Comments on: Protecting public urination at Public Safety

By: Chuck

Chuck — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 23:54:31 +0000

“Yes, the homeless would have to pay a nominal user fee just like everyone else. Perhaps we could dispense tokens to the homeless to use the toilets if it becomes a big issue.”

Hell, practically speaking, what are YOU gonna do as a proud citizen of Oakland, if someone comes up to you and asks for a quarter to use the pay-john? I dunno about you but I will stop and search my bag if need be.

By: Ralph

Ralph — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 06:47:34 +0000

max, not sure i get the tony w koo reference. but i am a huge fan of hammurabi yet have trouble with nelson rockefeller

By: We Fight Blight

We Fight Blight — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 04:41:06 +0000

Jeez–like this is really rocket science. Can we not put JC Decaux toilets in key locations throughout Oakland. They are reasonably attractive and, theoretically, self-cleaning. The ads on the restrooms help offset the installation and maintenance costs. Yes, the homeless would have to pay a nominal user fee just like everyone else. Perhaps we could dispense tokens to the homeless to use the toilets if it becomes a big issue. Why does everything in Oakland and Berkeley have to be so damn difficult!!

By: Patrick

Patrick — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 02:17:03 +0000

Yeah, Paris has public toilets everywhere and of course Holland has the canals…I realize you’re talking about Asia, but I think that their societal norm regarding cleanliness is completely different from ours. They have toilets that wash your business and dry it; we have a Burger King in our downtown that is allowed to close their bathroom and still operate. Facile, I realize, but it is illustrative of the difference.

American cities won’t maintain the facilities due to expense and lack of perceived value. Why not build them (via Bathrooms for Humanity) and make the maintenance of them a Quality of Life violation punishment? Alas, can you imagine the difficulty of getting a neighborhood to agree to a public restroom? Certainly such a thing can only lead to hordes of homeless people, child prostitution and graffiti.

Hilarious re: TonyWKoo – I’ve been wondering what happened to him – I thought so too, at first, but there was no reference to Singapore.

By: Mike Spencer

Mike Spencer — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 02:09:49 +0000

A sad day in Oakland: The Need for a Public Service Announcement about public urination. Perhaps Ignacio can use one of his contacts to get the City a good billboard rate. “Hi, I’m Ron Dellums. You can do a lot of things in Oakland, but peeing in public isn’t one of them…..”

By: Max Allstadt

Max Allstadt — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 01:57:30 +0000

One thing I remember fondly about living abroad in semi-socialist countries: public toilets everywhere. You can walk across Tokyo from end to end and never have to worry about finding a place to take a leak. Water fountains everywhere too.

American cities for whatever reason either can’t or won’t maintain decent facilities. My guess is that in trying to prevent homeless folks from congregating around a public bathroom, we’ve just made everywhere the bathroom.

Ralph, are you channeling TonyWKoo?

By: Patrick

Patrick — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 01:14:50 +0000

To play devil’s advocate, where DO we expect the homeless to pee? During the recent cold wave, the warming shelters opened by the city were virtually empty. So even if, somehow, we provided bathroom facilities, it is doubtful they would be utilized. Were Quan and Nadel right? Is making the prosecution of public urination and other quality of life crimes a direct attack on the homeless?

If we ran with the amendments presented to the City Council what then? Community Service punishment followed by – what? A return to the streets and more public urination and defecation?

It is entirely possible that unless you rid the city of the homeless, there will always be public evacuation of bodily waste. How do you legislate against one and not the other?

By: Ralph

Ralph — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 23:49:24 +0000

I am afirm believer that those who would use private property as their personal toilet should be dealt with swift and complete justice. Just the other night, some jackass opted to use the backside of Ozumo as his local toilet. I believe in situations such as the one just described the loss of the male member is an appropriate treatment. Not sure what to do with the females among us who would act in such a manner but really how many females urinate in public. And the adults who allow either their kidlets or kidlets in their care to urinate in public should lose penii and ovaries.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 19:32:43 +0000

Max:

Can you come up with some sort of artsy-visual plan to highlight public urination in Oakland? Some sort of Christo-esque wrapping of the benches (and other areas of the city inundated with urine) in yellow toilet paper or something? I’m not kidding. Something must be done to highlight our frustration with our do-nothing leaders.

Sorry, Nav, if this increases negative perceptions about Oakland, I’m for it as long as it leads to increased public awareness and forcing our city’s leaders to piss or get off the pot.

By: Max Allstadt

Max Allstadt — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 15:55:58 +0000

I know I’m sort of dissing myself here, but…

you know how you can tell Reid and Kernighan are among the best on the council? They talk the least! Short, succinct comments. Sometimes Reid just sits through an entire item, and simply says yes or no at the end. Brooks is usually pretty economical with her words too.

As a bloviator myself, I sincerely appreciate their ability to not bloviate like some of their colleagues.

Oh, and while we’re talking about public urination, I invite you all to take a whiff around the benches on City Hall Plaza. Fucking embarrassing.