Access to public restrooms is a human right and a reproductive justice issue. We’re calling on the City of San Diego to improve access to public restroom facilities for all.
Find out how to contact your local Councilmember below!
Support Public Restroom Access for All
Sample comments:
- Access to public bathrooms is a matter of equity, safety, and public health. In 2017, San Diego County faced a hepatitis A outbreak, which resulted in the deaths of 20 people. The COVID pandemic has once again highlighted the importance of accessible hand-washing stations in public spaces. It’s vital that the County takes action to improve public health and increase access to restrooms for all.
- In addition to being a public health hazard, lack of public bathroom facilities has led to the criminalization of unsheltered communities who are unable to use the bathroom with privacy and dignity. Access to public bathrooms is a human right and the County must prioritize this in the current fiscal planning.
- I strongly support the proposal to increase access to public bathroom facilities throughout the City. As a matter of equity, it is also crucial that the City of San Diego ensures access to all-gender bathrooms, with adequate signage. Please implement all recommendations outlined in the proposal.
- A lack of bathrooms poses unnecessary challenges for workers on the go, people with disabilities, and families who cannot access diaper changing stations. I strongly support the efforts to improve access to public restrooms and urge the San Diego City Council to approve this proposal.
- Share why public bathroom access is important to you as a resident, parent, student, or person experiencing inaccessible bathroom facilities
- Stories are important to the City Council. Can you share an example of how a lack of bathrooms has impacted you? (Ex: While commuting to and from different areas, being a gig worker, nanny, etc.)
Background Information:
Historically, access to public bathrooms has been a major infrastructure challenge and an ongoing public health hazard – at great expense to taxpayers. Short-term, temporary “solutions,” such as street clean-up and installing temporary portable bathrooms, cost the City and county millions of dollars every year. We must be more proactive on this issue. Recently the San Diego County Grand Jury has released a report on public restrooms, to read the full report click here.
In the short term, we are asking for the following in this fiscal year planning budget cycle:
- Appoint a Director of WaSH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) at the Program Manager level to oversee public bathroom facilities IBA cost estimate: Program Manager $160k
- Pause on pay toilet proposal and explore other options to increase funding
- Extend hours of operation, including 24/7 access in high population areas
In the long term, we are advocating for the following to be achieved:
- Provide basic resources at facilities: menstrual products, sharps disposal boxes, diaper changing stations, and showers where possible
- Provide accurate signage and information about where restrooms are and how to access them, in multiple languages
- Identify locations for more permanent restrooms
- Ensure sanitation and custodial workers are paid a living wage