First-time candidate Catherine Cartwright is hoping to bring some balance and a fresh voice to New Westminster City Council.
Cartwight, president of the McBride Sapperton Residents’ Association, has stepped aside from that role to run for city council.
“I think we need to have some fresh faces on council, I think it’s time,” she said. “I think we need more balance.”
Cartwright pointed out that all of the current councillors, except Betty McIntosh, are supported by the New Westminster and District Labour Council. While she isn’t against unions or their beliefs, Cartwright believes she can be a fresh voice for everyone, whether they are union or not, left wing or right wing, an “ordinary Joe” or a businessperson.
Cartwright was a frequent visitor to council chambers during the controversial proposal to rezone a property on Sherbrook Street and change its official community plan designation to allow the Elizabeth Fry Society to construct a building that would includes spaces for the society’s offices and housing for women and their children.
“That went on for a couple of years. It was very contentious the neighbourhood. One of the main reasons it was so contentious was the fact it went on so long,” Cartwright said about the process. “One of the reasons it went on so long was the fact it was withdrawn before the last election. People really thought that was a political manoeuvre. Who can say if it was or wasn’t. I am not even saying that, but that was a perception out there. It came back afterwards.”
Because of its location between two SkyTrain stations, Cartwright said lower Sapperton is extremely vulnerable to redevelopment. Whether or not she’s elected, Cartwright will be advocating for a RS-1 preservation district zoning to protect residential areas in the neighbourhood from commercial or institutional development.
“We don’t want to be the next Metrotown or the next Brentwood and get filled in all between,” said Cartwright, who has lived in New Westminster for 24 years. “It is a viable neighbourhood. People look after their homes, people are taking down homes and putting new ones in. We want to make sure that it stays that way.”
Cartwright would like to help manage the growth that’s coming to New Westminster in the years ahead. She said the city needs to make sure amenities are in place that keep pace with development, and traffic is handled through an integrated regional plan that works for everybody.
“It’s a wonderful community. It has so many communities within the city. There is a real sense of community,” she said. “It is a lovely place to call home. The impact of all this development, we want to make sure it doesn’t impact us in a negative way.”
