Open and Maintain the Public Restrooms in Cold Spring

Clean public restrooms are a necessity for all people on the streets of Cold Spring, whether they are visitors traveling on business or holiday or residents strolling, chatting with neighbors, or picking up supplies or gifts. To deny them the use of existing public restrooms is inhumane. The lack of restrooms is especially painful for senior citizens, pregnant women, and small children (and thus their parents).

Of course, the restrooms would be used primarily by visitors. Why, then, should village taxpayers fund them? Whatever one’s view of the tourism boom, there is no denying that revenue from visitors provides incomes for many people who live and work here and supports a vibrant, walkable business district, one that furthers the town’s Climate Smart Community goals and enhances homeowners’ property values. Preserving quality of life here depends on an infrastructure for managing crowds, which includes public restrooms. The community is degraded when people relieve themselves outdoors for lack of another option. Finally, visitors are our guests, deserving at least minimal hospitality.

Given safety concerns, store-capacity limits, the antiquated plumbing of many buildings, and other practical obstacles, business owners cannot grant the public unrestricted use of their own bathrooms. The lack of public restrooms presents a hazard to public health and safety. Providing such a resource is a quintessential governmental function.