Juke Box Diner in Manassas hosted the Fox News Channel’s morning show “Fox and Friends,” which did a series of live reports from the diner on Wednesday, July 5, 2023.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who came to the diner to appear on the show, talked about education and talked to Potomac Local News about the importance of hiring more police and supporting them in the field.
“Police officers want to work in places where the department has their backs,” Youngkin told PLN in an exclusive interview after his TV appearance. The governor pointed to a partnership between his administration and Petersburg, which has led to a strengthened police department in the city, and a successful recruiting effort leading to “nearly zero” vacancies, the governor said.
Crime is a key campaign issue for the upcoming November 7 General Election (early voting begins September 23, 2023). In Prince William County, violent crime is up 70% since 2019.
“We also have to hire prosecutors who will prosecute,” Youngkin added. Since 2020, monthly direct criminal indictments have fallen from 300 to about 70 under Commonwealth Attorney Amy Ashworth.
Ashworth, a Democrat, is on the ballot this November, challenged by Republican and former Prince William County Assistant Commonwealth Attorney Matt Lowery. Last week, business owners filed into a county police station to talk about the uptick in crime along the Sudley and Balls Ford roads corridors outside Manassas, where many fear for their safety.
All seats on the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, which can hire and fire the county’s police chief, are up in November, too.
During Wednesday morning’s TV broadcast, reporter Griff Jenkins asked diners whether or not Youngkin should run for president. Both replied “no,” and said he should continue focusing on governing Virginia. Youngkin, whose been governor since 2022, is the first Republican to win to occupy the governor’s mansion since 2013.
Bobbie MacDonald woke up, saw the TV crew broadcasting from the nearby diner, and drove down for breakfast. “I would tell the county supervisors that there are big issues in this county right now, crime included. We don’t come into Manassas that often or go to the eastern end of the county. We stay in our little area,” said MacDonald, whose lived in Catharpin since 2005.
Republican candidates Ian Lovejoy, a former Manassas City Councilman running for the newly-created House District 22 in western Prince William County, and John Stirrup, a former Prince William County Supervisor running for the newly-created 21 House District, came to the event. Youngkin encouraged both to “campaign hard” and focus on public safety issues.
No one from the Manassas City Government stopped by for breakfast.
Juke Box Diner owner Joe Attyah said producers at the Fox News Channel asked him if they could broadcast from his restaurant. “It’s a good opportunity for us to get out the message about our business,” said Attyah, who also owns a second Juke Box Diner in Annandale.
The diner, at 8637 Sudley Road, has a classic 1950s decor and serves breakfast all day.
VPAP: Republican John Stirrup will take on Democrat Josh Thomas in the fall after Stirrup won his party’s nomination for the 21st House of Delegates District. The district has no incumbent.
Stirrup beat his Republican primary opponent Josh Quill by 30 points. Gov. Glenn Youngkin endorsed Stirrup, a former Prince William Board of County Supervisors member.
Stirrup had a scare on the campaign trail this spring when he collapsed while speaking at a Prince William Board of County Supervisors meeting. Stirrup recovered and returned weeks later to thank first responders who carried him to a hospital.
Updated 1 p.m. April 19 — Former Gainesville District Supervisor John Stirrup collapsed at tonight’s Prince William Board of County Supervisors meeting on April 18, 2023.
According to sources, Stirrup, who is running for the House of Delegates District 21 seat in Haymarket, was rushed to Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center, where he’s lying in intensive care.
His condition has improved, according to a post on his Facebook page.
John is now feeling much better, resting and even telling a few dad jokes to the hospital staff. He and Heidi are incredibly grateful for the first responders, medical team, and all those who have reached out and offered prayers and support.
Fire and rescue crews resuscitated Stirrup at the board meeting before loading him by stretcher onto an ambulance. Stirrup was speaking during public comment time, talking about the county’s violent crime rate, which has increased 70% since 2019, and the jail board’s abolishment of the 287(g) program, which had county jail officers partner with federal immigration and customs authorities to hand over jail inmates suspected of being in the U.S. illegally.
Prince William Board of County Supervisors Chair At-large Ann Wheeler called a meeting recess until 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 20, 2023. Supervisors were in the public comment portion o the meeting and then were to engage in budget markup when leaders were to decide what to cut from the fiscal year 2024 budget.
After returning from recess, County Executive Christopher Shorter said, “What we witnessed here tonight was a medical emergency. The response from our first responders here was amazing.”
Stirrup, a conservative, served on the Board of County Supervisors for two terms from 2004 until 2011. Stirrup left the county government and later lobbied on its behalf.
Stirrup has a Republican challenger in Josh Quill, who is also seeking the party’s nomination in a June 20 Primary.
Here’s a transcript of Stirrup’s speech, delivered just before he collapsed:
