91原创 City Councillor Val van den Broek鈥檚 reasons for running for mayor go back to the days when she worked at the local Community Police Office.

Van den Broek was a civilian RCMP employee for 20 years, and issues of crime prevention and public safety remain top of mind.

Crime, homelessness, and transportation are the driving issues van den Broek is hearing about as she campaigns for the votes of City residents, she said.

The City has already made a start on improving sidewalks and lighting, cleaning up parks, and doing other 鈥渂roken window鈥� efforts, she said.

If she becomes mayor, van den Broek would like to see the community participate more in Safer Cities, seeking out federal grants that could help update parts of the community.

CPTED 鈥� crime prevention through environmental design 鈥� is one of van den Broek鈥檚 goals. It extends to her vision for when a rapid transit line from Surrey eventually reaches the City.

鈥淚 support SkyTrain,鈥� van den Broek said. 鈥淚t brings more people, quicker, and if there鈥檚 an accident it doesn鈥檛 obstruct the flow of traffic.鈥�

The City needs to partner with TransLink and Surrey before the rapid transit line arrives, van den Broek said.

鈥淭o me it鈥檚 about planning and planning correctly,鈥� she said.

On homelessness, van den Broek said she 鈥渁bsolutely鈥� supports the plan to create a supportive housing project in the former Quality Inn in 91原创 Township.

If more opportunities come up to create supportive housing in the City, she would also likely support those.

Getting homeless people into housing is often the first step, she said.

鈥淵ou need a solid foundation,鈥� van den Broek said. 鈥淗ow do you get a shower? How do you get a job?鈥�

Getting people off the streets makes it much easier to get them counselling for addiction and mental health issues, she said.

There should be a regional board to deal with homelessness, van den Broek said, with participation from municipalities, and the provincial and federal governments.

The region doesn鈥檛 just need more housing, it also needs more case workers and nurses.

Van den Broek supports the City鈥檚 current efforts to expand the Intensive Case Management team (ICM).

She would also like to see an urgent care centre built in or near the City, to act as a bridge for people who need to see a doctor b