The struggle for clean and accessible public restrooms has been a longstanding issue in New York City. With the increasing number of tourists and residents alike, the demand for adequate bathroom facilities continues to grow. In response to this pressing need, city council members are proposing two bills aimed at offering relief to New Yorkers who have really got to go.
City Council member Rita Joseph is sponsoring a bill that would require certain “public-facing” city buildings to open their bathrooms, create clear signage and hours of operation, and ensure they are accessible to people with disabilities. Joseph argues that access to clean and accessible bathrooms should not be considered a luxury but rather a basic human right. The struggle to find a safe and clean place to do one’s business while away from home is well-known among New Yorkers.
The push for more toilet access comes as summonses for public urination are up about 46% year over year from 2023, rising from 6,772 to 9,904 in 2024, according to recent figures from City Hall. Despite this, some argue that opening public buildings is unnecessary and that people should be encouraged to use the existing facilities by improving signage and maintenance.
The city is currently in the process of adding 151 new public bathrooms approved in 2022, while Mayor Adams’ office has pledged renovations of 36 already in place. However, council member Sandy Nurse, who is proposing a separate bill aimed at creating one public bathroom for every 2,000 New Yorkers within ten years, said she has had trouble accessing the map provided by the city’s chief public realm officer, Ya-Ting Liu, which pinpoints the locations of public bathrooms across the city.
Nurse suggests that the process of adding new public bathrooms is too slow, taking between 10 and 16 months for approval. She proposes looking into converting vacant storefronts in commercial areas into public bathrooms to address this issue more efficiently. In conclusion, the fight for the right to access clean and safe public restrooms continues in New York City, with council members proposing innovative solutions to ensure that everyone can “go” when they need to.
