Library Meet and Greet Recap: Hearing Voter Input and Sharing My Platform

lientran002

Sep 20

4 min read

Yesterday’s meet-and-greet at the Poirier Library was exactly what local politics should feel like: open, respectful, and focused on real life.

Voters came with thoughtful concerns about housing, transportation, safety, taxes, public spaces, and how council can stay connected to the people it serves.

I had created a poster for voters to mark their top concern, allowing me to engage with them, answer questions, and share the values behind my campaign focused on each individual.

As a city of Coquitlam council candidate, I left the library with a stronger sense of what residents want from their local government. People are not looking for slogans. They want clear priorities, steady decision-making, and a council that treats public input as a starting point, not an afterthought.

The evening centred on listening before speaking

The most valuable part of the event was the chance to hear directly from voters. Some people came with specific questions. Others wanted to share lived experience, including what is working well in the community and where local government could do better.

Several themes came up again and again:

Affordability and housing
Residents spoke about the pressure of rising costs and the need for more housing choices that fit different ages, incomes, and family situations.
Transportation and traffic
People raised concerns about congestion, parking, pedestrian safety, transit access, and the need to plan growth around how people actually move through the city.
Public safety and community well-being
Voters want safe streets, well-used public spaces, and services that support both prevention and response.
Responsible spending
Many residents asked how council can keep taxes fair while still maintaining the services people count on.
Parks, recreation, and libraries
The setting itself was a reminder that community spaces matter. People want parks, trails, recreation facilities, and libraries to remain accessible, welcoming, and well maintained.

I shared a platform built around practical local priorities

After hearing from residents, I spoke about the platform I am bringing into this municipal election. My focus is on practical decisions that improve daily life and protect the long-term health of the city.

A city that grows with care

Growth is already happening. The question is whether it happens in a way that supports complete neighbourhoods, protects livability, and matches homes with infrastructure.

That means planning for housing near transit and services, paying attention to traffic impacts, and making sure new development contributes to the public good. Growth should not feel like something being done to residents. It should be guided by clear planning, honest trade-offs, and strong public engagement.

Better transportation choices

A growing city needs more than wider roads. Residents need safer sidewalks, practical transit connections, well-designed cycling routes, and streets that work for seniors, students, families, commuters, and people with disabilities.

Transportation planning should focus on the full trip, not one mode at a time. If someone walks to transit, takes a bus, and then connects to work or school, each part of that trip matters.

Safe and welcoming neighbourhoods

Public safety includes emergency response, but it also includes good lighting, active parks, well-maintained streets, and support for community services. Residents want to feel safe at home, at transit stops, near schools, and in business areas.

A strong council should work with local partners, listen to neighbourhood concerns, and support practical solutions that help prevent problems before they grow.

Voters asked for clearer communication from council

One message came through strongly: people want to understand how decisions are made.

Residents asked for clearer explanations of council priorities, earlier public input, and communication that is easier to follow. Local government can feel distant when reports are long, timelines are unclear, or residents only hear about decisions after they are nearly final.

I believe council can do better by:

Explaining decisions in plain language
Inviting input earlier in the process
Reporting back on what was heard
Being clear about costs, limits, and trade-offs
Making meetings and public materials easier to access

Trust grows when people can see how their input connects to decisions. That does not mean every person will agree with every outcome. It means residents should know they were heard and that council took the process seriously.

What I am taking forward from the conversation

I left the event with gratitude and a long list of notes. Some comments confirmed priorities already in my platform. Others added more detail and helped me see issues from different angles.

A few reminders will stay with me:

Local decisions affect people in very personal ways.
Residents want council to be careful with both growth and spending.
Public safety, affordability, and transportation are closely connected.
Good communication is not extra. It is part of good governance.
Community spaces like libraries help keep civic life open and accessible.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to attend, ask questions, and share honest feedback. Your input will continue to shape how I speak about the issues and how I approach the work ahead.

The next step is simple: I will keep listening, keep showing up, and keep focusing on practical choices that help build a city where people can live well, move safely, and feel heard.