Religious Group Sues Over Outdoor Urinal In San Francisco Park
SAN FRANCISCO (CBSNewYork/CBS SF/AP) -- A religious organization has sued in hopes of getting an open-air urinal removed from a public park in San Francisco.
The Chinese Christian Union of San Francisco filed the civil complaint last week demanding the city remove the concrete circular urinal from the iconic Dolores Park, CBS San Francisco reported Tuesday.
The group said the urinal, which is out in the open and screened only with plants for privacy, "emanates offensive odors," "has no hand-washing facilities" and "it's offensive to manners and morals."
"The open-air urination hole violates the privacy of those who need to use the restroom but would be required to expose their bodies and suffer shame and degradation of urinating in public view," the group said.
The San Francisco City Attorney's Office said in a statement that it will fight the lawsuit, and emphasized the colorful counterculture that Dolores Park is known for.
"Dolores Park—located between the city's diverse and colorful Castro and Mission neighborhoods—ranks number 1 on Yelp among San Francisco's best nude parks," the City Attorney's office said. "For years, the popular 16-acre destination has been well-known for its vibrant counter culture, immodest sunbathers, pot brownie vendors, spectacular city views, and famously irreverent 'Hunky Jesus' contest, which is sponsored annually by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence."
The office said residents advocated for the facility, called a "pissoir," to stop people from peeing on walls, bushes and sidewalks.
The urinal is part of a $20 million renovation plan that now has put more than two dozen toilets in Dolores Park along with other upgrades, CBS San Francisco reported.
The City Attorney's Office noted that the outdoor urinal is similar to streetscape facilities that have been seen in many European cities since the 19th century.
New York does not have any similar outdoor facilities, though Gothamist asked readers to weigh in back in January on whether the city should install them.
Readers who left comments were split.
"I think they should. Sometimes it's an emergency," one Gothamist reader wrote in January.
But others said they were unnecessary, or unfair given that they are intended only for men.
"I've never understood this," a Gothamist reader wrote. "Just walk into a bar and use the bathroom. Have a beer. Or don't!"
"It's unfair to 50 percent of the population," another Gothamist reader wrote in January. "Women have bladders too, and they get bladder emergencies just like guys do. Why should their tax dollars pay for a toilet they can't even use in an emergency?"
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