Will APS and County ever do anything about all the gun activity near Drew Elementary school?

[Anonymous]

*Civic

but then again people seem to be more rabid regarding Covid issues than gunshots so maybe covid is better

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:*Civic

but then again people seem to be more rabid regarding Covid issues than gunshots so maybe covid is better

Ha. I was going to sat covid is almost appropriate. The idea of private security is interesting. If they are going to try like a "club" (with drinking/drugs,/loud music) than they should have security like a club. Then you also remove a police element since they wouldn't be arresting folks. But I dont know who would pay for that. They are technically on school grounds are they? It is park land and I think the county doesn't hire private security..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Email the county board about your Concerns. Email the green valley civic association about your concerns. The county cannot continue to turn a blind eye to this ridiculousness.

There are certainly additional actions they can take:

1. Enforce the park hours of Drew park. The park is listed as closing at 8:00 pm. Provide Parks and Rec staff to enforce that closure.

2. Convert the street parking in the vicinity around the Shelton to a no parking zone from 6:00 pm- 6:00 am., Enable the police to ticket or tow violators.

3. Enforce the noise control ordinance for Arlington County in the vicinity surrounding the Shelton. It is obviously violated on a near daily basis. (Arlington County Code § 15-6)


We live in green valley and have advocated A LOT on these issues. More people need to speak up and force the county’s hand.

In regards to number 2: people will be upset because they don't want more police. APS should just contract that issue out to Advance Towing.

Who cares? No really. who cares what a bunch of people up to no good want?

no the police shouldn't harass people but they should be present every single day, 24/7. Put a outpost there if need be.

Yes. If the choice is between more bullets, or more police, then it seems like a no brainer to pick "more police"!

The ones who feel over policed are the same ones involved in these incidents, so, do they not care if they are dying? Or is just if other people care about not dying that it becomes problematic?

This is a question I have no idea how to answer but the Civic Association seems pretty set on the idea that there is nothing to be done. They don't want the police there. They don't believe more police will reduce crime. They don't feel the police will make the safer and there are some studies that show more police doesn't reduce crime..BUT the Civic Association also doesn't offer up any solution. So I feel very defeated....

I think the old timers might feel ambivalent about it because the crime is the only thing keeping the neighborhood from full on gentrifying beyond recognition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Email the county board about your Concerns. Email the green valley civic association about your concerns. The county cannot continue to turn a blind eye to this ridiculousness.

There are certainly additional actions they can take:

1. Enforce the park hours of Drew park. The park is listed as closing at 8:00 pm. Provide Parks and Rec staff to enforce that closure.

2. Convert the street parking in the vicinity around the Shelton to a no parking zone from 6:00 pm- 6:00 am., Enable the police to ticket or tow violators.

3. Enforce the noise control ordinance for Arlington County in the vicinity surrounding the Shelton. It is obviously violated on a near daily basis. (Arlington County Code § 15-6)


We live in green valley and have advocated A LOT on these issues. More people need to speak up and force the county’s hand.

In regards to number 2: people will be upset because they don't want more police. APS should just contract that issue out to Advance Towing.

Who cares? No really. who cares what a bunch of people up to no good want?

no the police shouldn't harass people but they should be present every single day, 24/7. Put a outpost there if need be.

Yes. If the choice is between more bullets, or more police, then it seems like a no brainer to pick "more police"!

The ones who feel over policed are the same ones involved in these incidents, so, do they not care if they are dying? Or is just if other people care about not dying that it becomes problematic?

This is a question I have no idea how to answer but the Civic Association seems pretty set on the idea that there is nothing to be done. They don't want the police there. They don't believe more police will reduce crime. They don't feel the police will make the safer and there are some studies that show more police doesn't reduce crime..BUT the Civic Association also doesn't offer up any solution. So I feel very defeated....

I think the old timers might feel ambivalent about it because the crime is the only thing keeping the neighborhood from full on gentrifying beyond recognition.

Well, they can’t live forever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Email the county board about your Concerns. Email the green valley civic association about your concerns. The county cannot continue to turn a blind eye to this ridiculousness.

There are certainly additional actions they can take:

1. Enforce the park hours of Drew park. The park is listed as closing at 8:00 pm. Provide Parks and Rec staff to enforce that closure.

2. Convert the street parking in the vicinity around the Shelton to a no parking zone from 6:00 pm- 6:00 am., Enable the police to ticket or tow violators.

3. Enforce the noise control ordinance for Arlington County in the vicinity surrounding the Shelton. It is obviously violated on a near daily basis. (Arlington County Code § 15-6)


We live in green valley and have advocated A LOT on these issues. More people need to speak up and force the county’s hand.

In regards to number 2: people will be upset because they don't want more police. APS should just contract that issue out to Advance Towing.

Who cares? No really. who cares what a bunch of people up to no good want?

no the police shouldn't harass people but they should be present every single day, 24/7. Put a outpost there if need be.

Yes. If the choice is between more bullets, or more police, then it seems like a no brainer to pick "more police"!

The ones who feel over policed are the same ones involved in these incidents, so, do they not care if they are dying? Or is just if other people care about not dying that it becomes problematic?

This is a question I have no idea how to answer but the Civic Association seems pretty set on the idea that there is nothing to be done. They don't want the police there. They don't believe more police will reduce crime. They don't feel the police will make the safer and there are some studies that show more police doesn't reduce crime..BUT the Civic Association also doesn't offer up any solution. So I feel very defeated....

I think the old timers might feel ambivalent about it because the crime is the only thing keeping the neighborhood from full on gentrifying beyond recognition.

Well, they can’t live forever.

Especially with all the shooting.....

I dont know there is a mtg next week. The police will be there. We will see..

[Anonymous]

We do not live in Green Valley but our 2nd grader attends Drew. Since it seems like a lot of the “activity” happens at night, this has not made an impact on our child’s education or the experience we’ve encountered at Drew thus far. In fact, our family is very happy we opted in there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We do not live in Green Valley but our 2nd grader attends Drew. Since it seems like a lot of the “activity” happens at night, this has not made an impact on our child’s education or the experience we’ve encountered at Drew thus far. In fact, our family is very happy we opted in there.

But your child’s classmates do live there. And they do witness the violence and they are used to it. And what happens when some of these kids ask your child over for play dates, on the weekends, to the park and the playground at the school is where they decide to go play. and some losers decide to meet up there to conduct “business”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We do not live in Green Valley but our 2nd grader attends Drew. Since it seems like a lot of the “activity” happens at night, this has not made an impact on our child’s education or the experience we’ve encountered at Drew thus far. In fact, our family is very happy we opted in there.

But your child’s classmates do live there. And they do witness the violence and they are used to it. And what happens when some of these kids ask your child over for play dates, on the weekends, to the park and the playground at the school is where they decide to go play. and some losers decide to meet up there to conduct “business”

You obviously do not live in Green Valley. I do. And while I wish that the County and Civic Association would remedy all of these issues—so obnoxious and ridiculous and beyond what should be tolerated—the reality is that these issues and incidents are limited to the immediate proximity of the Shelton. Like if you are not out there on the sidewalk next to The Shelton looking for this trouble, it will not find you.

Again—not that it makes it ok or excusable in any way, but, it is a very narrow and defined issue/area. And the County and Civic Association should feel the weight of responsibility in expeditiously addressing it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We do not live in Green Valley but our 2nd grader attends Drew. Since it seems like a lot of the “activity” happens at night, this has not made an impact on our child’s education or the experience we’ve encountered at Drew thus far. In fact, our family is very happy we opted in there.

But your child’s classmates do live there. And they do witness the violence and they are used to it. And what happens when some of these kids ask your child over for play dates, on the weekends, to the park and the playground at the school is where they decide to go play. and some losers decide to meet up there to conduct “business”

You obviously do not live in Green Valley. I do. And while I wish that the County and Civic Association would remedy all of these issues—so obnoxious and ridiculous and beyond what should be tolerated—the reality is that these issues and incidents are limited to the immediate proximity of the Shelton. Like if you are not out there on the sidewalk next to The Shelton looking for this trouble, it will not find you.

Again—not that it makes it ok or excusable in any way, but, it is a very narrow and defined issue/area. And the County and Civic Association should feel the weight of responsibility in expeditiously addressing it.

Again what you are ignoring and not understanding - The violence in recent months has happened in that location. But you are acting as if the criminals know exactly where to commit crimes and understand the boundary and will know exactly to stay right in front of the building.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We do not live in Green Valley but our 2nd grader attends Drew. Since it seems like a lot of the “activity” happens at night, this has not made an impact on our child’s education or the experience we’ve encountered at Drew thus far. In fact, our family is very happy we opted in there.

But your child’s classmates do live there. And they do witness the violence and they are used to it. And what happens when some of these kids ask your child over for play dates, on the weekends, to the park and the playground at the school is where they decide to go play. and some losers decide to meet up there to conduct “business”

Yes, they do and we have play dates at the park near Drew and at their homes. We have never had any issues. We are not there at 12am when it seems like some of the shots have taken place but we spend plenty of time there on the weekends and after school. I think violence is bad but I just wanted to share that it had not made our experience at Drew a bad one because there is action happening near the school late at night.

[Anonymous]

Had a neighborhood meeting with police last night that seems discouraging. They basically admitted they know it is an open air drug market, but it sounded to me like they don't think they can do much. They urged us to be more vigilant and essentially encouraged people to call the police more or be open with police (so we should snitch more I guess?). Said we need to put more pressure on the county if we want lighting or more cameras.

Also there was some talk that we should put pressure on AHC to make changes re: security guards or additional security measures.

[Anonymous]

Well what do you want the police to? They are tiptoeing around the problem that Arlington is too woke to address- DA catch and release, don’t prosecute drug offenders, civic association won’t complain- likes it- it’s cultural,

You are not a snitch for calling the police and reporting CRIME!!!

As someone that was rezoned Drew and opted out of attending this is proof that Drew and GV will never change unless GV wants to solve the problems which it appears it doesn’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well what do you want the police to? They are tiptoeing around the problem that Arlington is too woke to address- DA catch and release, don’t prosecute drug offenders, civic association won’t complain- likes it- it’s cultural,

You are not a snitch for calling the police and reporting CRIME!!!

As someone that was rezoned Drew and opted out of attending this is proof that Drew and GV will never change unless GV wants to solve the problems which it appears it doesn’t.

I was on the meeting also. The Civic Association breezed through efforts they are allegedly making to work with the PD-- a lot of these slides are old and many of the heavier lift items just said, "in progress" with no additional detail. They also refused to share the slide deck.

I heard exactly zero people on the call express concerns about over policing, and the overall feedback was concern for what is going on and what to do about it.

The police department's hands are tied--they can only do so much. Reaching out to the County Board seems to result in an endless loop of being pointed back to the police--the police are not going to decide if the park closure hours are enforced. The police are not going to change the parking around the Shelton to create no parking overnight. The County Board and County Manager are the ones who have to act.

The single thing the Civic Association did focus on leveraging the County about is an illuminated sign that will be attached to a nearby storage facility. They said they are sending a letter and asking for signatures. Apparently that is their priority.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well what do you want the police to? They are tiptoeing around the problem that Arlington is too woke to address- DA catch and release, don’t prosecute drug offenders, civic association won’t complain- likes it- it’s cultural,

You are not a snitch for calling the police and reporting CRIME!!!

As someone that was rezoned Drew and opted out of attending this is proof that Drew and GV will never change unless GV wants to solve the problems which it appears it doesn’t.

I was on the meeting also. The Civic Association breezed through efforts they are allegedly making to work with the PD-- a lot of these slides are old and many of the heavier lift items just said, "in progress" with no additional detail. They also refused to share the slide deck.

I heard exactly zero people on the call express concerns about over policing, and the overall feedback was concern for what is going on and what to do about it.

The police department's hands are tied--they can only do so much. Reaching out to the County Board seems to result in an endless loop of being pointed back to the police--the police are not going to decide if the park closure hours are enforced. The police are not going to change the parking around the Shelton to create no parking overnight. The County Board and County Manager are the ones who have to act.



The single thing the Civic Association did focus on leveraging the County about is an illuminated sign that will be attached to a nearby storage facility. They said they are sending a letter and asking for signatures. Apparently that is their priority.

Yeah, I was very disappointed. I wanted to discuss all of those issues on the list! I thought there was some good action items on there, but just telling me it is "in progress" doesn't tell me anything. I know that they had other items on the agenda, but I felt like they could have realized that we would want to discuss this issue more. Why aren't people walking the neighborhood to ask for signatures to change the parking or lighting or to encourage AHC and the Lucky 7 to hire security. I did decide to join the safety task forever, so hopefully we can bring some new energy.
I personally don't care about a sign facing the neighborhood lol.

I guess I don't 100% agree that the police have their hands tied. If they know it is an open air drug market can't they do things to stop that? Undercover work? Busting people dealing drugs. I guess I need to re-watch the wire. . .

[Anonymous]

*safety task force