Fredericton Mayor Mike O’Brien wants to chat with residents about ideas on how to make Fredericton a better place — and he’s inviting Frederictonians to do so over a cup of coffee.
O’Brien hosted his first #MeetMayorMike coffee gathering downtown Fredericton, at the Abbey Cafe and Gallery on Wednesday.
He says he wants to deliver on his campaign promise to be accessible and listen to input on which direction residents hope to see Fredericton go.
“In the last few years I’ve heard a lot of people say they just didn’t feel they could engage with city hall enough, even though there were a lot of opportunities,” O’Brien said.
O’Brien says he wants to break down barriers and tells Global News that he hopes to hold similar events once a month, in different areas of the city.
READ MORE: A new Fredericton mayor means the end of an era
O’Brien says there are two main issues that were brought up over coffee Wednesday — economic development and panhandling downtown.
“Downtown panhandling is an issue for the businesses down here. You know there’s a human rights issue about panhandling and you know we have to be very understanding, but is it a case of people that are actually homeless? Or is it people that are actually kind of working the street? There’s a bit of a difference. So, some people want me to put more attention into that and find some compassionate solutions,” O’Brien said.
In terms of economic development, O’Brien says he plans on putting in ‘hard work’ and ‘sweat equity,’ as well as consulting with experts in the community on how to attract new businesses to the capital city, along with people.
Greater Fredericton Social Innovation Executive Director Sandi MacKinnon said she came out to support the mayor and share an update on projects she’s currently working on. She is happy with the mayor’s actions so far and says it’s important for everyone to know the mayor and be able to recognize him when he is out in the community.
Newly-licensed realtor Celeste Hay has grown up in Fredericton and says that despite her family moving to Toronto, she’s stayed here. Hay said she is thrilled to be able to share her ideas with the mayor on how to keep people in New Brunswick.
“Just to be able to talk to him and really kind of one-on-one bring that stuff to his attention in terms of, for me it’s really about being able to keep people in Fredericton and continue to make this a place that people want to be, and enjoy being,” Hay said.
Hay says she’s happy other people have the chance to interact with the mayor as well, and she says it’s wonderful to feel like she can voice her opinion and ideas and actually be heard and have her ideas considered for implementation.
“I was really excited about the opportunity to be able to interact with the mayor and for other people of Fredericton to be able to do it as well,” Hay said.
Comments