anti-loan campaign launches
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hitting the info highway
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Does everyboDy have to share?
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weDnesDay
July 18 2012 www.newwestnewsleader.com
some aspects of tougher drunk driving rules enacted in 2010 have been declared invalid, but those who were fined in the meantime still must pay, a judge says. see Page a16
‘Grey power is alive, well and working’ TransLink cancels cancellation of TaxiSaver program Grant Granger
ggranger@newwestnewsleader.com
chris bryan/nEWslEaDEr
summerfest returned to grimston park on saturday, thanks to the full cooperation of mother nature, with a generous dose of sunshine. fun and a late showing of the princess bride. see Photos on a3.
the day featured games, food, pool-side
Getting the line on real-time crime NWPD joins forces with CrimeReports.com to provide online updates Grant Granger
ggranger@newwestnewsleader.com
New Westminster residents can now find out what kind of crime is happening in their neighbourhoods with a few clicks of the mouse. The city’s police department has hooked up with CrimeReports. com, which is operated by Utahbased Public Engines, to provide up-to-date statistics and incident information to the public.
“From a community policing perspective the more information we can put in the public’s hands the better,” said NWPD Staff Sgt. Paul Hyland. “At the end of the day the public has the right to be informed, so the more information we can arm them with, the more vigilant they can be and check their community. The more engaged we can get them to be at all levels the more successful we’re going to be.” Hyland said if there’s a rash of crime in an area, residents can be more vigilant and proactive. The public can access the data
EDDIE YAN & Team 604-722-7309 Your Burnaby Specialists
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by clicking on the crime maps icon on the NWPD homepage, www. nwpolice.org, or by going to www. crimereports.com. There’s also an iPhone app that can be downloaded for free from the Apple iTunes store. Residents can even sign up for free customized daily, weekly or monthly email updates. “Providing reliable, timely information to our citizens is one of our top priorities, because an informed public is a safer public,” said New Westminster Chief Const. David Jones in a press release. “Partnering with Public
fresh fish daily
Engines gives us the ability to keep the public informed on a regular basis as to what is going on in the community.” The Abbotsford and Victoria police departments are already utilizing the service. “We really like the tool. I would suggest that for us it is more of a sharing tool than an investigative one,” said Abbotsford Const. Ian MacDonald. “We think it is a very good public engagement-community partnership tool.” twitter.com/lonegrangerbnw
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TransLink’s decision Wednesday to abandon its plans to eliminate its TaxiSaver voucher program shows “grey power is alive, well and working,” says a Thornebridge Gardens resident who organized a campaign opposed to eliminating the coupons. Two months ago, TransLink announced it was going to phase out the program, which let people eligible for HandyDart purchase vouchers to take taxis at half price. Many seniors must take taxis when HandyDart isn’t available, said Thornebridge resident Betty Newton. “There’s a lot of relief here to hear they’ve cancelled the cancellation [of the TaxiSaver],” said Newton. “It’s extremely important because there are a number of people here who do not use HandyDart at all and use the TaxiSavers solely. please see GrEy, a3