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

By Dan Jones, LJI
Northumberland 89.7 FM

Nicole Beatty will use a four-pronged approach if elected mayor of Cobourg.

The current deputy mayor is committing to restoring parks, addressing homelessness, managing municipal taxes, and focusing on the local economy.

On parks, Beatty said she was encouraged by new police chief Chris Leather’s recently announced crime enforcement strategy, which targets nuisance and disruptive activity. Leather explained this enforcement will be behavior-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 hopes will restore public safety in the parks.

“I believe that active parks are safe parks,” she said.

Beatty wants to move Cobourg away from stopgap measures to address homelessness, saying local leaders are continuously reviewing revolving-door initiatives each winter and working to integrate infrastructure that improves 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,” Beatty said.

However, Beatty does not think Cobourg should be the central hub in Northumberland County 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?” she said.

Beatty envisions responsible, thoughtful growth that 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 dead, given the widespread public outcry over how that structure would look 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 previous term, council worked to create asset management and long-term financial plans, which Beatty believes will allow modest tax increases and a shift away from large single-year expenditures. She is proposing that council jointly prepare the budget with community consultation and measure provided services against outcomes.

Listen to the full interview: