Saint John is a city full of heart, but it is facing serious challenges that demand urgent attention. As someone who has served on city council for five years, I have seen firsthand how citizens are feeling increasingly unsafe and disheartened by the state of our streets. We have cleaned over five hundred encampments and vacant lots, and while the effort is ongoing, it is clear that cleaning alone is not solving the deeper issues.
We desperately need more affordable housing, mental health support, and post-secondary education opportunities. Saint John has the fewest post-secondary students in the Maritimes, and that lack of opportunity leaves many young people without direction or purpose. Education is a proven path out of poverty, and we must invest in it if we want to see real change.
Safety is another major concern. Citizens should not have to witness drug use in public spaces or feel afraid in their own neighbourhoods. We need more police on the streets and stronger enforcement of the law. For years, we have been told our hands are tied, but recent efforts to reform the police commission show that change is possible. With thirty-five officers out annually from our 125-member force, we are losing around $5 million in taxpayer money while theft and crime continue to rise.
Saint John has long struggled with generational poverty, lower wages, and fewer benefits than other cities. Much of our industrial and post-secondary tax money goes to Fredericton, leaving us underfunded and underserved. We must fight to keep those resources here.
The solution is not just policing—it is purpose, housing, education, and community support. We need to prioritize basic needs and create a city where everyone feels safe and valued.
Let us stand together to make Saint John cleaner, safer, and full of opportunity.
Love ❤️ Saint John.
