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Letter: Pandemic wrong time for New Westminster to close streets

Editor: I would like to address the new street closures on the weekends at Sixth Street and Sixth Avenue, and Front Street.
sixth street new westminster pedestrian pedestrians covid-19
A pedestrian zone has been set up on Sixth Street in New Westminster on weekends during the summer. Record files

Editor:

I would like to address the new street closures on the weekends at Sixth Street and Sixth Avenue, and Front Street.

Does the City of New Westminster really want to encourage people to gather on these streets in this pandemic?

Wouldn’t it be safer to remain in your vehicle?

As I drove by Sixth Street on Fifth Avenue this past Saturday at about 2:30 p.m., I looked up Sixth and saw one person sitting at one table in the middle of the street. I was expecting to see a lot more people, but it looks like New Westminster residents don’t want to hang out one on one in public spaces and put themselves and their loved ones at risk.

I can only assume that the city had great intentions, like “bringing the community together,” which I’m all for, but not in the midst of this pandemic.

As well, I really hate the noise and fumes of the big rigs huffing and puffing along Royal Avenue while Front Street is closed every weekend.

Weekends should be our peaceful time and having the trucks run right through town on these days is anything but peaceful. Front Street has very little residential to disturb compared to Royal Avenue.

Kerry Romaniuk, New Westminster