Toilet Watch: Three More Weeks, APT Still Not Open
Eric Richardson
[Flickr]
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — I'd really been holding off on declaring this Toilet Watch, but I think at this point it's inevitable. By my calculations the Automated Public Toilet at Pershing Square has now been in the ground for twenty two weeks and has never yet been in service. That's simply amazing to me.
I first heard of a Pershing Square APT sighting at the October meeting of DLANC's Transportation & Public Works committee. That meeting was held on October 23rd, 2006. Five months have now passed, and from the public's view nothing has changed.
Certainly lots has happened, though. They've torn up and resealed the concrete around the APT at least three times, most recently a week or so ago. They've also installed three toilets elsewhere Downtown, though none of those are yet active either.
I almost feel like I need one of those tacky little counters in the sidebar:
Toilet Watch: 3,696 hours and counting
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
For a nice little laugh, also check out the Downtown News article from December that said the toilets would be opening later in the month.
Robert on March 28, 2007, at 07:48AM – #1
As a new resident of the Eastern Columbia, I am very surprised at the lack of law enforcement regarding public urination. Last Saturday I witnessed two people, one man (in an alley between Hill and Broadway) and a woman (in the parking lot at Hill and 9th) urinate right before my eyes. I say keep up the toilet watch! Perhaps if we call the police when we witness this, there will be some pressure to get these public toilets operational.
Dave on March 28, 2007, at 08:53AM – #2
Even worse is I routinely witness people going number 2 in a building corner right on Hope St...but I guess there are other priorities besides a cleaner downtown??
David Kennedy on March 28, 2007, at 11:40AM – #3
I add that people relieving themselves in public isn't just a problem involving the 'homeless'. I've seen corporate types in suits and day laborers and ladies in skirts relive themselves on the street. My sense is since there is apparently little social shame in doing it (i.e. obviously plenty of other people do it) nor does there seem to be any punishment for doing it, people feel at liberty to go ahead. I don't think it is accurate to assume the 'homeless' are the only offenders. In fact, assuming this to be the case can lead to the wrong strategy to address the problem.
Ensuring there are public toilets is an important part of such an effort. (Honestly, I think this angle is overstated. I have a large list in my head of where to go throughout downtown.) However, there should also be an enforcement component as part of this effort. If the authorities can make jaywalking a priority, this outght to be added to the list of offenses which will not be tolerated. Why this isn't the case already is very odd. Believe me, I've seen enough people get jaywalking tickets. It certainly makes me think twice about jaywalking. If people know they could be cited and fined for relieving themselves in public, they will think twice.
Scott Mercer on March 28, 2007, at 12:11PM – #4
Can't Cartifact make a downtown public toilet map?