Dear Editor: Re: Burnaby home now an Airbnb hotel, Burnaby NOW, March 23.
I don’t want to come across as one of those old out-of-touch guys (although in some cases I may be), but Airbnb and outfits like Uber and Lyft aren’t the tech-based wonderful services and “disruptors” that they claim to be. All of these new gig economy outfits follow the same path. They make money by ignoring regulations that were put in place for our own good and protection; by paying their employees – oops, sorry, contractors – a pittance; and by flouting laws either about zoning or vehicle insurance or some other law they find inconvenient.
People using these services find them cheap so continue to advocate for their expansion, all the while complaining that they can’t find a full time job that pays a living wage for themselves or someone they know. Besides, if you are a tourist, what do you care about the local environment, economy or people. Just bring on the next drink or attraction.
The solution to a lack of taxis is not to bring on a bunch of poorly paid drivers without proper insurance driving their own cars without inspections but to add more licensed cabs to the taxi fleets, pass laws ensuring that cab medallions aren’t owned by one company or small groups and open up pick-up restrictions beyond the border of one municipality.
In the same way the solution to expensive hotel rooms is to encourage more hotels that operate at a wide variety of price points legally and properly with employees earning a living wage. Hotels are not allowed in residential zoned areas for a reason – it protects families and their kids. Let’s not lose sight of what makes our cities livable.
The only people making a killing from Airbnb, Uber, Lyft or other new entrants in the gig economy are those behind those start-up companies. They do not well serve anyone else and cause real harm everywhere. A pox on all of them.
Carl Dillon, Burnaby
