Sean Orr is a man that lives in a Gastown loft and is somewhat a minimalist. “I have a tattoo that say tattoo. I think that is funny. I don’t like cars, corporate media, advertising, factory farming, the GDP, TV, republicans, corn, Korn, yoga wear, yoga, people who do yoga, Yoda, seniors, homophobes, xenophobes, people who stand on the left of the elevator…” He’s the kind of guy that if you have an appointment with him on Tuesday, he might not show up: he has no pants to wear. It’s laundry day. He’s a writer, musician, and photographer with the voice of an activist. Oh yeah, he’s a dishwasher too. And he always has an opinion about everything.

Well known in Vancouver for his photography shows, daily musings on Beyond Robson’s Morning Brew and his band Taxes, the kid is a breath of fresh air to the independent media scene. By drawing attention to issues that most are afraid to talk about, let alone address, Sean’s opinions have a created an established legion of followers and critics alike.

Many view his public opinions as being overly negative, whereas others (us included) feel that he is drawing attention to issues that effect Vancouverite’s on a daily basis. We figure that one with such strong opinions about how things are must have some great ideas for how things can be improved. So we asked Sean: what should be done to improve Vancouver? Here’s what he had to say.

Public Transportation

There needs to be more local control of decisions in transportation, not less, which is what is happening with Bill 43. And it always seemed absurd that bus riders are paying for bridges across The Fraser.

I would cancel the Gateway Project immediately, save for maybe special lanes for trucking goods, and I’d use the savings to buy more buses, build the Evergreen Line with light rail, and build light rail/ trams based on population density; i.e. Westend and Broadway corridor. I would look at ferries as a way of getting to UBC, West Van, Port Moody, and Tsawassen. Extend the Skytrain hours until bar closing time, thereby saving money on drunk-driving counter attack. Buses in the downtown area would be free. The U-Pass program should be extended to every school.

I also find it absurd that Translink’s revenue is tied to gasoline taxes. That means when gas gets too expensive and people get out of their cars, Translink actually loses money on gas taxes. They’d rather keep people in their cars. This year they have an extra 17 million more to their surplus than projected.

Healthcare

I find it exceedingly frustrating that the BC government just spent millions of dollars on a ‘conversation on health’ to find out what we already found out in a 1991 report: that preventative healthcare should be a priority. The Green Party has been saying this for years. Subsidize healthy, organic and non-processed food to make it available to all, not just the yuppies. Tax fast food and junk food and use that revenue to improve the healthcare system. There are entities that weaken the Canadian system, who then point to these weaknesses as evidence it needs changing. But there are solutions that don’t involve privatization, and if you’ve seen Sicko then you know how important this is. In Richmond, for example, a clinic that just deals with hip and knee surgeries has dramatically cut surgery wait times.

Bed Bug Epidemic

The Bed Bug epidemic needs to be addressed as such, and not just a public nuisance. The city’s health officer, John Blatherwick, practically blamed it on the Downtown East Side (DTES). How is that going to help? The city should pick up all infested mattresses from alleys, and advocate for tenants whose landlords refuse to help.

Downtown East Side

DTES? Wow. Well, the DTES is what it is, partly because of a failed social experiment of “containment”. The problems date back to the very foundations of the city, when landowners fought over which direction the city should develop: the CN owned the Westend and wanted it to develop westerly, while a group, including Mayor David Oppenheimer, owned Strathcona and wanted it to go that way. Oppenheimer also owned BC Electric, and sent his streetcar system east. When this was dismantled in the 50s, it was disastrous. Japantown was also destabilized with the internment of Japanese during WWII, while most of the major banks abandoned the area. Expo ’86 was a final nail in the coffin.

The ghettoization of social services needs to be dispersed against the will of NIMBYism, which we all need to rally against. We also need to work with business to encourage them back into the area. We can’t be so afraid of gentrification, as long as we can control it, and offer capital incentives if they create housing, Woodward’s being the barometer. This won’t work if the federal and provincial governments continue to ride massive surpluses at the expense of the poor. Re-instate the Canada Assistance Plan, re-instate welfare, and raise the minimum wage. Of course, if all this is being done in an attempt to assuage the bad optics during the Olympics, it will never work.

At the same time, we need to be wary of our definitions of what the problem is. If it is purely aesthetic, then it won’t work. The Flaneurs and Situationists would argue for the ‘difficult beauty’ of the DTES, that this is the last place where one can define their own existence, where one isn’t controlled by architecture; forced into corridors of consumption; live-work-shop-home. Street photography in Vancouver has a long tradition, with the DTES posing at its locus: an open space that symbolizes the perpetual adolescence of the city; a place of Unfinished Business.

I also don’t understand why squatting is illegal. If people take the initiative to provide a roof over their head, then so be it. There is a proud tradition of squatting in Europe, but in North America we are so afraid of lawsuits and security, that we have zero tolerance for it.

Environmental Initiatives

To start, I wouldn’t allow big box development along SE Marine Drive. Banning plastic bags is cute but their needs to be more drastic actions. I would also remove most if not all of the parking garages downtown and encourage high-density development (there are even these really cool greenhouse skyscrapers that we should make). They just seem to kill the soul of any street that they are on. There should probably be a bike bridge across false creek. There needs to be more geothermal projects, and more green roofs. There should be some sort of rebate if you live in an apartment, a carbon credit. It doesn’t make sense that the people who live where they work pay more than people who drive two hours a day in rush hour traffic. Same for vegetarian restaurants. I’d also promote local eating. Ever try going to a supermarket to buy local chicken or beef? It doesn’t exist. There are a couple of restaurants that are doing it; namely Aurora Bistro, Bishops, and Raincity Grill. Vancouver used to have a stock exchange, why don’t we take the initiative and create a carbon exchange? We need to recognize peak oil on a policy level. I also find it absurd that the city is building a massive development on the shores of False Creek, complete with heat capture systems from sewage, but didn’t make any calculations for a rising sea level.

Education

I don’t really know a lot about education other than post-secondary should be free. I have read a little about the Free School movement, which sounds interesting.

Crime in the city

I tend to ignore crime. I’m probably desensitized to it, but I never report on crime in Morning Brew. I think its directly related to economics, and if you have 2000+ homeless, then you should expect the same levels of crime. Of course, organized crime is a little more complex. I don’t know if legalizing pot would help, but it should be worth looking at. Targeting petty crime like graffiti and panhandling is totally inane. And what about corporate crime?

Culture and Entertainment

Oh man, No Fun City. Culture should be spontaneous. Otherwise you get Orcas and Spirit Bears and other first nation rip-offs while we let the native population wallow in epidemic levels of AIDS and Hep C, jail Native leaders opposed to a highway expansion only for them to die from their time in prison, and deport Natives to South Dakota based on flimsy evidence in a 30 year old politically charged case.

We can’t keep enforcing such strict zoning rules on places. We need to support places like Seamrippers, The Underwear Farm, Blinding Light, Sugar Refinery, Starfish Room, Marine Club, 69 Pender, Blim, The Church of Pointless Hysteria, Gnarnia, WRKS DVSN, etc.

Concentrating meat market bars into one district, the Granville Strip has been an obvious failure. Now they are going to try and make a cultural precinct around the QE Theatre, which will likely result in a contrived and stagnant zone of spectacle.

Rapidly rising real-estate prices

Rapidly rising real estate prices I know nothing about. I think there should be rent control, but other than that I have no idea. Maybe concentrate density around pre-existing city centers and such. The market has been compared to a bubble, so I would be more worried about what happens when real estate prices drop.

Erosion of the middle class

I truly believe that the governments we have are implementing a Reaganomic, Thatcherite policy of widening the gap between the rich and poor. The Feds and Provos both have billion dollar surpluses, and instead of reinvesting this capital they are cutting taxes. They are riding high on the oil boom, but it won’t last forever. What provisions are they taking? None. It is harder and harder for a working family to afford living in Vancouver. Matching the minimum wage to inflation would be a start. Create a living wage for artists and single mothers etc. Start a national daycare program. Reduce tuition fees. Reduce the workweek.