Sanitation must guide Olympia's toilet debate

I am writing in response to the Dec. 5 article, “Olympia businesses: public restroom key to improving downtown.”

While the article was detailed and thorough, I was mildly shocked that everyone seems to be forgetting the most important reason to have public restrooms available 24/7, and in multiple convenient locations: If there is too much pee and poo lying around, we are creating a situation ripe for a disease outbreak. Really nasty stuff like typhus, typhoid, and cholera. These bugs thrive in areas of poor sanitation.

In our zeal to crack down on prostitution and illicit drug abuse, we may be creating a greater danger for all of the citizens of our fair city.

Think back through history and remember why toilets were invented in the first place. My suggestion is that we think strictly from a public sanitation and hygiene perspective, which recognizes that pee, poo, sex, and IV drug use will happen, then set up our public restrooms accordingly. Let’s make our public areas sanitary and hygienic for all citizens of Olympia.

This story was originally published December 18, 2015 at 3:05 PM with the headline "Sanitation must guide Olympia's toilet debate."