SPU Suddenly Realizes Drugs and Prostitution Exists, Suggests Shutting Down High-Tech Toilets

As mentioned on Slog yesterday, Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) has recommended that the City of Seattle remove the self-cleaning public toilets located in and around downtown Seattle.

They argue that the public toilets are being misused and abused by drug dealers, drug users, and quickie acts of prostitution, and thus, should be removed.

Our question for the City and for SPU is this: What the fuck did you think they were going to be used for?

What say you, Seattle? Is getting rid of these nasty space pods the answer? Or will the rampant drug dealing and street hooking simply be done in less space-age environs (like, say, next to your car in the parking garage)?

Photo courtesy of Seattle Daily Photo.

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By Jack in News on March 25, 2008 10:00 AM

Comments [rss]

ozmafan

i highly doubt that much of their use included "intended purposes" but i could be wrong. if they were serving the general public, then you'd have to figure out the balance between cost to the city and benefit to the public.

couldn't a small dollar (well, cents) amount be enough to keep them around for use by people who really need them and keep drug users out? so, maybe removing them isn't the answer...maybe just adding that fee that will keep drug users out and people who really have to pee able to use them.

it's complicated, though...

Jack

@4:

No one said this was a new idea.

Everyone else:

We can all agree that these toilets are nasty and that we (the general public) will never ever use them.

The question is, is removing them the answer?

I don't have the answer, but it's important not to come to any knee-jerk decisions here. Removing these facilities will not slow drug dealing and prostitution. These things will still occur, just perhaps more out of sight. The city will save money, yes, but here's the real question...

Just because these toilets are being used for purposes other than intended, does that necessarily mean they're not being used for the intended purposes? The answer is, NO.

Remove these toilets and the city is back to square one with problems of human feces and other waste ending up in public parks, parking lots, playgrounds...

Let's get one thing clear: These toilets were never intended for the "general public."

Wesa

Actually the idea of possibly removing these toilets has been floating around for at least a year, but the city had to do studies first. It's not that this is a new idea.

Troy Morris

I agree with ChrisB. You may as well just get a short drip for the price of a drug laced toilet seat.... wait....

And yeah, Ozmafan, your recollections are spot on.

ChrisB

I'd rather duck into a Starbucks and buy a cheap drink to use their bathroom than use any of those public toilets for free. Simple as that.

ozmafan

While I have often cursed the lack of accessible public restrooms in and around the city, i never have and never would go near one of these shiny, round drug dens. if they're only being used for drugs and prostitution, they're pointless to keep around. why it took the city this long to get around to figuring this out is beyond me also.

are pay toilets the answer? they have those in europe (paris, specifically) if i'm recalling correctly. seems unfair in a way, to charge for something so basic, but food and rent aren't free, either. i wonder how much of a charge would keep them free from unsavory activities...