Mayor Eric Adams Announces Plans for New Public Restrooms in New York City.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams recently announced plans to add approximately 46 new public restrooms across the city’s five boroughs. This initiative, dubbed “Ur In Luck,” is a five-year effort that aims to address the need for increased accessibility to public restrooms in New York City.
Manhattan will receive an additional 28 public restrooms, while Brooklyn will gain 23, Queens will receive 14, The Bronx will have 10 new facilities, and seven new public restrooms are planned for Staten Island. Although this marks a significant step forward in addressing the issue, New York City still has a long way to go, with nearly 100 more restrooms needed to reach the goal of 151 outlined in a 2022 report.
As part of the “Ur In Luck” plan, a task force will be established to streamline the approval process for the installation of 14 automatic self-cleaning restrooms over the next two years. These high-tech toilets are expected to be provided by French company JCDecaux, which already has more than 2,500 similar facilities in 28 countries around the world.
New Yorkers can now locate public restrooms with ease thanks to a new layer on Google Maps that tracks the more than 1,000 public restrooms available throughout the city. This development is being praised by local officials, including Councilmember Rita Joseph (D-Brooklyn), who stated, “As a strong advocate for increasing access to public restrooms, I am thrilled to support Mayor Adams’ ‘Ur In Luck’ initiative.
Despite her support for the plan, Joseph had previously criticized the Department of Transportation for their slow progress in adding 151 new public restrooms as recommended in a multi-agency report she commissioned under a 2022 bill. This change in stance highlights the importance placed on addressing the need for increased access to public restrooms in New York City.
In summary, Mayor Eric Adams’ “Ur In Luck” initiative is a significant step forward in providing much-needed relief for New Yorkers who face challenges finding available public restrooms. While more work remains to be done, this plan represents progress in addressing an issue that affects the quality of life for countless city residents and visitors alike.
