From City of Moncton Facebook page.
More than 700 citizens and counting have signed a petition calling for Moncton’s mayor and city council to take immediate action on crime and public safety issues.
Kim Gallant, who lives in the West End, organized the petition and says residents are experiencing anxiety over ongoing property thefts, break-ins, home invasions, vandalism, growing tent communities and the presence of intoxicated individuals who are making threats and causing damage.
Gallant believes criminal activity has reached a crisis level in the city.
“Does an elderly lady on her morning neighbourhood walk have to be confronted by an agitated individual who in turn urinated in front of her on the sidewalk? It happened in my neighbourhood.”
Gallant says Nick Mattatall, the principal of Bessborough School, recently sent an email to parents to inform them about what was going on around the school.
“(He was) warning the little kids about needles on the school grounds and about people sleeping on the school grounds. The custodians must go first thing in the morning and scope the area before it’s safe for the kids to go to school.”
Gallant notes how insurance companies are telling residents that Moncton is a high-risk crime city which is why premiums and deductibles continue climbing.
City councillors supported the petition and Ward 1 councillor Shawn Crossman said he signed it.
Gallant has proposed the idea of holding neighbourhood town halls so that residents could voice their concerns, form action plans and seek possible solutions.
Councillor Daniel Bourgeois says he would like to help organize the town halls while other councillors expressed a keen interest in being part of them.
For more information on the petition, click HERE.
