What a relief: Public restrooms coming to Downtown Pittsburgh

[FakeNoose]

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette link: https://www.post-gazette.com/business/development/2023/08/16/public-restrooms-downtown-allegheny-conference-ed-gainey-pittsburgh/stories/202308160104

Public restrooms are being installed Downtown as part of at least $2 million in spending aimed at curbing concerns about cleanliness, lewd behavior and other safety-related issues plaguing the city’s core.

The announcement came at a press conference Wednesday during which the Allegheny Conference on Community Development and other stakeholders, including Mayor Ed Gainey, unveiled IndexPGH, a website to chart the Golden Triangle’s health on issues such as crime, visits, real estate and cleanliness.

Public urination and defecation have been a major issue for some time, with businesses, residents and visitors complaining about people using alleyways and even sidewalks to do their business. The six-month pilot project for the installation of three trailer-like public restrooms is designed to address that.

It will start next month, at locations to be determined. The facilities will be open and staffed from 7 a.m to 11 p.m. daily and equipped with running water, heat and air conditioning.

- more at link -

This something that previous Pittsburgh mayors have kicked the can for way too long. Thank you Mayor Ed Gainey! The homeless people wandering around the city will take advantage - no doubt - and that needs to be addressed. But having no public restrooms in the city has kept people away. Citizens who would otherwise come downtown for sightseeing, recreation, meals, errands, museums and theaters.

Local families will go where it's safe, comfortable and fun. For too long they've been staying away from our beautiful downtown. The new addition of clean, safe public restrooms will make a difference.