Toilet Watch: Three More Weeks, APT Still Not Open

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.

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??

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.

Can't Cartifact make a downtown public toilet map?