Former Maple Ridge mayor Gordy Robson is running for council.
And improving the plight of the homeless and the city’s street scene is top of his to-do list, if elected Nov. 15.
“If I get elected, I hope to work with whoever’s going to be mayor and let’s get back the streets. Let’s get these people into treatment. We’ve done it before, we can do it again.”
Robson, mayor from 2005 to 2008, wants to reinstitute the crystal meth task force that fell apart in 2005. It utilized several agencies such as police and outreach workers and dealt with street people individually.
He says the Salvation Army has been bringing people out from other communities “and they have stayed.”
The Salvation Army, however, maintains most residents at the Caring Place are local and those from outside the community stay here only a few days.
He also wants to limit property tax increases.
He’s not supporting any particular candidate for mayor and says if elected he can get along with the rest of council. “I think I’m probably a little mellower than I was a decade ago.”