By John Raganit (Guest Writer)
SURREY — In an era when civic life can feel distant from everyday residents, a quiet but meaningful meeting at Surrey City Hall offered a reminder that community-building still happens face-to-face.
On May 27, John Raganit, President of the Drive & Dish Basketball Club, made a courtesy visit to Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke at her office—an in-person gesture of appreciation for the Mayor’s ongoing support of the Drive & Dish Basketball community, its youth programming, and its broader mission of mentorship through sport.
Raganit was later joined by Rey Fortaleza of Reyfort Media Group and Councillor Rob Stutt, underscoring that the visit was not only a thank-you, but also a respectful check-in on the city’s direction at a time when residents are asking for clearer results on safety, housing, and trust in public institutions.
While the tone remained cordial and community-focused, Raganit used the opportunity to ask the Mayor direct questions that many Surrey families are asking—especially parents, newcomers, volunteers, and small community organizations trying to navigate a fast-growing city.
During the cordial, community-focused meeting, Mayor Locke emphasized her key priorities and commitments:
Top priorities: public safety; housing and infrastructure that keep pace with growth; stronger accountability and service delivery at City Hall.
Measurable actions:public dashboards tracking timelines/budgets/milestones; visible safety initiatives with reporting on response times and neighbourhood trends; faster delivery of core services and housing/construction approvals to reduce bottlenecks while maintaining standards.
Public safety and well-being: a coordinated approach with the Province, health authorities, and non-profits, including integrated frontline response teams (police, mental health, outreach), stronger coordination tables with clear responsibilities and measurable outcomes, and better collaboration pathways and support for community organizations.
Housing affordability and growth management: increasing purpose-built rental supply through more predictable approvals; encouraging more family-sized units (2–3 bedrooms) in new developments; and ensuring growth is matched with infrastructure and amenities through fair development contributions and coordination with schools and transit partners.
Transparency and trust: committing to clearer public reporting on major projects, budgets, and performance, alongside stronger procurement and oversight practices to build accountability and public confidence.
A civic moment rooted in community
ReyFort Media 
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