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ELECTION: Langley City council candidate Jeff Jacobs

A Voter’s Guide to key election questions.
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Jeff Jacobs

Jeff Jacobs

Running for a seat on council in the City of Langley

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Municipal worker, 39

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• Have you held office in past? If so, please specify: No

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Candidate provided bio: My name is Jeff Jacobs and I’m running for Langley City council. For over 30 years I’ve been proud to call Langley my home while watching our City grow into a blossoming community.

I’ve been a frontline municipal worker for the past 15 years and bring good knowledge and experience, which should serve as assets to our City council. I strongly believe in transparency and accountability, combined with progressive and meaningful decision-making.

I believe our City has real potential to be a hub for interactive, innovative and inclusive activities for everyone.

Now is a critical time for our City to continue forward, adding a fresh outlook while lending an ear to members of our community. I’ll work diligently to ensure provincial and federal funds are allotted accordingly to address issues facing our City, such as contributing more to community events, reducing homelessness and improving local transit.

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Facebook: Jeff Jacobs for Langley City Council

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Other internet/social media platforms where voters can learn about you: instagram.com/jjacobsforlangleycitycouncil

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Phone: 604-530-0807

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• Who is your favourite superhero, and why? My favourite superhero has to be Batman. I’ve just always looked at his character as someone that is constantly learning and trying to do better. Though he’s struggled through adversity, he stays focussed for the greater good of mankind.

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There are 16 candidates running for six councillor seats with the City of Langley. The following arequestions asked of each candidate hopeful. They were directed to provide a minimum of a Yes, No, or Don’t Know answer, and given an option to expand on one answer in print (to a maximum of 100 words per question). They could expand on all questions online, if they wished to do so. The following are their replies.

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Questions and Answers:

1. What neighbourhood of Langley do you live in?

Answer: Nicomekl

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2. How many years have you lived in Langley?

Answer: 39 years

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3. How many Langley City council meetings have you attended in the past year?

Answer: None

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4: Should the City be directly funding social housing to reduce homelessness?

Answer: Yes. The City is already indirectly funding many factors in regards to social housing and homelessness. With home prices continuing to rise, more and more people are finding themselves edging closer to what can eventually lead to becoming homeless. I think the City combined with other levels of government needs to take a more proactive approach to dealing with issues that can help prevent homelessness before it begins. If funds were spent more on preventing homelessness instead of dealing with the aftermath, potentially

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5. Do you support elevated rail over light rapid transit from Surrey to Langley?

Answer: Yes. Skytrain is a better option between Surrey and Langley as the main point of having a rapid transit system is to be exactly that, rapid.

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6. Should the City’s industrial area be phased out in favour of residential and commercial development?

Answer: No. The industrial areas within the City of Langley play a vital role in the overall economy of the City. Phasing them out would not be beneficial to the residence or the businesses located in the City of Langley.

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7. Would you vote to raise taxes to hire more police?

Answer: No. The City of Langley already has a very high rate of police per capita. With nearly half of the cities budget currently going towards policing I believe that hiring more police is not the best option. Instead, we should be taking those funds and invest them in support groups similar to the intensive case management team that are currently in place to help address some of the homeless and addiction problems in the area.

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8. Do you agree with the growth estimates for Langley City in its new Nexus of Community strategic plan?

Answer: Yes.

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9. Should Langley have its own municipal police force, replacing the RCMP?

Answer: Yes. As the City Of Langley continues to grow it’s ability to police a more dense urban centre will need to increase. A municipal police force is better suited for larger urban centres.

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10. Should the City fund an arts centre?

Answer: Yes. As the City grows so to does the need to expand it’s culture. Adding an arts centre would create a great venue to expand on the interactive, inclusive and exciting forms of entertainment needed in the City.

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11. Does Langley City need an indoor swimming pool?

Answer: No. With many recreation centres that include indoor pools within 20 minutes of the City Of Langley I don’t think we need to add an indoor swimming pool at this time.

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12. Should Langley City lobby for its own urgent care centre?

Answer: Yes. Having our own urgent care centre in the city of Langley would drastically help out the current system which forces people to go to the emergency room when in many cases people don’t need that level of medical attention. With an increasing ageing population and many people without a family doctor, centres like this would be of great use to the residents of the City.

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13. Do you think residential property taxes are too high?

Answer: No. I think we are fortunate that our property taxes are relatively low in comparison to neighbouring communities. Lowering property taxes would have to result in cutting services which is not something I think would be of benefit to City residents.

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14. Should the City amalgamate with the Township?

Answer: No. It’s not in the City of Langley’s best interest to amalgamate with the Township. Being that the City is debt-free, amalgamating with the Township would mean that the City would be taking on a portion of the Townships debt, which I don’t think it’s fair to residents in the City.

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15. Should the municipality offer tax breaks, incentives, or rebates to companies looking to set up shop here?

Answer: Yes. As the city grows its needs grow as well. By offering incentives to companies looking to call Langley City their home, we are able to increase the diversity and number of options for our residents.

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16. Is Langley City being pushed to grow too fast?

Answer: No.

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17. Should Langley City take more direct action to combat the opioid crisis locally?

Answer: Yes. Langley City, the provincial government and the federal government need to collectively take a proactive approach in combating the opioid crisis. As each year passes not enough is done to address these issues. Without all levels of government working together these problems are not going to solve themselves.

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18. Should the City encourage the creation of more rental and low-income housing?

Answer: Yes. With ever increasing house prices, more and more people are being pushed out of owning a home. Langley City has an obligation to residents that choose to rent to increase the record low amount of rental units available within the region. Diversification of newer homes being built as well as the ability to add rental units such as legal basement suites and coach homes to single-family detached homes are examples of ideas that need to be addressed if we are to make rent and home ownership affordable.

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19. Should the City taxes be cut by cutting services?

Answer: No. Residents, businesses and the community in general rely on services provided by the municipality. Cutting services would be shortsighted.

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20. Should there be a limit to the number of consecutive terms a member of council can serve?

Answer: No. As long as the candidates are voted in by the electing public I see no need to dictate how many times a councillor can consecutively run for a position.