Most Holiday celebrations are now in the rear-view mirror, and residents can shift their attention to the expectations they have for their respective elected officials in 2022.
The list of priorities sitting on the desk of Moncton Mayor Dawn Arnold is large and attempts to make an impact on several issues frequently discussed at Moncton City Council meetings.
Growth and development continue to be significant in the Hub City as building permits hit new heights in 2021, an upward trajectory that Arnold believes will continue.
“I’m thrilled that we have some transformational building projects coming,” Arnold said in a phone interview.
“One of them, which is the Ashford development on Main Street just behind Assomption. That has been a long-held vision of mine, of our community to really densify that area, so we don’t have that great big surface parking lot, possibly move the market over there, possibly have some residential and really densify our city.”
Consistent growth has been accompanied by increasing levels of homelessness and security concerns that leave residents and business owners distraught.
Arnold said it is crucial to follow through on the 27 actions identified to begin addressing homelessness and downtown security in Moncton.
Another significant file on the plate of the second term mayor is sustainability.
Arnold made the environment a key priority during the 2021 Municipal Election, making vows to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 and eliminate glyphosate from the Petitcodiac Watershed.
“We will be presenting our community energy and emissions plan and charting the path to get to net-zero,” Arnold said, adding the plan will be released in the early stages of the year.
