Don't Worry Surrey. Everything will be okay. Until it's not.

Was away from Surrey for most of today and a bit off the grid. 

Came back to find out that another drive by shooting had occurred not far from my home and just steps from Panorama Ridge Secondary School  just before  the school's lunch hour. This has got to stop. 

We need to address this insanity before an innocent person gets hurt. Can we do that this time? 
 The first step to fixing a problem is acknowledging that a problem exists. 

Surrey, we have a problem. 

We don't need to  point blame right now. Let's just admit that something is very wrong in this city and get to work on solutions.

  Burying our heads in the sand isn't working. 

Painting everything with sunshine and rainbows isn't helping. 

We all need to come together and talk about this like rational adults. A city isn't a business. A city is made up of people. Can we make decisions that are in the best interest of the people who call this city home? 

Surrey, we have a problem.

 It's like parents knowing their teen has a drug problem  but refuse to deal with it because, 

" what will the neighbours think?"

Let's stop this insanity and just do it. 

 And this time please, please,  can we address this issue head on before  another family is devastated by  a tragedy that might have been prevented, if only someone had had the courage to say enough already.


One resident's recent tweet:
@ShaylanBryant 
 Don't feel safe driving around my community anymore. 
Every resident of #SurreyBC is a victim of these shootings, our safety is being robbed.

Surrey, We Have a Problem.

Police Week in Surrey!

Meet Your Local RCMP !

Wednesday, May 14

11-8PM

District Office Open Houses

May 14, 2014 – 11:00am-8:00pm
District 1 City Centre - 10720 King George Boulevard
District 2 Guildford/Fleetwood - 10395 148 Street
District 3 Newton - 7235 137 Street
District 4 Cloverdale/Port Kells - 5732 - 176A Street
District 5 South Surrey - 100 - 1815 152 Street

As we celebrate Police Week, join us for cake and coffee and meet your District RCMP officers and staff. RCMP displays, entertainment, fun for kids, and community safety information will be on hand.

 Keeping us safe in the 'hood

Watt's the Buzz in Surrey this Weekend

 Major announcement at Saturday's Party for the Planet

 Dianne Watts, Surrey's mayor for the past 9 years  told the crowd she will not seek re-election. A surprise to some, but many saw it coming.

Surrey SFU  campus tower at Central City. When this stunning piece of architecture was opened in the mid 2000s there were high hopes that Surrey would finally be able to shake its backwoods image once and for all. Despite some beautiful iconic developments, some say the city's reputation is worse than ever. And that's a crying shame. 

 Will be writing more on this and who in the crowd of usual suspects might be taking a swing at the mayor's chair. It won't be an easy job. Surrey has challenges, and as I write this, Twitter is buzzing with reports of shots fired near Gateway Skytrain Station in Whalley/City Centre. On a Sunday afternoon....sigh.

The Worst Case Scenario ...

As I write this, a mother clings to life in a hospital bed. It is unlikely she will survive.

 Her crime? Doing what good mothers do. Picking up her son from a hockey tournament . 

She was savagely beaten in an area that once  was a family friendly sporting complex. Not any more. 

For years community groups have been pleading with city government to address the increasing violence and crime in this part of Surrey. Many homeowners believe it directly correlates with the move to  re-brand  City Centre  ( Whalley) as a gleaming new Metropolis.  Unfortunately, Newton has become the new Whalley, and  Whalley's Woes have become Newton's Nightmares. 

That is heartbreakingly true for one family tonight. 

 To Mayor Watts and  Surrey city council, this was what we feared would happen. We are beyond sad. This is a tragedy that  many residents feel could have been prevented, but it would have taken acknowledging  that the problem existed. And it appears that that was simply too bitter a pill to swallow. And that is a tragedy all on its own.

Full Story Here- Hockey Mom Beaten in Unprovoked Attack

 We will  keep you updated as this story unfolds.
 Update : Julie Paskall succumbed to her injuries Tuesday December 31, 2013