Beatty focuses her campaign on safe parks, social issues, housing and taxes in Cobourg

Photo courtesy of Nicole Beatty Facebook.

By: Dan Jones, Northumberland 89.7 FM News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter.

Nicole Beatty has a four-pronged approach if elected mayor of Cobourg. The current deputy mayor is committing to getting the parks back, addressing homelessness, managing municipal taxes, and focusing on the local economy. With regards to parks, Beatty said she was encouraged by new police chief Chris Leather’s recently announced crime enforcement strategy, by combatting nuisance and disruptive activity. Leather explained this enforcement will be behaviour driven, not based on your status in society. Beatty wants to see active parks, by promoting and investing in festivals, exhibitions and activities, which she is hopeful will reclaim public safety in the parks. “I believe that active parks are safe parks,” she stated.

Beatty wants to move Cobourg away from stop gap measures in addressing homelessness, indicating that local leaders are continuously reviewing revolving door initiatives each winter, working toward integrating infrastructure that enhances housing and health care. “So that people that are in care, receive a roof over their head, but the life skills, the medical, the recovery, and the employment skills that they need to rehabilitate and get back on track,” Beauty said. However, Beatty does not think that Cobourg should be the central hub in Northumberland County to be responsible for addressing homelessness.

As mayor, Beatty will seek to update the Official Community Plan to modernize it for future residential builds. She is hoping to have an updated plan approved by the end of 2027. “How does Cobourg grow from here? What does the next 25 years of growth look like in Cobourg,” asked Beatty. For her, she envisions responsible and thoughtful growth, which allows Cobourg to keep its charm. While the Cobourg East development is in the second phase, a proposed commercial/residential project on Second Street, although referred to the new year, appears to be dead, given the wide public outcry as to how that structure would appear in the historic downtown.

Tax increases on residents are not lost on Beatty, recognizing ratepayers have seen an approximate 23 percent increase over the past four years. Over the course of the previous term, council has worked to create asset management and long-term financial plans, which Beatty believes will allow for modest tax increases and pivot from single year large expenditures. She is proposing that council jointly prepare the budget, with community consultation, yet measure provided services to outcomes.