NEW PLAYGROUND FOR MOODY PARK
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A LETTER FROM THE MUSHY MIDDLE
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A CALL FOR A RETURN OF NIGHT PARADE
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FRIDAY
DECEMBER 12 2014 www.newwestnewsleader.com
He’s only been on the job for a few days, but Mayor Jonathan Coté is already focused on getting the city on task. See Page A3
Cut Port Mann tolls during Pattullo work: Chamber $100M upgrade begins next year Jeff Nagel Black Press
MARIO BARTEL/NEWSLEADER
Lee Smith says staff and students at his medieval martial arts academy on Carnarvon Street are regularly abused, harassed and threatened by residents of Russell House, an assisted living shelter run by the Lookout Society, right across the street.
Harassment, threats on Carnarvon Street Business, tenants city issues with Russell House Mario Bartel
photo@newwestnewsleader.com
The staff and students at Blood & Iron Martial Arts know how to take care of themselves. But their medieval battle techniques are no match for the gauntlet of harassment, threats and intimidation they encounter daily outside the academy’s location on Carnarvon Street. And owner Lee Smith says he doesn’t have to look far to see the
origin of the problems. He says he knows that’s where the Smith moved his martial arts troublemakers live because he can school, that teaches watch them coming combat using long and going from the and broad swords, supportive housing knives and armour, Lee Smith, Blood & Iron shelter through the up the hill from expansive windows Threats of violence from drug dealers and criminals Front Street two at the front of his years ago. Since the are frequent enough that it business. move, he’s witnessed has become almost a running Smith says on joke amongst the senior open drug dealing Sunday, a resident students. and consumption, from Russell House experienced verbal abuse and even threatened his life and threw a threats of physical violence from punch after he asked the man to residents of Russell House right leave because he was drinking in across the street. front of the school and harassing
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passersby on the sidewalk. “Threats of violence from drug dealers and criminals are frequent enough that it has become almost a running joke amongst the senior students,” wrote Smith in a letter to New Westminster Mayor Jonathan Coté and city council. It’s the second time he’s reached out to the city to find solutions to the ongoing problems. Calls to police have also been an exercise in frustration, says Smith. “They haven’t been able to do much,” he said. Please see NATURE OF RUSSELL HOUSE, A4
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Transportation Minister Todd Stone is being urged to reduce or eliminate tolls on the Port Mann Bridge while maintenance work restricts the use of the Pattullo for months or even years. The New Westminster Chamber of Commerce and the Surrey Board of Trade have made the plea as the Pattullo gears up for a $100-million safety and maintenance upgrade in 2015. The Pattullo is the free alternative to the Port Mann but it will become more difficult to use if there are frequent lane closures during the work. “Even though we’re in the middle of a transit referendum process, the Pattullo must still be maintained for the next 10 years,” said New West Chamber CEO Cori Lynn Germiquet. “It is a major economic corridor connecting Surrey and New Westminster.” Added Anita Huberman of Surrey Board of Trade: “We just want to give people options to move across the bridge without it costing too much.” see NEW PATTULLO, A3