Martin would build new bridge between city, PIB
A teacher for seven years and counting, Jesse Martin has a lesson for city council.
A new face in the running, Martin is looking for ways to help freshen life in Penticton, the city he was born and raised in.
After graduating university, Martin “couldn’t think of a better place to live,” and moved back. He started his own dodgeball league, runs a fishing club, and even applied recently to the Shatford Centre as a director. Now, at 35 years old, he believes it’s time to bring Penticton into the new age.
“We need to step into the digital age a bit more,” he said on Monday. “Our city website is lacking — we should have a website that has information that people . . . actually want.”
He spoke of an idea for an app that would allow users to waypoint concerns, like potholes, in the community that would see faster action from the city.
His campaign platform also address community safety.
“I think there’s too much grey area and not enough action,” Martin commented. “We need a stronger council to give (the police) direction.” By giving police “smart goals that are measurable,” he believes it could have a bigger impact.
His biggest concern, however, is the relationship between the city and Penticton Indian Band. Having been a teacher at the Outma Sqilx’w Cultural School for seven years, Martin has seen first-hand the concerns.
“Right now, I don’t feel like there’s a good connection between Penticton and the PIB. The general feeling is that there’s a disjoint — it’s not a bridge, it’s a wall a lot of the time.”
By bettering the relationship between the city and the PIB, both communities would thrive, Martin said.
“You really need to have the building blocks in place before you can shoot for the stars.”