many people always say, "why spend money on the iraqis, let them help themselves." why help the homeless? they have even more freedom to help themselves... they don't have to worry about being blown up all the time by terrorists...
Oh, THAT's the reason we're there...to help those who can't help themselves...
By spending tax money...the same tax money that some in this thread are ing about going to help the people down the street...
So I assume we'll be helping the people in Indonesia and Africa anyday now, right?
So Clan, are we just supposed to help people that can't help themselves...
...or are we just going to help people that have to worry about being blown up?
Interesting subject.
I think the bathrooms are a great idea. It's good to see tax dollars that will make an instant impact on San Antonio. The city also recently renovated the main street mine leaks into and the highway renovations on I-10 and 410 are coming along nicely as well. These are really positive things that help a lot of people out so I'm encouraged.
As far as the new mayor electee goes, I was happy to hear he was making council members cut back on their lavish lunches and lifestyles (while working) thus saving more tax dollars. I don't really know too much else about him, but it's that kind of cost efficient thinking that makes differences down the road.
I really feel for homeless people. No matter if they are lazy and don't want to work for their money. I look where they ended up and I know that's not what they wanted. It's kind of sad to me.
Even though it's supposed to be bad, I usually give them a dollar or some change on the side of the road. Even if they go buy a beer at least that gives them some sort of pleasure.
It's a tough subject and hard to correct. Some people just don't make it for whatever reason. There has got to be winners and losers, it's just the way things work - but I wish the homeless people didn't lose so bad. And as challenging as the situation may seem, it's a lot better with people donating of their time, ideas, and money to work in soup kitchens, different ways to improve their quality of life, and whatever else.
That deserves a lot of recognition in my eyes because everybody can think of ways to make a difference, but to go down there and actually do the hands on work is a big deal.
I know you can't just wipe out homelessness in one swoop, but I think it would be really cool if there was a program where one person a week was eliminated from being homeless and was placed in a $300/month apartment with a 12 month lease or in some government housing. They could be selected because of merit they displayed in whatever criteria you want to use and given 3 sets of clothes and a $100 heb/wal-mart gift card. Then they get to go out and try to make a living on their own.
Hmmm look at the last two paragraphs I wrote. Oh well, I never said I did anything.
no, i was just saying how poeple are always complaining, we shouldn't help xyz, but then we should help 123...
regardless...the amount of money being spent on these restrooms is waaaaay too much. and there are many programs for the homeless and low income. many people are too lazy to look.
I haven't time to read the entire thread, but if San Antonio wants to continue to attract people to its downtown to visit and live and work then it better improve and add some amenities. Honestly. How much change downtown has there been over the last 20 years? It looks the same as it did back then for the most part. I was in Denver recently and the downtown area is simply awesome. Clean and well organized. Granted, Denver is somewhat larger than SA in population and economic activity, but its downtown puts SA's to shame.
half a million dollars for 2 restrooms??? you have got to be kidding me...
Again, I ask (and not one of the detractors has answered), how much would it cost to keep lesser models secured and clean and will you do it?
Why dont we give the homeless dudes 5 buacks a day to clean it.
Gives them cash and gets it clean at the same time.
Because somebody getting paid $5/day is going to be at the restroom's beck and call 24 hours/day.
I'd sure hate to be that tourist who needs one at 2:30 a.m.
Tourists can go to their hotels
So are you volunteering to get paid $5/day to clean them?
And it's not only the homeless that are going to be able to use these.
Denver's downtown puts a lot of cities to shame.
I said pay the homeless, I am not homeless.
I'm not sure a homeless guy would accept $5 a day to sanitize the bathroom completely after every use. I don't think he would do near as good a job as the machine would if he did. I also don't think people would have the level of trust that he did.
You have to understand maintaining a clean restroom facility open 24 hours a day/365 days a year to anyone and everyone is very difficult. There is also overhead in the supplies used. I don't know if supplies are included in the cost, but the proposed bathrooms efficiency is probably much greater than that of a human attempting the job by hand.
When you think of two bathrooms, it doesn't sound like a lot for $500,000 but if you start to factor in the length of time, the unenviable task of cleaning it after every use, and the glaring need it starts making more sense.
This is not a quick fix, or a kids band aid for the problem. This is the real deal and a solution to the problem. I'm not sure how much impact 2 bathrooms can make on an entire city, but it's a lot better than 0 bathrooms.
But, but...3rdcoast said we should give 5 bucks to homeless people. I mean, who wouldn't want to work $.21 an hour?
if your homeless and have no cash you better be ready to suck for a penny.
5 bucks should be a God send to them
beggers cant be choosers and they will clean up for bucks if they wanna eat that day
I don't think they're quite as desperate for money as you think. They are homeless, dirty, and wearing tattered clothes. They have no prospects, little to no money, and no one to turn to. The elevator doesn't go much past the basement's cellar.
too funny
I'd feel better about pissing on a $250k toilet than in one.
What Kind of Porta-Potty do you Get for $250,000?
LAST UPDATE: 8/16/2005 1:52:39 PM
Posted By: Jim Forsyth
This story is available on your cell phone at mobile.woai.com.
Watch this story...
So just what kind of toilet would the city get for a quarter million dollars?
Not your usual KYBO, no sirree!
1200 WOAI's Bud Little did the ultimate in investigative reporting, when he stuck his head deep inside one of the two $250,000 toilets earmarked for the downtown homeless to investigate exactly what comes with a toilet which costs twice as much as the average San Antonio home.
Money to buy two of the loopy loos is included in the city's proposed 2006 budget and was revealed by 1200 WOAI news last Friday.
Each restroom will include one toilet and one sink, and will be automatically cleaned and disinfected after each use.
"One of the manufacturers claims he has an independent study that 99.9 percent of all the bacteria are removed in each cleaning cycle," said Chris Young, the city official who drew the short straw and was assigned to discuss the proposed super potties.
One of the most alarming aspects of the luxury latrines is the fact that a voice in the restroom tells you to get out.
"Before it runs out of time, a little flashing light comes on and a voice tells you that your time is just about up," Young said.
Then the door springs open.
He said that cuts down on the incidents of people performing unnatural or illegal behavior in the toilets.
About $150,000 covers the cost of the toilets themselves, the other $100,000 is for land acquisition and instillation.
Mayor Hardberger has already said he is not keen on spending $500,000 in taxpayer dollars on two downtown porta-potties.
let's hope phil can get this nixed..
True. But it wasn't just Denver. The entire state was fairly clean and well organized. I like Fort Collins a lot.
I agree, we shouldn't get these bathrooms.
Maybe Mayor Phil heard from Cons uent 3rdcoast and figured out how to pay a homeless person five dollars a day to clean and disinfect the toilets.
or they could do it like they do in europe.. there was always some old ass lady that sat at the door waiting for tips when you left or entered.. she was the cleaner.. maybe a homeless person could that...
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