(¥ Clown craze causes mayhem on social media (¥ Get psyched for one-of-a-kind program (¥ Tsawwassen Mills opens doors to public And more! Potential Airbnb regulations 1n Vancouver > Restrictions may be detrimental for owners seeking supplemental income Mercedes Deutscher News Editor ancouver mayor Gregor Robertson is looking at restricting Airbnb in an effort to improve the Vancouver rental market. Originally, Robertson believed that an outright ban on Airbnb was in order, aftera late September city report by the Policy and Strategic Priorities Committee came in that suggested 1,500 rental properties could be freed. He explained to CBC that he believed that short- term rentals would only continue the trend of suites remaining empty, while the amount of listed properties in the rental market continues to dwindle. Asa short-term rental service, Airbnb wouldn't leave suites available for long-term rental. “Housing is first and foremost for homes, not operating a business,” Robertson told CBC. However, due to the increasing demand of Airbnb and the difficulty in enforcing the restrictions, the city is now looking to regulate it. The solution drafted by the city would enforce more restrictions and regulations, such as requiring rental permits and licensing fees for property owners who list their property on Airbnb. They may also be subject to a hotel tax. Additional restrictions could include only allowing principal housing (a standalone, non- vacation property) to be listed, eliminating the chances to rent out basement suites and condos. Robertson’s ideas to regulate the rental service have stirred some concerns. Homeowners are worried that without the income from short-term rentals, they will be unable to make their mortgage payments. Image via inhabitat.com Not even the entirety of the city council is in agreeance to potential restrictions, as councilor George Affleck echoed the concerns of Airbnb hosts. Robertson responded: “Both the city’s research and broad public input tells us we can have short-term rentals in Vancouver to help supplement income, while ensuring long-term rents are back in the rental market.” Airbnb has been urging the city to ease up on the potential restrictions, saying that Airbnb works for accomodations that would remain empty, regardless. “If a homeowner isn’t going to put them on the market anyways [or] if they’re going to be empty because they use it for their family or other things [...] then that’s not helping anybody,” said Alexandra Dagg, a policymaker with Airbnb, to CBC. “We believe regulations for home-sharing need to allow for appropriate flexibility.” While Dagg argued that the city needs to be more relaxed over what properties could qualify to be offered with Airbnb, she agreed that business licences and fees could help alleviate Vancouver’s rental problems. For now, the rental service will remain unregulated until the Policy and Strategic Priorities Committee receives more public input. They will be surveying the public until early 2017, when they will report back to the city council with a more detailed plan of action. Walk and talk with New Westminster mayor > Douglas College collaboration helps students create better cities Aaron Guillen Staff Reporter A n interactive English course t Douglas is changing the way that students improve their academic writing, while also improving the city in which they live. Jasmine Nicholsfigueiredo, faculty member of the English Department and Chair of Education Council at the college, is leading her classes to new horizons with her experiential learning approach. Nicholsfigueiredo avidly promotes student engagement in the community and the classes she teaches embrace it. Her ENG 1130 class takes a look at how to “create better cities” with multiple guest speakers and collaborative sessions, one of which includes New Westminster Mayor Jonathan Cote. “One of our course units focuses on the role and importance of public spaces in a community [and] the mayor seemed like a natural fit,” Nicholsfigueiredo explained. “We are immensely fortunate that he has volunteered to lead students on this walking tour. Students might very well learn to see their surroundings in unexpected ways. [Over the course], students will work in research pods to investigate some of the environmental and social issues facing their cities. Together, they will have an opportunity to think critically about ways to improve these components of urban life and—if they wish—present their ideas to the mayor in the future.” In a brief walkabout, Cote took Douglas College students around Downtown New Westminster to discuss relevant issues, including housing affordability, waterfront revitalization, and heritage sites. Along the walk, Cote addressed the importance of rental housing, with the prevalence of families living in apartments. According to him, most spaces have been given a par of three rooms due to the high demand. While on the subject, housing affordability for students was brought up and Cote admits he’s open to the discussion. “It’s a work in progress,” Cote added. Image via mayorcote.ca “We are aware that students live nearby the campus and there’s a need. It’s hard for students to afford the rentals here [in Downtown New Westminster], but I’m open to the conversation to make apartment buildings more affordable nearby the college. Right now, our biggest concern is with rental housing.” In addition, Cote explained to the students the history of New Westminster—from a declining population and irrelevant ports after World War II, to the rediscovery the city has gone through in the last 20 years. By recognizing the importance that the waterfront holds for the city, the mayor takes pride in the decision to tear down the majority of the parking lot, a former division. Along with the redevelopments around the 8th and Columbia area, heritage revitalization is important to Cote. Along the walk, Cote took the students to Trapp Block, a heritage building currently used by local businesses after being vacant for many years. Cote expressed the value that heritage sites bring to the “street-scape.” “Douglas College students are a significant part of our community, and as the city plans for the future, their engagement in our cities future is important,” Cote said in a press release. “I’m looking forward to showing students where our focus is going to be in the coming years and, more importantly, allowing them to better understand the urban challenges and opportunities we face in New Westminster.”