Small business owners in downtown New Westminster shared their stories of spending up to $16,000 for repairs to their building after a break-in. They also told MLA Elenore Sturko about how they were losing staff and customers due to the fact they don’t feel safe in downtown New Westminster any longer.
Sturko was in town on April 13th after she accepted an invitation from Councillors Daniel Fontaine and Paul Minhas to meet with merchants and downtown residents to hear their perspectives on crime, safety and public disorder. As the Shadow Minister for Mental Health, Addiction, Recovery and Education, Sturko has the opportunity to hear first-hand from New Westminster residents about how they are being impacted by crime and repeat offenders.
“The stories being recounted by local business owners were difficult for us to process and absord,” said Fontaine. “These folks have invested their life savings to help create a vibrant downtown and they are being let down in so many ways.”
Merchants reported there were an ever increasing number of incidents of public defecation, violence and break-ins at a number of downtown businesses. Many of them told Sturko their staff are quitting and customers are avoiding their businesses due to a lack of public order and cleanliness in New Westminster’s downtown district.
“As a downtown business owner myself, I can relate to many of the horrific stories I heard today,” said Minhas. “We need to do better to make sure these businesses are supported and that we attract new ones into our city. We can’t afford to have more of them pack up, board up their windows and leave the downtown core.”
Sturko’s visit was initiated during a visit last month by Fontaine and Minhas to Victoria where they met with Official Opposition House Leader Todd Stone.
“When we explained to Todd Stone that our city needed more mental health supports, more funding to treat drug addiction, he immediately recommended we connect with MLA Sturko to arrange a visit,” says Fontaine. “Elenore responded within a few hours and indicated she was open to a meeting with our local businesses and residents to hear from them first-hand. That was most appreciated.”