's a difference between matters being of public record (which the Bethany House address likely is and has been) and putting out signs that point out its presence, given that its residents are seeking shelter from violence.<br /><br />You are correct, the first amendment does allow the signs to be placed. And it protects my right to say that I think those doing so are culpable if something happens to a resident.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-17366935689323613702014-07-29T12:27:28.488-04:002014-07-29T12:27:28.488-04:00What really puts the clients in danger are the one...What really puts the clients in danger are the ones that walk to the next block, out of eyesight of the shelter, so their "abusers" can pick them up and give them a ride. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-29530520626498241472014-07-29T12:23:10.247-04:002014-07-29T12:23:10.247-04:00The organization chose a public hearing process to...The organization chose a public hearing process to expand. It was not the neighbors choice to take the discussion public, however it is their first amendment right to continue it in public.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-55087298822715360422014-07-29T12:01:38.749-04:002014-07-29T12:01:38.749-04:00It would not be wise to tick off the neighbors. Th...It would not be wise to tick off the neighbors. This proposal may seriously strain an already fragile situation, and what should be a calm and settled situation for the residents of Bethany House may not remain that way. There obviously needs to be more discussion about this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-50434743801061332422014-07-29T09:41:46.202-04:002014-07-29T09:41:46.202-04:00Am I inferring correctly that the Bethany House lo...Am I inferring correctly that the Bethany House location has been unlisted, but that the neighborhood has posted signs that announce its presence? <br /><br />If that's the case, I'm appalled. The people Bethany House serves have real problems that have caused them to leave home and seek safety. Publicizing the location would put these women and children in danger, and anyone using those tactics has given up all decency. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-83417695431583006282014-07-29T09:31:33.322-04:002014-07-29T09:31:33.322-04:00Tolerance? Posting yard signs to publicize the pr...Tolerance? Posting yard signs to publicize the presence of a shelter for women and children fleeing domestic violence is tolerant? I'd hate to see "intolerant"--does it include torches and/or pitchforks?<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-26284986093850927832014-07-29T00:27:15.615-04:002014-07-29T00:27:15.615-04:0015 unrelated adults in a quiet, single-family neig...15 unrelated adults in a quiet, single-family neighborhood house is too many. The residents of this community have already exhibited a level of tolerance which should not be abused. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com