As 2022 draws to a close, we’re looking back at the top 10 New Westminster news stories of the year.
Yesterday, we took a look back at the 2022 civic election, which saw a number of new faces join city council and school board
The journey through the year’s biggest headlines wraps up today with number 1 story of the year: Downtown New West
Concerns about downtown livability, safety and construction - and efforts to address them - carried on all year long
If there was one issue that dominated the news cycle in New Westminster in 2022, it was the downtown.
January’s headlines about news stories about the downtown gave a snapshot of what was to come for the rest of the year,
A sampling of headlines from January 2022: New Westminster businesses urge police board to take action to address safety in the downtown; Downtown New West still a safe to be; Sewer line project in New West running behind schedule; Random attack in New West includes attempt to take a baby; New West extreme weather shelter keeping homeless folks warm on cold, wet nights.
Similar themes followed throughout the year, many dealing with livability and safety concerns and efforts to address homelessness, as many unhoused people have been known to seek shelter in parts of the downtown.
In response to complaints from residents and businesses, New Westminster Police Department Chief Const. Dave Jansen presented a report to the police board outlining a variety actions being undertaken by the police department. He noted that a police response isn’t always the best solution for addressing many of the safety and livability concerns being raised about downtown New Westminster and said the NWPD would continue to work closely with the city to address issues in the downtown.
Jansen’s report outlined some of the responses being undertaken in response to concerns raised about the downtown, included focusing patrols in “trending areas” when officers are not responding to calls for service, working with city hall on short-term and longer-term solutions, such as homeless outreach, businesses support and engagement and supporting the development of the Peer Assisted Crisis Team that would provide a new model to address crisis health management.
In July, city council endorsed in principle a new New Westminster Homelessness Action Strategy, a five-year vision and plan to address homelessness and related issues in the city.
The 46 actions proposed in the strategy have been grouped into five categories: coordination and partnership; shelter, housing and tenant supports; income, employment and financial literacy; services and supports; and communication engagement and involvement.
The issue of unhoused people extends far beyond the city’s downtown, but that New West neighbourhood is home to many of the non-profit organizations providing services to vulnerable criticizes. It’s also where some of the shelter facilities are located.
At its final meeting of 2022, city council received a staff presentation and report about the Downtown Livability Strategy. Items included in the $4.392-million proposal include initiatives related to general cleanliness, enhanced access to 24/7 public toilets, enhanced homeless outreach and added emergency shelter capacity and business support and engagement. Some of the specific items to be funded include public toilets, garbage receptacles, street-cleaning programs and a contractor who specializes in human waste and street cleaning.
That report came on the heels of delegations to city council and the police board, where Front Street businesses appealed for assistance in addressing livability, crime and other issues in the area.
About that sewer project ...
Over on Columbia Street, Metro Vancouver’s sewer project saw a mountain of pipes lining the streets and/or construction taking place for most of the year. In 2021, city council had begrudgingly supported the project, after being told by Metro Vancouver that a discharge of raw sewage and a sink hole on Columbia Street are two of the potential consequences of delaying repairs to a major sewer line in downtown New Westminster.
When stacks of pipes were still piled in area around Hyack Square in February, council asked for an update from Metro Vancouver about when the project would be complete and equipment would be off the road.
“If they don’t have somewhere else to put them, can we give them parking tickets? What can we do here?” said Coun. Jaimie McEvoy.
The New Westminster Interceptor is a large pipe that carries sewage from Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, most of Burnaby and parts of New Westminster to the Annacis Island wastewater treatment plant in Delta.
In March, Metro Vancouver officials updated council, saying Phase 1 of the project that had been delayed by weather, supply chain issues, COVID-19 impacts and underground obstructions. They pledged to have the stack of pipes removed from the area around Columbia and Eighth streets by the May long weekend.
As promised, the pipes were removed from that location by Victoria Day. But as the year drew to a close, work still continued on the project on various parts of Columbia Street.
Although livability and sewer construction issues created challenges for folks living and working in the downtown in 2022, it was also a time for celebration.
In June, the City of New Westminster celebrated the 10th anniversary of Westminster Pier Park. The summer of 2022 marked the return of the ever-popular Fridays on Fronts events.
In the summer, crowds descended on Columbia Street for the post-COVID return of the New West Pride Street Festival and the first-ever Car Free Day. As 2022 came to an end, the downtown sparkled with Shine Bright New West light displays, festive shopping nights and other community events.
Follow Theresa McManus on Twitter @TheresaMcManus
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