New York City Council seeks spots to put public bathrooms

When you gotta go … you might have 200 or so more public bathrooms to take care of business, under legislation passed Thursday by the New York City Council.

By a tally of 49 to 1, the council sent legislation to Mayor Eric Adams requiring the city departments of parks and transportation to consult with local community boards, and the public at large, to pick feasible spots and issue a report outlining where at least one restroom can be installed in each of the city's 200 or so ZIP codes.

That report would be due June 1. Adams’ press office didn't reply to an email seeking comment, although the bill was passed with a veto-proof majority. Only Councilman Kalman Yeger of Brooklyn voted “no,” and Councilman Rafael Salamanca Jr. of the Bronx was absent for the vote on the legislation, Introduction 258 of 2022, according to the roster listed on the council’s public database.

The legislation was drafted at the request of the Manhattan borough President Mark Levine, with its prime sponsor as Councilwoman Rita Joseph of Brooklyn.

In a city of more than 8.4 million residents — a figure that excludes tourists and those who come into the city for work — there are just 1,103 public bathrooms, at parks, libraries, subway stations, pools and privately owned public spaces, according to a 2020 analysis in an Architectural League of New York publication. In past decades, there had been more bathrooms, but those were closed, among other reasons, due to budget cuts, drugs, crime and sexual behavior.

A typical no-frills public bathroom for a public park — with four walls, several toilets, faucets and sinks — costs about $3.6 million on average, the news outlet The City reported in 2019.

The United States has only eight public toilets per 100,000 people overall, tied with the African nation of Botswana, according to the “Public Toilet Index” published last August by the British bathroom supply company QS Supplies and the online toilet-finding PeePlace. At the top of the ranking is Iceland — with 56 per 100,000.

At a recent virtual news conference with the borough president and councilwoman, TikTok influencer Teddy Siegel, who runs an account dedicated to public restrooms, called Got2GoNYC, hailed the legislation: “I was inspired to create my account last year after nearly peeing my pants in Times Square.”

By Matthew Chayes

matthew.chayes@newsday.comchayesmatthew

Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.