Taking back Surrey

With inside at capacity, a crowd of people stood outside Newton Seniors’ Centre to listen in on the speeches broadcast at the Take Back Surrey rally, Sunday, Sept. 28. Photo by: Brandon Kostinuk

The Take Back Surrey rally hosted at Newton Seniors’ Centre last Sunday occurred on the backdrop of yet another murder in Surrey, one that left a sour taste in everyone’s mouth.

With the death of 17-year-old Serena Vermeersch, and some months ago, of Julie Paskall, the Surrey framework, that of an out-of-hand crime ravaged city, has taken on new heights. It can certainly feel like Gotham City sometimes with the rhetoric that flies around. (Come on, an emergency council meeting?)

I grew up in the Whalley area, back when it was still “Whalley.”

Surrey was unsafe then. I remember the house directly across from where we lived was broken into, a home invasion. The homeowners were assaulted, tied up and robbed. That was in the late 90s.

Times change and often it’s because of what politicians do (or don’t do).

Whalley is now the City Centre. Newton residents are now bearing the brunt of Watts’ reformation. This is of course an oversimplification of the issue, but in the grand overview, it’s what’s occurred.

Crime once rampant in the notorious Whalley area has now been partially relocated south, and with grim consequence.

That’s why I liked the fact the rally referred to taking back Surrey. Compartmentalizing city issues doesn’t do anything to solve the general problem.

Newton community members have done well to bring amplified attention to the issues there, but this isn’t just a Newton issue, just as Whalley’s issues should not have been or be perceived in such a narrowly-based condition.

The diseases that plagued Surrey’s most notorious locale shifted to become problems — tragedies even — for other folks and this will continue to happen if attention and policy action is hyper-localized.

Crime is a Surrey issue and must be viewed as such, if not by its people, then by its political leaders, who, for now, have a city-wide mandate so politicians must not view it otherwise. A neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood basis, leaves families bound to unevenly face the burden of yesterday’s misplaced policies.

And what does it say about political leaders who prefer to stray from the citizens they’re supposed to lead?

Acting mayor Linda Hepner and Surrey First members strayed from community members following the Take Back Surrey rally. They stood on their own, talking amongst themselves before leaving. It’s nice to be in power.

Barinder Rasode appeared outside, nearing the end of the rally. She talked and greeted the people outside, (even with phone in hand).

Safe Surrey candidates and Independent Martin Rooney can be seen scattered in back. They all remained to talk with citizens and pose for photos.