I was born and raised in the Lower Mainland. I moved to New Westminster eight years ago when the city plans were to clean the place up.
They came close. It has declined steadily for the last three years. I now chose my walking routes and times. It is dangerous. Letting groups of sketchy people congregate around the stations and Hyack Square only adds to the problem.
Everything the city has done in the downtown area lately has compounded the issue. Hundreds of SROs and the Front Street warming shelter have just invited more crime and danger to the area. Why wouldn’t they hang around here?
The city has to decide on the direction: a safe, clean downtown core or a filthy homeless encampment. I can’t see myself living down here much longer if this continues.
Bruce Battistoni
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