'We're really wanting to get our message out': Surrey mayor defends communications staff increase

The Surrey Crime Prevention Society recently learned that $300,000 in funding had been suspended by the City of Surrey. We didn’t have any clue that this was happening, so they’re telling us four months into the fiscal year that we’re no longer getting funding. Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke’s explanation of the grant suspension is that it’s under review. We are taking a look at those grants to make sure that that money is going into the right place. Meanwhile, the city is spending more on communications. Its senior manager of communications makes close to $160,000, its media relations lead earns about $75,000. There’s a new hire for multicultural communications and three other positions are advertised. We said we would be transparent. We said we would be accountable and that takes people and communications to help with that. And of of all the people to ask that question, I would think the media would be happy about that. More importantly, our Surrey residents happy taxes are going up 7% and funding is suspended to the Surrey Crime Prevention Society. But there will be more communication staff to provide an explanation. Catherine Urquhart, Global News.