A few days ago I added a post about how I sent an email to the head of our local parks department about piling trash in the park.
About a week later the trash was gone and I sent an email thank you with one more request — the women’s bathroom near the park. It was filthy.
I understand most public bathrooms are not clean but this one had fecal mater on the door handles, around the flush buttons, trash and tissue on the floor and it did not appear as if someone had cleaned it in quite sometime.
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I received a response from the parks administrator with the following email:
July 12, 2010
Dear Ms. Dillard,
I will make it a priority that the garbage at the playground is emptied every morning. That has always been my policy and the policy at my Division. Our priorities have always been to clean and inspect playgrounds before anything else. We should not open playgrounds until this has been completed. My second priority is restrooms. We must clean all restrooms first thing in the morning also. I will be speaking to Supervisors Joe Abalsamo and Sal Del Collo to make sure we do not lose site of our policy. I will also make sure additional trash receptacles are placed in our Playground. If at any time you have a problem please call Supervisor Joe Abalsamo at ***-***-****. I can assure you Supervisor Abalsamo will address any and all of your concerns. If you need further assistance my number is ***-***-****.
We will also address all the restrooms immediately. There is no excuse for what you have shown us. I do want to say that people are disgusting; they urinate and defecate on the floors daily. This is a reality and we have been dealing with it forever. I can’t say this will not happen again but the daily maintenance does exist but as I can see it needs to be more thorough.
I hope the remainder of your summer is pleasant.
Thomas McCann
Cc: Beth Ruttler
Joe Abalsamo
Sal Del Collo
Of course I went to check the restroom that day. Unfortunately, it was only a little better. The door handles were wiped a bit but it really didn’t look like anyone tried to make it cleaner. The floor had been mopped but the flush button around the toilet was still full of dirty finger prints. I don’t think anyone used a sponge. Anyway, I sent another email with my observations but when I go in periodically, it’s still pretty yucky.
My email apparently worked with things that could be viewed out in the open but not with things that are hidden from the view of most people. But at least it’s better than before.
