4 ms·

They have that. They choose the plastic bags because the toilets are in disarray.

by joelrunyon 9y ago

maym86 9y ago
Or just access to well maintained public toilets.
- briandear 9y ago
  Perhaps the homeless could be given jobs cleaning the toilets?
  - grasshopperpurp 9y ago
    Fort Worth and Albuquerque give them jobs to clean up streets. In Fort Worth, they pay $10 per hour and provide housing. This would be similar - and a good idea, I think.
    - jpttsn 9y ago
      Would you personally pay this, or is it only a good idea if it’s someone else’s money?
      - maym86 9y ago
        I would happily contribute through taxes.
        jpttsn 9y ago
        If you’re happy to contribute already, why bother with all that admin? “I would love to spare some change, but my hands are tied until the corresponding bill passes the senate.”
      - grasshopperpurp 9y ago
        As maym86 said, I'd be happy to contribute to the pool of resources that would allow something like this to be sustainable. Would you not? >The city pays for it. The shelter runs it. "It is a win-win," said Presbyterian Night Shelter CEO Toby Owen. "We want a clean neighborhood that speaks hope, that speaks dignity to our homeless guests. And it also provides income for these individuals so they can move out and be successful without living in a homeless shelter." Last year, Clean Slate put 40 homeless people to work, Owen said. Approximately 3,856 tons of trash was collected by Clean Slate workers. And they don't just clean up trash on the street -- they also work as janitors for businesses. https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Fort-Worth-Pays-Homeless-People-to-Pick-Up-Trash-470183833.html https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Fort-Worth-Pays-Homeless-P...
        jpttsn 9y ago
        There's a difference between paying a $10 hourly wage and contributing to a pool of resources. I'm guessing my own contribution would be far less than $10 per hour if this were tax financed. If you and I can agree to each pay $5/h, maybe let's start there and find other people who also want to pay? Wouldn't that be better?
        grasshopperpurp 9y ago
        Kind of an a-la-carte approach to civic responsibilities? I can envision ways in which it'd work, and people would feel better about it (in general) than they do taxes. It seems like something like this would work best at a local level, which would obviously apply to the particular example we're discussing. In theory, I'd be on board with it, as long as federal programs/taxes remained. If you found a way to implement it on a larger scale, I'd be surprised/impressed.
        jpttsn 9y ago
        But why should it be surprising? So many people advocate for change just like you do; what mechanism could keep the idealism from being realizable?
xanderstrike 9y ago
They really don't. Trying to find a toilet you can use in downtown San Diego even as a regular looking person is a struggle and you will probably end up having to buy something. Businesses won't let you use their facilities if you look dirty or homeless, and there aren't any city owned bathrooms at least that I've seen in the 2 years I've been here so far.
- OkGoDoIt 9y ago
  Likewise in San Francisco. I like to take very long all-day or late night walks and bathrooms are very hard to come by. Sure as long as it’s daytime and I look presentable I can usually find a cafe/store that will let me use the bathroom, but after 9pm if I don’t happen to be near a hotel it’s often impossible for me to find a restroom. Many restaurants and convenience stores will say the bathroom is broken (even when it’s clearly not). Also it’s common to find places that physically block access to the restroom with boxes or whatever. Long story short, I’ve had to get used to peeing outside in shadows since it’s rarely possible to find bathrooms. I’m not sure what I’d do if I was female or needed to take a crap.
- joelrunyon 9y ago
  You're probably not looking in the right spots. http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/hepatitis-crisis/sd-me-restrooms-homeless-20170916-story.html http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/hepatitis-crisis/sd...

They have that. They choose the plastic bags because the toilets are in disarray.

maym86 9y ago

Or just access to well maintained public toilets.

briandear 9y ago
Perhaps the homeless could be given jobs cleaning the toilets?
- grasshopperpurp 9y ago
  Fort Worth and Albuquerque give them jobs to clean up streets. In Fort Worth, they pay $10 per hour and provide housing. This would be similar - and a good idea, I think.
  - jpttsn 9y ago
    Would you personally pay this, or is it only a good idea if it’s someone else’s money?
    - maym86 9y ago
      I would happily contribute through taxes.
      - jpttsn 9y ago
        If you’re happy to contribute already, why bother with all that admin? “I would love to spare some change, but my hands are tied until the corresponding bill passes the senate.”
    - grasshopperpurp 9y ago
      As maym86 said, I'd be happy to contribute to the pool of resources that would allow something like this to be sustainable. Would you not? >The city pays for it. The shelter runs it. "It is a win-win," said Presbyterian Night Shelter CEO Toby Owen. "We want a clean neighborhood that speaks hope, that speaks dignity to our homeless guests. And it also provides income for these individuals so they can move out and be successful without living in a homeless shelter." Last year, Clean Slate put 40 homeless people to work, Owen said. Approximately 3,856 tons of trash was collected by Clean Slate workers. And they don't just clean up trash on the street -- they also work as janitors for businesses. https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Fort-Worth-Pays-Homeless-People-to-Pick-Up-Trash-470183833.html https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Fort-Worth-Pays-Homeless-P...
      - jpttsn 9y ago
        There's a difference between paying a $10 hourly wage and contributing to a pool of resources. I'm guessing my own contribution would be far less than $10 per hour if this were tax financed. If you and I can agree to each pay $5/h, maybe let's start there and find other people who also want to pay? Wouldn't that be better?
        grasshopperpurp 9y ago
        Kind of an a-la-carte approach to civic responsibilities? I can envision ways in which it'd work, and people would feel better about it (in general) than they do taxes. It seems like something like this would work best at a local level, which would obviously apply to the particular example we're discussing. In theory, I'd be on board with it, as long as federal programs/taxes remained. If you found a way to implement it on a larger scale, I'd be surprised/impressed.
        jpttsn 9y ago
        But why should it be surprising? So many people advocate for change just like you do; what mechanism could keep the idealism from being realizable?

xanderstrike 9y ago

They really don't. Trying to find a toilet you can use in downtown San Diego even as a regular looking person is a struggle and you will probably end up having to buy something. Businesses won't let you use their facilities if you look dirty or homeless, and there aren't any city owned bathrooms at least that I've seen in the 2 years I've been here so far.

OkGoDoIt 9y ago
Likewise in San Francisco. I like to take very long all-day or late night walks and bathrooms are very hard to come by. Sure as long as it’s daytime and I look presentable I can usually find a cafe/store that will let me use the bathroom, but after 9pm if I don’t happen to be near a hotel it’s often impossible for me to find a restroom. Many restaurants and convenience stores will say the bathroom is broken (even when it’s clearly not). Also it’s common to find places that physically block access to the restroom with boxes or whatever. Long story short, I’ve had to get used to peeing outside in shadows since it’s rarely possible to find bathrooms. I’m not sure what I’d do if I was female or needed to take a crap.
joelrunyon 9y ago
You're probably not looking in the right spots. http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/hepatitis-crisis/sd-me-restrooms-homeless-20170916-story.html http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/hepatitis-crisis/sd...