The Editor,
Re: "Surrey residents demand action to make Newton safer after hockey mom's murder," the Now, Jan. 2.
As a long time Newton resident, I am sickened and deeply saddened by the tragic murder at our recreation centre. My thoughts and prayers are with the family at this terrible time.
People have been complaining about the escalating crime around Newton for years. A quick troll through my inbox brings up emails about crime issues in Newton going back years.
We've had community forums, meetings, consultations - we've been cajoled and promised but mostly we've been ignored. It's been a civic election issue for more than 20 years. Every time there's a stabbing or purse snatching in Newton, people are on high alert but nothing fundamental ever changes.
Many people will agree the roots of Surrey's crime are born of the tremendous growth in population without an equal growth in the social infrastructure.
Newton's real problems started in 1986 when the bus exchange went in. Frankly, it's been downhill ever since. In 2008, we were told that as part of the city's crime fighting strategy for Newton that the bus exchange would be moved. It's still there.
In Newton, our recreation centre and the wave pool face inward - not towards a street but towards each other, sharing a joint parking lot. To the east, the back of a concrete mall and a bank sit next to a big stand of trees.
None of this area is visible from the street - we are talking about an area that has very low visibility, which is poorly lit and is a stone's throw from a large public bus exchange.
How could we not see this coming?
I haven't really walked around alone in Newton for years. I go to the bank in daylight, to the grocery store and I walk directly and quickly with purpose and keep my purse tight to my body. It is a terrible thing to not feel safe where you live and work and play.
Thirty years ago in Surrey, we marched down the middle of King George Highway, stopping traffic to "Take back the Night." But you know, you get tired of complaining, going to meetings, getting nowhere and you begin to accept that it's just the way things are in Newton and Surrey.
Oh I know, they're going to step up police patrols, get more lighting. I bet they hold a community meeting too, but will anything really change?
We know that eyes on the street are what make us safe. Criminals don't want to be seen.
Will more police officers be hired? Will there be a more visible on the ground police presence? Will we have CCT cameras installed in high crime areas? Will we look at ways to make people feel safe and get them back out on the street and in the parks again? What will be done to make sure we are safe in Newton and Surrey?
Sheena Macintyre Wilkie, Surrey