Toilet Watch: Times Gives APTs Some Ink

By Eric Richardson
Published: Thursday, May 03, 2007, at 08:40AM

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Toilet Watch Cara DiMassa runs a story in today's Times about the slow pace of APT installation Downtown. For those of you who have been following along here it's not new information, but it's very good to see the story get a little wider play.

Cara even mentions our Toilet Watch, though she doesn't name the site itself:

Even some supporters are becoming frustrated with all the delays, which include getting the power turned on — and to stay on — at the toilets. One downtown blogger has posted regular "Toilet Watch" updates on his website in frustration.

"If we want to clean up the smells and sights of our streets, we have to be able to offer these facilities," said Eric Richardson, the blogger, who is a member of the area's neighborhood council.

After reading this I was a little nervous what someone might find if they went to Google ad searched for "Toilet Watch." Turns out, though, that blogdowntown is indeed the top result. I also discovered that the Guardian did a Toilet Watch series in 2004, covering the state of the facilities at the Glastonbury Festival.

On a more serious note, it's appalling that DWP says work won't be completed any time soon:

Joe Ramallo, a spokesman for [DWP], said officials were looking into the cause of the delay. He said work on the Pershing Square unit would be completed in a month.

What could possibly be left to do that would take that long to complete?

Past Toilet Watch coverage:

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

Toilet Watch

4th and Hill Toilet Still Inching Toward Service

June 03, 2008

A fresh patch of concrete next to the still-not-functional Automated Public Toilet (APT) at 4th and Hill is visual proof that getting the unit in service...

DWP Still the Hold Up in Downtown Toilet

April 09, 2008

The Automated Public Toilet (APT) at 4th and Hill has been ready to go for nearly three months, but remains out of service waiting for the city's Department...

15 More Stories in Toilet Watch

Comments

Rico A writes:

Hey, you're "The Blogger" -- how cool!

# on May.03.2007 AT 09:04 AM

MIMER9600 writes:

As I was walking past the pershing square APT this morning, there was a crew of DWP workers setting up near the site. Although it didn't look like they were there to get the toilet working :(

# on May.03.2007 AT 09:35 AM

Travis♀ writes:

I just keep thinking, "Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown."

# on May.03.2007 AT 11:38 AM

meekorouse writes:

It's sad because San Francisco, while it's had its own slightly troubled history with these type of bathroom facilities, they have them ALL OVER THE CITY and while I can't say when they were installed, they work very well when used. I can't tell you how helpful they are when you actually use them as a public facility (TMI) but honestly, what's the point of having them if they aren't actually working or ready for the public??

# on May.03.2007 AT 04:04 PM

Benjamin Pezzillo writes:

The point of having them if they aren't hooked up yet?

The City looks like it is doing something and people driving by in their cars aren't any wiser.

# on May.03.2007 AT 04:42 PM

Eric Richardson writes:

Actually, at the last T&PW meeting Lance explained that the APTs get installed soon after they show up simply because CBS/Decaux doesn't have a warehouse to store them in. They're big enough that it ends up making more sense to just go deliver and bolt them down.

# on May.03.2007 AT 05:44 PM

Merrill writes:

Hard to be surprised by the ineptitude, lethargy and buck passing of the DWP, certainly based on these links at Brady Westwater's blog:

http://lacowboy.blogspot.com/2007/04/daily-news-editorial-on-dwp-scandal.html#links

http://lacowboy.blogspot.com/2007/04/daily-news-article-on-dwp-caving-unions.html#links

# on May.03.2007 AT 07:02 PM

Benjamin Pezzillo writes:

Hmm, free PR from a work in progress (now turned into bad PR from a work not progressed) versus a slimmer margin from paying to warehouse the APTs (assuming the contract wasn't already padded for that)?

# on May.03.2007 AT 11:08 PM

Edwin writes:

Yeah, i wonder how many loft residents are going to usethe toilets onces they are filthy and work. Watch and wait, it's only a matter of time...

# on May.03.2007 AT 11:15 PM

Dennis Smith writes:

As a loft resident, I might not use the APT right outside my front door as my own bathroom would be more convenient. However, as I walk all over Downtown and other parts of the city I would happily avail myself to one if needed. Like meekorouse, I have used the same design of APT in San Francisco and found them to be clean and fairly comfortable to use.

On a related note, until the APTs are are in function, where are the best public facilities in Downtown? I lead walking tours and have found the following to be of good service.

Union Staion

La Placita/Olvera Street

Grand Central Market

Wells Fargo Center

Central Library

Any other suggestions? Has this question been discussed in this space previously?

# on May.04.2007 AT 08:37 AM

Eric Richardson writes:

Dennis: That's a good question, and one we haven't looked at. Available facilities are a tough find Downtown. I may just have to roll that question out into a post.

# on May.04.2007 AT 09:48 AM

Gotta Go Right Now writes:

Besides the obvious public buildings like City Hall, the bathrooms at the Biltmore, or any of the name hotels, are nice.

# on May.04.2007 AT 12:18 PM

Curt Gibbs writes:

You've ridden the APT watch all the way onto the pages of the May 14th Newsweek. Congrats on being quoted in the Newsweek Perspectives page.

# on May.08.2007 AT 09:13 PM