SF bans urinating in public

San Jose Mercury News ^ | July 2, 2002 | Renee Koury

[paul51]

In a city rife with bar hoppers and street people relieving themselves on sidewalks, alleys and busy streets, the stench of urine has joined fresh sourdough and coffee as among the city's famous aromas.

And the usually tolerant board of supervisors is no longer going with the flow.

[paul51]

How pathetic is it when a city has to take this action?

[exit82]

Darn. Now I have to find another new hobby.

[evolved_rage]

But most public bathrooms close on nights and weekends. In SF, whose fault is it that all the public restrooms close at night???

[JennysCool]

The '60s are now officially over.

[Ronin]

I don't know...

I think it is at least slightly positive in that they are doing SOMETHING.

My gut reaction, though, is that is it is too little, too late. The homeless rif-raff have been mollycoddled for so long that there is no incentive to work their way OFF the street once they land there.

[Drango]

Once again the great State of California setting a trend that will lead the nation

[goody2shooz]

Gee, I am so relieved. (Sorry for the pun. I couldn't resist!)

[lizma]

Last time I was there was about 12 years ago. The problem was evident then.

I'm just surprised to see this was considered okay til now!

[lizma]

Last time I was there was about 12 years ago. The problem was evident then.

I'm just surprised to see this was considered okay til now!

[Texasforever]

Do you mean it wasn't banned before? That explains "let it all hang out"

[weegee]

In SF, whose fault is it that all the public restrooms close at night???

If the public restrooms in SF never closed, who would go to the bars???

Didn't George Michael make a video with a disco ball in a public men's room and lots of gay sex?

[Cultural Jihad]

Related post: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/709537/posts

[Myrddin]

San Diego businesses were strongly impacted by "homeless" people urinating and defecating in business doorways overnight. The "gaslamp" district was particularly bad. Even the highrise buildings along B Street smelled of urine in the mornings. The nice weather in San Diego makes it a premiere spot for "homeless" people to live year round. The city even encourages the behavior by providing shelters when the temperatures drop below 40 F.

I encountered a similar problem in one of the quaint red phone booths in the city of Cardiff, Wales. I needed to make a phone call and opened the door to the booth. It was so rank with urine that I opted to get back in the car and look for a more suitable means of accessing a phone.

[billhilly]

It is probably still permitted in swimming pools and public baths.

[Quix]

What DISCRIMMINATION! Don't they know it's just a _____ thing! I thought they liked it best when they got each other good and wet! Ah well, I guess even SF can OCCASIONALLY rise to approaching the beginning of the start of commencing of thinking about doing something rational.

[f.Christian]

It's a dog thing...trolling!

[Quix]

Hmmmmm so, every day in SF is a dog day?

And the only lawful kind are wien . . dogs?

I suppose I could have resisted. . . but I didn't.

[American Preservative]

Pee-ing! ; )

[ClancyJ]

Years ago when I visited Boston I saw this public urination. I was shocked - shocked I say. In all my life in Texas I had never ever seen this. Then I go to what they think of as a sophisticated city and I see this.

[tjg]

I'm waiting for this headline in a SF Paper:

SF BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MAKES IT ILLEGAL TO BE POOR !