Overall pleased with the election myself. I didn't actually vote for Hepner because I didn't really like what she was saying, it seemed far too general and when it comes to crime I hate when politicians say "HIRE MORE COPS" when they isn't the answer 99.99% of the time. I knew Surrey First would do well (though I didn't expect a clean sweep of EVERYTHING honestly) though and I had a feeling the troll wouldn't win anything. People still remember the crap he put Surrey through.
"Surrey had no tax increases under me and no debt!"
"Yes and falling to pieces infrastructure, no recreation facilities, and a failing support system for the city because you wouldn't spend 10 cents on needed upgrades!"
"Uh.... look an Eagle *points*"
That said, I am AOK with Surrey First regardless and think while they haven't been hugely fiscally prudent and I don't want to see LRT down Fraser Highway, overall they've been a spark of hope and forward movement for Surrey after decades of stifling mediocrity and the majority of their decisions have hugely benefited the city. Hepner has some big shoes to fill though.
As for Vancouver and Burnaby, nothing really changed if you think about it. Gregor has a bit lesser of a majority which means he will hopefully ease off on some controversial policies over the next 4 years to make sure he gets re-elected then, but outside of that from a development standpoint he has been good for Vancouver.
Burnaby is Burnaby. As much as I don't like the mayor as an outsider and someone who supports regional cooperation, you can't argue his track record IN-Burnaby and if you want a Mayor that works hard for your own city which every city ultimately wants, Corrigan is indisputable in that capacity as a Mayor.
New Westminster has me the most excited. That city has been a bane for regional development on all sides for the past 6 years give or take. Against a lot of transit stuff, against new and smart road infrastructure, against anything that helps the region. This new Mayor seems to be the complete opposite and being elected tells me that the majority of those who voted in New West are seeing the light.
That light being that they are a city whose infrastructure is stuck in the 1900s sitting squarely between the second largest and third largest cities in the region with arguably the 3 largest industrial areas around them (Burnaby, Delta, Surrey). I know it sucks but they are in the middle and shit has to move through their city so its time to work with the region to allow that traffic to move through the city smartly which includes getting it off their main downtown roads by providing through flow like the NFPR and additional bridge capacity across the river.
And support for the translink referendum and regional plan is huge too. He says straight that he supports expanded transit in Vancouver and Surrey because that referendum also supports increased capacity in all the other cities like New West, North Van, Coquitlam, etc.
New West =
to me at this stage. Let's hope it turns out to be a reality.
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