On Sept. 12, Mayor Harvie’s Achieving for Delta team announced their Public Safety Plan, focused on investing in Delta’s emergency responders, safer roads, and mental health and addictions services.
“In the face of growing traffic, gang and drug concerns across the Lower Mainland, only Mayor George Harvie’s Achieving for Delta team has the proven experience to navigate these complex challenges and ensure Delta stays one of the safest places to live, work and raise a family,” said Delta Police Foundation director and council candidate Rod Binder. The Achieving for Delta team’s Public Safety Plan includes:
• Protecting the independence of the Delta Police Department. The Achieving for Delta team does not support calls for a regional police force, which would take needed resources out of Delta, jeopardizing our “No Call Too Small” model.
• Investing in safe roads, cycling and pedestrian connections. Safe communities start with safe roads. Community streets should be places for people first. We have to ensure pedestrians and cyclists feel safe on our streets. This means more investments in sidewalks, crosswalks, street lighting upgrades, and protected bike lanes.
• Keeping the Delta Police School Liaison Program in place. While other school districts like Vancouver have removed their police department from local schools, the Achieving for Delta School Trustee candidates are committed to maintaining this vital program, which helps to identify vulnerable students and deploy early anti-gang interventions.
• Advocating for mental health and addictions resources. Delta is not immune to the significant mental health and addictions crisis our region is facing. The Achieving for Delta team will continue to fund counselling services in Delta for vulnerable residents through the Little House Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Society (LHS) and other services designed specifically to support children and youth at risk.
“Thanks to long-term investments in public safety, Delta continues to be recognized as one of the safest communities in Canada,” said Harvie. “Delta has one of the lowest crime index scores in the Lower Mainland, but there is more to do. While other cities are cutting their emergency services budgets, as Mayor, I will always support our first responders.”
