NYC Could Be Flush With Toilets If Park Slope Lawmaker's Bill Passes

PARK SLOPE, BROOKLYN — New York City is not flush with public toilets, but that could change if a group of Brooklyn lawmakers get their way.

Park Slope's City Council rep Shahana Hanif is among sponsors of a bill introduced last week that would pursue putting public toilets in every city ZIP code, city records show.

"It’s a critical human rights issue," said City Councilmember Rita Joseph. "Restroom equity doesn't get the attention that it deserves."

The proposed public loo law tasks Parks and Transportation departments as well as local community boards with finding ideal places to park a potty.

But public toilets can make for a hard sell.

The city's previous attempt to install a $300,000 self-cleaning toilet near Prospect Park was pooh-poohed by residents of Windsor Terrace.

This may be why the city ranks 93rd in among the 100 largest American cities for its public bathroom access, according to a Comptroller's office report.

City lawmakers have been doing the waiting dance for years on this issue, only made worse by the shut-down of local comfort stations during the coronavirus pandemic.

Patch reporter Anna Quinn contributed to this report.