Episode 19: NWP President Karima Budhwani candidly speaks about the state of politics in New Westminster

NWP President and former council candidate Karima Budhwani is this week’s special guest on For the Record. She chats with me about what it took to win the recent New West school board by-election and speculates regarding whether another by-election might transpire soon – but this time at city council.

Karima helps to demystify the role of her elector organization as it pertains to the four elected members of the NWP caucus. She also discusses her passion to protect the environment as well as what might be in store for voters in the 2026 municipal election.

Meanwhile two new segments have been introduced in this episode. The first is “The Way I See It” where I provide my take on an issue that caught my attention this week. In the inaugural segment, I comment on the new BC Electricity Affordability Credit and explore who is really the biggest beneficiary of the program – it will likely surprise you.

Secondly, a new “In the Record” segment will highlight a few interesting articles and letters to the editor that were published in New Westminster’s Record newspaper online over the past week.

Our course, I end the podcast with my regular “Bell or Buzzer” segment where Karima was challenged with what I described as four of the most difficult questions posed to date!

If you like this podcast, be sure to tell your family and friends in New West and beyond!

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Episode 18: New West entrepreneur Rich Patterson speaks about the state of small business in the Royal City

Special guest Rich Patterson appears on For the Record to speak about the state of our small businesses in New Westminster. Patterson speaks about how the local Chamber of Commerce was negatively impacted by the pandemic but is now seeing a resurgence of new members. Some of the other topics we explore include how the City’s business license application process could be reformed to raise greater awareness of the Chamber and its activities.

I also provide an opening commentary on a recent vote at New West City Hall which turned down making reforms to the Local Election and Campaign Finance Act. I argue there remain many loopholes that remain in the Act which lawfully permit corporations, unions and non-profits to influence the outcome of the municipal elections without any of their activities being recorded and reported to Elections BC.

In this podcast we also explore the growing ‘capacity crisis’ facing our local school district. Global TV news did a great segment on this topic and it helped to raise awareness of the problem facing our students, parents and teachers.

Of course, what would an episode of For the Record be without playing the ever-popular “Bell or Buzzer” which features four amazing trivia questions about New West. Tune in to see if Rich was able to get all of the answers right!

For the Record is available for download on all major platforms. If you like this episode, be sure to tell your friends and family and get them to follow.

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Episode 17: Exclusive interview with Anita Dunn who announced the closure of her New West business

Small business owner Anita Dunn made headlines recently when she announced she was closing her high-profile Mila and Paige clothing store this spring. In her announcement, Dunn took direct aim at a raft of city-related decisions and initiatives that she believes led to the demise of her retail shop.

Whether it was skyrocketing parking rates or the impact a lengthy sewer replacement project took on her business, Dunn says it all played a role in helping to keep customers away. She’s also concerned with the recent trend to concentrate so many social service providers in the downtown core. She highlights why opening a ‘temporary’ homeless shelter nearby with only limited hours has actually served to increase street disorder along Columbia Street.

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 “The city is sending a message to everyone visiting to get in and get out. So how is this ever going to be a tourist destination? It’s not,” she said in video she posted on her Instagram account. “So I’m angry. I’m really angry at the city.”

In this exclusive interview, Dunn not only explores the problems plaguing small business owners in New West, but she begins to talk about what some of the solutions might be. We ask her to compare Columbia Street to Vancouver’s popular and thriving Commercial Drive in terms of its vibrancy. We explore with Dunn whether there is anything we can learn from their success and apply in New West.

Dunn also responds to some of the vicious online attacks that have been hurled at her since she spoke out and talks about how other small businesses in the area are equally fed up – but frightened to speak out. Joining Dunn on the podcast is fellow Columbia Street small business owner and New West City Councillor Paul Minhas.

We also get to have a bit of fun with our latest edition of Bell or Buzzer!

It’s an important interview that’s bound to stir up debate, but one you will want to listen to and share with friends and family. This podcast is available for download on all major platforms.

 

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