Prince William Times 06/13/2024

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SPORTS: Osbourn Park downs Battlefield 3-0 to win state softball crown. PAGES 11, 12

June 13, 2024 | Vol. 23, No. 24 | www.princewilliamtimes.com | $2.00 Covering Prince William County and surrounding communities, including Gainesville, Haymarket, Dumfries, Occoquan, Quantico and the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park.

STATE CHAMPS OSBOURN PARK HIGH’S YELLOW JACKETS stung Battlefield with a 3-0 win to clinch the state trophy. PHOTO BY DOUG STROUD

Story, more photos in Sports, pages 11 to 12

County mulls hiring panhandlers to pick up litter

Plan would ask residents to give to local nonprofits, not roadside beggars By Evelyn Mejia

Times Staff Writer

Prince William County officials took a first look Tuesday at a plan to address panhandling through a part-time employment program and an effort to encourage residents to give to local nonprofits rather than directly to people asking for cash at busy intersections. The proposed program would pay panhandlers $13 an hour to pick up roadside litter. Participants could work two three-hour shifts a week, allowing them to earn up to $78 a week. The idea came from the county’s “Panhandling Process Action Team,” a special task force that arose from a directive made by

Supervisor Yesli Vega, who asked county staff to address the rising incidence of panhandling at intersections and places of business. Deputy County Executive for Human Services Elijah Johnson, who presented the program, said residents have reported being approached by panhandlers at all times of the day. Panhandling is not illegal because it is considered a First Amendment right. Police can only stop panhandlers if they are loitering on private property or interfering with the flow of traffic. Johnson said community and business engagement are crucial for the success of the program. Signs encouraging residents not to give money to panhandlers would be posted at 16 targeted locations known to be frequented by panhandlers, Johnson said. See PANHANDLING, page 2

Juneteenth events around the region, page 7

Supervisors OK 2nd mid-county area data center project By Jill Palermo Managing Editor

Prince William County’s data center alley will likely stretch into the county’s mid-section in the coming years after the board of supervisors’ vote to approve the controversial Mid-County Industrial Park. In a 5-3 vote, the supervisors approved a rezoning on June 4 that would allow three data centers up to 95 feet tall on about 64 acres just north of the intersection of Va. 234 and Minnieville Road. It will be the second planned data center complex in the mid-county area. The first, on land formerly owned by Parsons Farm, recently sold to Amazon for $218 million or $2.4 million an acre. This project area includes the Colchester Industrial Park, which houses GDC Contractors as well

Real estate tax bills are rising in Manassas, page 5

TIMES STAFF PHOTO/JILL PALERMO

Supervisor Yesli Vega broke with her fellow Republicans and voted in favor of the Mid-County Industrial Park, which is planned for her district just north of Minnieville Road and Va. 234. as several other businesses. The supervisors’ vote rezoned 40 acres of the site from agricultural to “M-2,” or light industrial, to allow for data centers. See DATA CENTER, page 2

88 DULLES, VA


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