Wednesday Ocober 7, 2015 (Vol. 40 No. 80)
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Youth helping youth: A non-profit organization founded by an Elgin Park Secondary student is spurring Peninsula teens to help their less-fortunate peers. i see page 11
S U R R E Y
w w w. p e a c e a r c h n e w s . c o m
Baldwin attributes criticisms to ‘misinformation and misleading statements’
Absolutely no reason to resign: mayor Melissa Smalley Staff Reporter
White Rock Mayor Wayne Baldwin addressed those calling for his resignation at city council Monday, saying he has “absolutely no reason to resign.” A petition with 77 signatures calling on the mayor to step down was formally submitted to the city prior to Monday’s meeting. The petition centres on a letter Baldwin wrote to Peace Arch News in August stating that
population projections laid out in Metro Vancouver’s Regional Growth Strategy were legally binding. “We believe that Wayne Baldwin attempted to have the public believe this incorrect statement to attempt to numb the public to the many non-OCP-compliant development proposals that he and the coalition have endorsed,” the petition states, adding that Baldwin “does not have the best interests at heart for the overall good of the community.”
Reading from a prepared statement, Baldwin said he rejects the premise of the petition, and that it “has no basis in fact.” “The petition to ask for my resignation is based on misinformation and misleading statements, as well as the fundamental failure to understand the law around regional growth,” he said, adding that emails circulated by the petition’s creators were “defamatory.” Discontent among many White Rock residents has been growing since Baldwin’s letter
was published Aug. 28. Prior to a council meeting Sept. 15, more than 90 residents rallied on the lawn of city hall, holding signs calling for the mayor’s resignation. According to emails and social-media posts, a second rally calling for Baldwin’s resignation is being planned for tonight (Wednesday) prior to the mayor’s state-of-the-city address at White Rock Community Centre. i see page 10
The king and them Elvis made a comeback last week, much to the delight of about 200 Peninsula seniors, when he – a.k.a. Steve Elliott – headlined an event at the White Rock Community Centre Thursday. Hosted by the local chapter of CARP to mark National Seniors Day, organizers also shared messages on the privilege of aging and the importance of voting in the Oct. 19 federal election. Tracy Holmes photo
Police suspect one individual responsible
Four liquor stores targeted 23 times Surrey RCMP are asking for help identifying a prolific shoplifter, following a string of thefts from South Surrey and Fleetwood liquor stores. According to police, four stores have been targeted 23 times since June 26, and it’s believed the same man is responsible for all of the crimes. Cpl. Scotty Schumann said the appeal – issued Monday – was made after loss-prevention officers noticed similarities in a series of incidents and forwarded the information to investigators.
Targeted stores and incident dates were not released. As of Tuesday morning, the perpetrator remained at large. Schumann said most of the thefts were valued between $100 and $200. “Common technique in these liquor-store robberies is they grab a bottle then hightail it out,” he said. Images of the suspect captured by CCTV show a Caucasian man in his late 20s or early
HOPE ELECT
30s, who’s about six feet tall and weighs about 170 pounds. He has been seen wearing a grey Puma ball cap and dark blue, zip-up hoodie in a number of the incidents. Anyone with information that could help police is asked to contact the Surrey detachment at 604-599-0502 or Crime Stoppers, if they wish to remain anonymous, at 1-800-2228477 or www.solvecrime.ca. Quote file #2015140916. – Tracy Holmes
FEAR
Surveillance images
Photos released by RCMP.
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