ALL REVVED UP FOR WEB FEST
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GOOD READS UP FOR GRABS
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NOT JUST FOR CHURCH ANYMORE
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FRiDAY
February 27 2015 www.burnabynewsleader.com
Should the rich pay more? Tom Fletcher, B.C. legislature reporter for Black Press, weighs in on the provincial government’s tax cuts for high-income earners. See Page a6
Pipeline survey crews on New West border Mario bartel
photo@newwestnewsleader.com
MarIO barTeL / NeWSLeaDer
Roland Guasparini (right) and Jerry Johnson love the Front Street parkade and its expansive views of the Fraser River. They say the city should consider the structure an asset rather than tear it down. Demolition of the east end of the parkade is expected to commence soon.
Last-ditch pitch to save parkade New Westminster residents rallying to halt demolition of the Front Street space Mario bartel
photo@newwestnewsleader.com
With the wrecking ball poised to start knocking down the west end of the Front Street parkade, some New Westminster residents are hoping city council will reconsider the demolition. Roland Guasparini, who lives downtown, said the parkade should be considered an asset that actually facilitates the city’s connection to the waterfront. Balkan_ Lug ad.pdf 1 14-06-20 He was one of three delegations
at Monday’s council meeting who It was that view from the tried to make a case for granting parkade’s upper deck that attracted the parkade a stay of execution. Guasparini to move to New West. Demolition work is Whenever he expected to begin visited he marvelled soon. at the expansive “We don’t see it roland Guasparini, resident vistas up and down We see it as an elevated as just a parkade,” the Fraser River structure that... provides a said Guasparini. and across it to connection and viewpoint “We see it as an the sawmills and that’s pretty unique. elevated structure container port on that… provides a the Surrey shore. connection and viewpoint that’s Now that he lives here, he said he 12:09 PM pretty unique.” walks along the parkade to enjoy
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those views almost every day. Guasparini said the city’s contention that the parkade is under-utilized and falling apart is overstated. “Most waterfronts suffer from parking issues,” he said. “People are roaming around in their cars looking for spaces.” Jerry Johnson, a licensed structural engineer, agrees the parkade was built to last.
This week’s feature:
Discovering Iceland… with a Land Rover!
drivewaycanada.ca
Please see DeMO PLaNS, a8
A hurried mobilization of antipipeline protesters Wednesday didn’t bear much fruit at a site on the New WestminsterCoquitlam border where a drilling rig and work crews were conducting soil testing for Kinder Morgan’s proposed Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project. Only two protesters had answered an online callout to “bear witness” an hour after the scheduled start of their vigil at the Brunette interchange to eastbound Highway 1. They were outnumbered by a handful of Coquitlam RCMP officers at the scene to ensure everyone “stays safe.” But the arrival of the contractors has caught the attention of local streamkeepers. The work site is only about 50 metres from the Brunette River. Elmer Rudolph, of the Sapperton Fish and Game Club, said the spot is the closest the planned pipeline will come to the fishbearing waterway that his group has worked years to restore to a natural state. Please see rIVer, a5