Eric Richardson [Flickr]

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — The new Automated Public Toilet at 5th & Hill got installed back in November, but nearly four months later it still hasn't seen a minute of service. Walking by this morning it does at least have a new "Not in Service" sign, but no evidence of progress being made.

I wrote in January about how seeing something in the ground changes your expectations on when it should open. At two months I was trying to cut them a little slack. At four months? This is just ridiculous.

The City and Viacom / CBS / Decaux (whoever the contract is with these days) have really bungled the process of installing street furniture. Both are to blame here. It's simply not ok for it to take one-third of a year to put a toilet into service.

All Toilet Watch coverage:

• 05/03/07 -- Times Gives APTs Some Ink
• 04/26/07 -- Blame DWP
• 04/25/07 -- Come Ask Street Services about APTs
• 04/19/07 -- Move On to the Next One
• 04/17/07 -- Twenty Five Weeks and Counting
• 03/26/07 -- Three More Weeks; APT Still Not Open
• 03/07/07 -- Still Holding
• 01/22/07 -- Still Waiting on Pershing Square APT
• 11/22/06 -- Friends of the Sewer Welcome Toilets to Skid Row