Not Liveable Enough

Since becoming involved in the Public Space Committee here in Toronto I've started looking at the city in a new light. I remember reading about the "reclaiming of public space" back in the late 90's when I was reading Adbusters a lot, but I don't think I really got it until I moved out here. It probably had a lot to do with growing up in a crappy suburb, but I just didn't understand why someone would like to put a couch in a parking spot and sit out under the sun in the middle of 7th Ave...

But now I get it.

I was walking home tonight after Lee-Anne's birthday shindig and realised that despite it being an absolutely beautiful evening, there was nowhere for me to sit down and blog a bit before going home to bed. On my right was a bunch of closed retail stores, and on my left was a 4 lane, busy road. No benches, no greenspace, nowhere suitable for a person just to sit an enjoy the city.

When people talk about "The Liveable City" from now on, this is what I will have in mind.