One of the candidates running for Mayor of the City of Lethbridge says he threw his hat into the ring because he did not see anyone who really represented his voice or the voice of others like him on the Roster.
Quentin Carlson says if elected, the main issue he would like to address is the public’s trust in city services.
“I’d like to prove that by implementing the hybrid town halls. So those are more often, sorry, held in the normal town halls, held in community locations while also being broadcast online so that people can still have their voice, able to get to where it’s being held,” Carlson says. “Affordability is another key issue. I’d like to address that through the Housing First program. Ensuring people get the houses they need, get housing that they require to improve their situation, as well as improving and creating a resilient local economy through investments in local businesses and their ability to do business within Lethbridge, as well as forming the co-op development office where people can get the mentorship and tools they need to start their own co-ops.”
When it comes to continuing to expand on the work done over the past four years for lawlessness and crime reduction, specifically in the downtown core, Carlson says he would like to address the root causes that have led to these issues.
“Addressing the causes that are leading to so many people facing homelessness and ensuring that with the co-responder model, when there are these crises in our Downtown Core, the right people are being sent to address the problem.”
Carlson adds that he would address the housing crisis by reducing the cost to developers to produce and provide more housing in Lethbridge. He would also look at the land use bylaws and ensure that the city is an effective environment for home builders to build the homes that are needed, ultimately increasing the supply to address the cost.
