Fairfax County fails to shut down commercial yard sales
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| A yard sale at 4010 Braddock Road Nov. 16. [Photo taken by a neighbor] |
Fairfax County’s
failure to shut down illegal, commercial yard sales in Parklawn and surrounding
neighborhoods in Mason District calls into question the county’s ability and willingness to address
other code enforcement issues.
failure to shut down illegal, commercial yard sales in Parklawn and surrounding
neighborhoods in Mason District calls into question the county’s ability and willingness to address
other code enforcement issues.
Parklawn
resident Richard Zambito, who’s been battling the yard sales for the past
couple of years, complained to the police and code compliance officials about
one at 4010 Braddock Road Nov. 16 to no avail. “If the county cannot
control or mitigate these nuisance crimes, how do we ever expect them to manage
RSUs?,” he said, referring to the county’s proposal to allow residential studio units.
resident Richard Zambito, who’s been battling the yard sales for the past
couple of years, complained to the police and code compliance officials about
one at 4010 Braddock Road Nov. 16 to no avail. “If the county cannot
control or mitigate these nuisance crimes, how do we ever expect them to manage
RSUs?,” he said, referring to the county’s proposal to allow residential studio units.
The organizer of the
yard sale at 4010 Braddock Road, Michael Tyrone Suggs, said police came by yesterday because
a neighbor had complained about customers parking on Braddock Road, which isn’t
permitted. The car was moved, and the police left.
At the yard sale, there
were washing machines, refrigerators, chairs, tables, electronics, piles of
clothes on a tarp, and tables full of children’s and adult shoes and boots.
Some of the appliances and furniture were wrapped in plastic.
were washing machines, refrigerators, chairs, tables, electronics, piles of
clothes on a tarp, and tables full of children’s and adult shoes and boots.
Some of the appliances and furniture were wrapped in plastic.
Suggs wouldn’t say
where the items came from or name a sale price. “Everything is negotiable,” he
said.
where the items came from or name a sale price. “Everything is negotiable,” he
said.
Suggs believes he is
within his rights to hold yard sales and has been doing so along Braddock Road
and nearby streets for the past two years or so. Fairfax County allows
residents to have two yard sales a year at the same address. Suggs gets around
that rule by having different residents agree to host yard sales on their lawns
in exchange for a fee. The county, however, also prohibits the resale of
commercial merchandise at yard sales.
within his rights to hold yard sales and has been doing so along Braddock Road
and nearby streets for the past two years or so. Fairfax County allows
residents to have two yard sales a year at the same address. Suggs gets around
that rule by having different residents agree to host yard sales on their lawns
in exchange for a fee. The county, however, also prohibits the resale of
commercial merchandise at yard sales.
“These ongoing
yard sales are creating traffic congestion on Braddock Road and are destroying
the quality of life here,” Zambito said.
yard sales are creating traffic congestion on Braddock Road and are destroying
the quality of life here,” Zambito said.
According to
Zambito, the previous resident at 4009 Braddock sold his house and moved to
California because of the frequent yard sales on his street and was frustrated
with the ineffectiveness of what he called the “keystone cops in Fairfax County.”
Zambito, the previous resident at 4009 Braddock sold his house and moved to
California because of the frequent yard sales on his street and was frustrated
with the ineffectiveness of what he called the “keystone cops in Fairfax County.”
Total lack in confidence of FFX elected officials. Too busy campaigning and too little governing.
There is no law abidance in FFX County and the police could care less because they do not live here.
How do you know where Fairfax County police officers live?
I am going to vote republican next time around. These democrats have lost their grip on Fairfax
And I am going to vote Democrat, just because of you!
Well that is fine, I loathe that we are left with no other choice, Perhaps a non vote will get the message across that if FFX continues on this path the only ones we will be voting for are the likes of Marion Barry.
Why dont you be really bright and vote for Mr. Suggs, and then move next door to him where I am sure you will be happy in junkland USA.
Isnt horrible that all we have to chose from is terrible to worst!
4508 Braddock has already had THREE sales in the past five weekends. Same thing that was happening previously at this house, and it's creating a traffic problem at this corner as well. That house is for sale though, so hopefully someone who doesn't have garage sales every weekend will buy it.
How odd people want to vote GOP to prevent people from doing what they want with their own property. Regulation is bad, unless its zoning that you like 🙂
Maybe if we had real commerce in our neighborhoods, instead of the "retail gives cooties" seperation of use zoning.
Maybe you should TALK to your neighbors about the yard sales the host. Isn't suburban life all about neighborliness?
And I doubt very much a few illegal yard sales, annoying as they are, is what accounts for congestion on Braddock. I think it has more to do our approach of no decent transit, no safe walking and biking, and funneling all auto traffic onto a few arterials. Similarly I doubt someone moved to California because of yard sales.
And I dont see what this has to do with RSU's. But I guess anything will be used to have an excuse to oppose RSU's.
I guess I should be glad people arent using the countys failures at zoning enforcement as a reason to oppose bike lanes. Or sidewalks.
You obviously know NOTHING about this issue. I know the person moved because of the issues – just like many are and have left the area. We have talked to the neighbor – or at least Mr. Suggs and he threatened the person who approached him.
> "And I doubt very much a few illegal yard sales, annoying as they are, is what accounts for congestion on Braddock."
The voice of reason. If you want to travel between Falls Church and Fairfax, you have three options: 495, 236, or Braddock. Guess which one never takes an hour?
Well, I personally see nothing wrong with having a yard sale and if Mr. Suggs wants to have one…go for it. Why are you complaining about a yard sale? That is so petty! I mean seriously, aren't there other more important things to worry about? Like sex trafficing in FFX Cty, drugs, teenage prostitution? I'd much rather see my tax dollars going to stop this than a stupid yard sale.
Maybe you should offer your home to Mr Suggs as his next junk sale venue.
Good luck with that and btw read the Newport News newspaper to find out more about this person you so dearly admire.
Crime in NYC dropped dramatically when then-Mayor Rudolf Giuliani used the no broken window approach. I say forget the drama of sex trafficking and teenage prostitution (Been watching too much Law & Order SVU maybe) — clean up the neighborhoods and create a climate of respect for the law — no matter how petty it might seem to some.
Now we are talking like adults!
"These ongoing yard sales … are destroying the quality of life here." – Richard Zambito
Yes, I can imagine what a nuisance it must be to have a flea market posted up on your street because some fool doesn't know how to use Craigslist, but I am skeptical that they could "destroy" the quality of life for someone who knows how to take a deep breath.
"The police have lost control! It's anarchy in the streets! Save your children from the bald, shrieking horror of illegal yard sales! Vote Republican!"
Smells like retired military wives and little white dogs in here.
You also obviously don't know what is going on. In stead of trying to stereotype someone you know nothing about – why don't you read about the past instances and try to have some sympathy for folks who are trying to obey the law and keep the property values and quality of life from spiraling further down hill.
This stuff is most likely stolen. He may be the fence guy that the thieves sell to. The fact that he pays other people to use their property is a major red flag. If the heat comes down, they take the fall and he denies ownership, He's also running a business legit or not, without reporting income and paying taxes.
My husband has reported these yard sales to Penny Gross's office numerous times. He has also sent pictures as proof. Basically, he got the runaround. He was told that Penny's office doesn't have anyone on staff on the weekend so they're not in a position to enforce the laws. They suggested calling the police, but it's not a police issue – it's a zoning issue – and the police have more important things to do.
We live off of Vale Street and it can be difficult to make a safe turn onto Braddock when the traffic is backed up with people parking anywhere they see fit. It's basically a flea market and the worst part is that they leave behind unsold items. These items sit in the rain until the homeowner eventually drags them into the back yard.
Penny Gross and/or her staff need to spend a Saturday dealing with these illegal markets. Penny lives nearby and if she really cared she would at least drive by the problem addresses from time to time.
To the people who are defending Mr. Suggs you should Google him to know that he was convicted for gun trafficing and was run out of Southern VA.
So now teel me do you still want him renting next door to you?
I Googled him and found no such criminal record. Could you provide the link?
He did some yard work for me and I found him to be a pleasant, hardworking fellow.
its hard to find. He was convicted on August 15, 2011 in Newport News, VA.
I strongly recommend that you disassociate yourself from him.
His landlord the homeowner at 4508 was indicted on bribing Arlington zoning officials.
This guy is just no good, what more proof are you looking for or do you just like being a victim?
I'm a little late to this game, but if you are making false accusations — no matter how much of a scumbag you think Suggs is — you are committing libel. Damning by association -" His landlord the homeowner at 4508 was indicted on bribing Arlington zoning officials" — also seems a little sleazy.
The guy is a dirtbag. It's an eyesore. The County needs to enforce the law.
FYI putting the house 'up for sale' is an old ploy to stop people from filing complaints and it tell Code Compliance not to bother but either the sigh is bogus or the price is too high to generate a sale. Keep calling it in and call Supervisor Gross and ask why she is unwilling to enforce the law.