26-Year-Old Jonathan Cote on New West Ballot Nicole Burton, News Editor In last week's Other Press News, we brought you infor- mation on candidates running both in the Vancouver mayoral election and in the New Westminster Civic elec- tion. This week we are taking you back to the city you love, cherish, and go to school in, New Westminster. Jonathan Cote has made himself visible on campus a couple of times in the last month, once to give us a little more insight into his decision to run and why he thinks it is so important for young people to vote. Cote is a 26-year-old SFU graduate with a degree in Political Science and History, now resident of New Westminster. While this is his first time on the ballot for New West City Council, he has run in the past for coun- cil in North Vancouver. “My background in university was really something that drew me more into politics,” says Cote. “In addition to the History and the Political Science, some of my studies were in Urban Planning, which I thought was always interesting. It is like studying how you can shape a community.” So university was his spark—a bit of an ironic cir- cumstance when most students in BC, and Canada, find themselves generally less involved in politics while they are studying, Fresh from post-secondary study halls, Cote still car- ries a strong youth angle, both in his own perspective and his advocacy in campaigning for city council. “Youth really don't have a representative voice on the Council.” And as a result, a lot of issues don't get talked about. “Environment is a huge one—New West doesn't even have a policy around the environment for the city. I can't criticize their policy on the environment—because they have no policy, and that definitely needs to be addressed.” Other issues include how New Westminster is going to be developed. Cote says it's not a matter of going against the move towards development in the city, but it's a matter of doing it right. That includes discussion on the environment, transit, affordable housing, and a host of other issues. “T also want to do something that's been on the table in city council for five years now, and that's to build a multi-purpose youth center for young people in this city.” New Westminster has had plans to build such a facility since 2000, yet, Cote says, nothing has been touched in terms of implementation. If you take a look at some of his campaign materials, it's obvious that Jonathan has a couple of age groups in his mind that need to be addressed. In addition to cam- paigning as a youth voice, Cote seems to understand that New Westminster has a high proportion of seniors— particularly low-income seniors needing assistance from local government. Being on city council would allow Cote a pulpit from which to address local issues. “For example,” Cote says, “city governments have an influence over how Translink operates in the city, and the board can push for public transit. Night buses were taken away and then brought back, but are still very infrequent. We can make deter- mining changes around these issues in city council.” He maintains that development remains the number one issue on the ballot this year, as it has been for the past five municipal elections. But Cote strongly feels that implementing the most important changes is going to require people—especially young people—coming out to vote on November 19. “Youth getting more involved in politics and having their voice heard is an important thing. I believe strongly in getting into elections. This is how a lot of campaigns and issues get started before they make it to policy.” Everyone should remember that elections are fast approaching and are on Saturday, November 19. Be sure to look for your local voting station, and bring two pieces of government-issued ID. It is not necessary to pre-register. For more information about Jonathan Cote's campaign, visit: wwyw.votecote.ca. Cruise Line Attacked by Pirates Off of Somalian Coast Region notorious for piracy Nicole Burton, News Editor On Saturday, November 5, the luxury cruise liner the Seaborne Spirit, along with its 310 passengers, made internation- al headlines after outmaneuvering a two- boat team of pirates off of the coast of Somalia in East Africa. The ship—carrying primarily passen- gers from Australia, Canada, and the United States—was approached in the early hours of the morning, and began their attack by firing rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns. The pirates chased the ship for several hours before giving up and deserting their unsuccessful mission. In addition to picking up speed and changing the ship's course, personnel also operated what is now known as a Long Range Acoustic Device, or LRAD against their attackers in order to drive the pirates away. The device is used by operating a massive object similar in appearance to a satellite dish, which then can emit blasts of ear-splitting noise in the direction of a small enemy vessel. The technology has been used on naval vessels worldwide since 2003. The sound of the noise emitted is similar to a smoke detector, but a little bit louder. Whereas a smoke detector emits between 80 to 90 decibels, the LRAD emits up to 150 decibels. . Somalia's coast has now witnessed more than 27 attacks by pirates in the last year alone, according to the London- based International Maritime Bureau.