Toilet Watch: Newsweek Picks Up the APT Issue
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — 
I was at the DLANC Board meeting tonight when my Dad called. Sitting down back in Michigan after a late softball game he picks up a copy of Newsweek and what does he find but me getting quoted.
For its perspective page, a weekly snapshot of quotations from around the country, the magazine picked up my quote from the recent Times APT article.
"If we want to clean up the smells and sights of our streets, we have to be able to offer these facilities."
Blogger Eric Richardson, on L.A.'s installation of luxury automated public toilets
It's typical but sad that the news media keeps pushing the "luxury" angle of this. These same sort of APTs are in various cities across the US (SF, Chicago, Boston). In LA, though, it's got to be luxury.
I plan to go pick up a print copy tomorrow, but online I'm situated between one quote on the Queen's visit and another about porn on the Disney Channel.
Thanks also to Curt Gibbs for noticing this and offering his congratulations.
David Kennedy on May 09, 2007, at 07:19AM – #1
Essentially, the journalist is inserting their own editorial spin/commentary to inject drama into the story. Basically, they are trying to juice up what is a pretty mundane story about basic services not delivered and the powers that be not giving a damn. The editor is supposed to catch this stuff and edit it out. But, their collective institutional bias overcomes good judgement.
It is a very small example of the media distorting the facts of an issue to serve their sensational impulses. Fortunately, bloggers now exist to take note of this behavior.
lastraphanger on May 09, 2007, at 12:25PM – #2
I think it might be time to start a 4th & Broadway "closed sidewalk" watch. What is going on with the structures that burned there recently? People are walking in the street which is dangerous.
Scott Sookman on May 10, 2007, at 10:28AM – #3
Channeling typical East Coast Newsweek reader:
Oh, those wacky LA people! Those fruits and nuts from La La Land!
Those goofy flakes who demand luxury toilets on every sidewalk!
What next? Free limousines for everyone to use? Ha ha ha!
Isn't there anyone living in LA with some common sense? What a bunch of airheads!