At the open delegations at the City Council Meeting of July 7, Monica Bhandari presented a report of a survey done in New Westminster about the issues of tenants in the city. 44% of the population in the city rent their living space.

Monica represents the organization NewWest Acorn, which is the local division of a national union of renters of low and moderate incomes.

Their survey got 118 responses from people living in various locations in the city and the results showed that there is a dire need for housing justice in this city.

She delivered statistics that showed that many tenants were living in unsafe living conditions in need of repair. A whopping 60% said that they were afraid to come forward with their issues to their landlords for fear of being evicted.

She and her group are asking that the City step up: She said, "We need a commitment from our City Council to revamp the landlord licensing and current bylaw enforcement." She also said that they would like to see the creation of a Renter's Office.

Councillor Nadine Nakagawa said that she was glad that the local Acorn group had brought forward the survey at this time... before the budget meetings for next year... and that a renter's office was being contemplated.

Mayor Patrick Johnstone also weighed in, explaining that the City has been working hard to find ways to help renters, particularly since the heat dome killed so many in the city, and that jurisdictional issues have created some problems for them, but they are moving forward.

(At the last month's meeting, the council passed a motion that says that landlords cannot prohibit renters from putting in air conditioning units.)