The Barr Code

By Lisa

February 25, 2008 7:47 AM | Link to this

Like they will use them? Please!

By Butler

February 25, 2008 8:05 AM | Link to this

What a scam!

All these homeless people should be invited to Bob Barr’s home to do their business there.

By bo

February 25, 2008 8:06 AM | Link to this

sounds like the toilets are mostly for the benefit of those who walk on the sidewalks not the homeless themselves.

By C. Lee West

February 25, 2008 8:10 AM | Link to this

Atlanta officials are no different than other cities….they tax and spend. They do not care if they are taking your money and spending it on frivilous things for other people. When you are spending someone else’s money it flows freedly without regard.

By Atlanta Mike

February 25, 2008 8:15 AM | Link to this

Way to go people! Forget about the extremely high Atlanta city tax rates, the rise in violence, the growing homeless population, and the never ending traffic problems. Just install a few toilets and all our problems will go away. Franklin, it’s time for you to go!

By sdsgdg

February 25, 2008 8:26 AM | Link to this

If you build it they will come? I don’t care what they cost, no one is going to use them because the skank inside them will be horrendous. What the city needs are laws barring the vagrants from panhandling and living under bridges. Florida enforces the trespassing laws under bridges quite effectively.

By Roll back taxes

February 25, 2008 8:32 AM | Link to this

This city needs a property tax rollback and freeze. Didn’t they just announce that there is a 70 million shortage? Obviously fixing potholes and police and fire protection are not as important as ensuring clean a*******es on the filth that wander the streets.

By Jonny

February 25, 2008 8:37 AM | Link to this

Remember, we also have $70 million deficit. My property taxes have gone up, on the city side, 400% over the last 5 years. And this is what we spend on? And I have friends that live outside the city telling me what a great job Mayor Franklin is doing compared to Campbell. Friends, pay the increase of my taxes, pay the deficit, and pay for these toilets and THEN tell me what a great job Franklin is doing. She is only a better spun Mayor given a media pass because she’s so gosh darn charming. Wake up!

By Michael

February 25, 2008 8:42 AM | Link to this

Since Franklin took office she has nearly doubled the city budget but services and repairs haven’t been doubled or even increased. Just look at the Police and Fire. We have roughly the same number of both and their budgets are roughly the same. Where is all the money going? Even this $1.5 million toilet debacle doesn’t account for all this missing money.

By P

February 25, 2008 8:51 AM | Link to this

Typical. Now that you’ve made us aware of this, what do you suggest we do? Who do I talk to?

By Pam Davidson

February 25, 2008 8:53 AM | Link to this

Guess you folks have never been to san francisco where the streets smell of urine. Believe me, you will thank the mayor.

By John

February 25, 2008 8:56 AM | Link to this

$300,000 ???!!! How can a toilet cost that much? That’s worth more than my house…why don’t they just buy some cheap houses near the stadium and let the homeless pee there?

By Erin

February 25, 2008 8:56 AM | Link to this

As much as I agree that Atlanta’s priorities are a little out of order, if those public toilets keep me from having to dodge human excrement on the sidewalks at the Civic Center MARTA station, I’m all for them.

By John

February 25, 2008 8:58 AM | Link to this

It’s time to flush Atlanta of it’s politicians.

By Oh Pleeze

February 25, 2008 8:58 AM | Link to this

If they think that the toilets will only be used for the intended purpose, they need to rethink. They will be frequently used for trysts, sleeping and drug deals.

Also, if they are being used by homeless people, you can bet that NO regular citizen would go near them. Those bathrooms will be nasty and dangerous.

By What a suprise...not!

February 25, 2008 9:05 AM | Link to this

Any why should this be a surprise?

Lack of competency, accountability, reality, and awareness of, and solutions to, the key issues are only reflective of those in power at the city and county levels (and the uninformed, generational government dependent “I’m entitled” masses who support and vote them in to office)…

Change is not something we’ll likely ever see…

By Chris

February 25, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this

About time for a complete house cleaning at city hall. The toilets are a nice gesture, but with budget problems, this is not smart spending. I pity all who are homeowners in Atlanta, you are getting raped on your taxes and are not getting anything for it. Maybe Clark Howard for Mayor is a great idea.

By LL

February 25, 2008 9:12 AM | Link to this

I walk through the plaza at the 5 points station which has been named the living room….. I see men women, and even children everyday doing drugs, panhandling ,drinking. its sad that these people do this right in front of the state building that is suppose to serve the people. Many of them are mentally ill or disabled, the rest have just been so beaten up by the world they know nothing else to do. I don’t think fancy out houses are going to help. Red tape and budget cuts make these people cast aways because they cant get the services needed. Someone mentally ill does not need a temporary shelter, they need, long term care, medication and counseling to help them cope. the diabled needs affordable housing. A free toilet is a slap in the face. I’ve been homeless and its a heavy burden , its only by God’s grace that my family made it through. But what about the ones who dont aren’t they worth more. Donate the $300,000 to Hosea feed the hungry your money will be better spent there. Shame on you even Michael Vicks dogs got better treatment……..

By Get rid of Shirley Franklin

February 25, 2008 9:27 AM | Link to this

What do you expect from a mayor whose own family consists of a daughter that was convicted of aiding in laundering drug money, a son in law that has a life sentence for drug dealing and an ex-husband that just had the assets of his business seized for non payment of taxes? And then there are the city employees that use city credit cards to get their nails done (at tax payer expense). How about all the city departments that have been investigated and employees arrested like the water dept, the tax assessors office, etc. It is time to clean house in Atlanta

By Becky

February 25, 2008 9:29 AM | Link to this

John, you should run for Mayor..I would vote for you..

By Get your facts straight

February 25, 2008 9:37 AM | Link to this

These toilets did not cost 300000. Mr. Barr should actually do some real research when things don’t seem to add up to learn what really goes on.

To the readers: remember this is the OPINION section, not the FACTS section. Don’t get too upset until you too know what really is going on.

By Bosch

February 25, 2008 9:41 AM | Link to this

Idealistically I think most want to help the homeless, and yes, this is a gesture to provide a basic human need, but realistically, we all know what these bathrooms will look like and smell like in a month or two after they are built.

$1.5 million could go a long way in programs and shelters (shelters, which, I’m assuming are equipped with toilets) to help the homeless.

By Michael

February 25, 2008 9:42 AM | Link to this

For Pam Davidson:

I have been to San Fran. several times in the last couple of years and I do a lot of walking in the downtown tourist areas and believe me the public toilets did nothing stop public urination. If you walk just two blocks away form the tourist areas everything smells like urine. And if you notice no one has any public restrooms in their businesses because they say you can use the public ones. These things don’t solve any problems instead they just reinforce the homeless problem.

By Dusty

February 25, 2008 9:49 AM | Link to this

Just some questions:

What is the “Homeless Development fund”? Can this money be spent on any project other than something for the homeless? Is this a budgeted item or discretionary or what?

Are these toilets self cleaning? Do the camodes unstop themselves?

Who checks on these toilets? The police? Sanitation Dept.?

Is any Atlanta politician connected in any way to the company that builds these top-of-the-line toilets for the bottom of society’s lost humans?

Do we furnish hot tubs, showers, soap & towels since homeless people don’t usually have those available either?

I really do not know the answers to these questions. Maybe the real question is: How much will we invest in the care of those who cannot care for themselves?

By Medic Man

February 25, 2008 10:07 AM | Link to this

My guess (after working as a Paramedic at Grady for over 10 years)is that 8 out of 10 homeless want to be that way. Those of you that scoff at that statement have never spent any time with the homeless other than the 2 or 3 hours you donate at Thanksgiving or Christmas. Most of these people are DANGEROUS human beings that belong in jail or in a mental institution. Since the budget cuts in mental health these dregs of society have been turned out on the streets of every major and mid sized city in the USA. Building then toilets is NOT going to facilitate these people becomming civil human beings. They will simply tear the public toilets up and then we will have to tolerate the smell of a stopped up toilet as well as the smell of the unbathed masses. Come on Atlanta get real…spend the taxpayers money where it will actually do some good. Spend it on the infrastructure such as sewers, roads and corridors free of panhandlers, drug addicts and criminals.

By anthony

February 25, 2008 10:09 AM | Link to this

what so ever you do to the least of my brother that you do unto me.

By BPJ

February 25, 2008 10:16 AM | Link to this

I have used toilets such as these in other cities (mainly in Europe), and it’s clear that most people commenting here have no idea what they’re like. These toilets allow a certain amount of time (I think it’s 15 minutes max), and then the doors open. They clean themselves in a very thorough way, between users. It’s a bit like a car wash, except the water jets, etc., are on the inside. You would be amazed how clean they are (it doesn’t matter whether the person who went before you was neat or messy).

So let’s not be messy with the facts, OK? It is not practical for anyone to “camp out” in one of these things. It’s ironic - the same people who are criticizing this are the same ones who have been criticizing the city for years for the smell of urine Downtown!

By NICK

February 25, 2008 10:17 AM | Link to this

Thank God for new toilets for the homeless!

Hopefully, they will all fall in and drown so our tax dollars (for which none of the homeless contribute to) will not be wasted on anymore crap!

By GaLiberal

February 25, 2008 10:24 AM | Link to this

This project was probably planned and approved several years ago and only got through the bidding process recently. Anyone that has had experience working for a government knows it moves at a glacial pace (except during election years).

But the real problem is that Bob ‘Impeachment’ Barr and his screeching drones show their bigotry and hatred of the poor and homeless by objecting to them having something that we all take for granted. This is just another example of elitist entitlement behavior that BIB and his buds decry. Spend billions on building me a 4-lane highway so I can live 50 miles way from work but no ‘wasteful spending’ on the poor and homeless.

When you vote Rethuglicon, you vote against your own best interests. And whining about public toilets is living proof.

By atl404

February 25, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this

Looking over the posts to this article, I am ashamed at my fellow city dwellers. The theme of the posts are not about the usefulness vs. wastefulness of the proposed latrines, but rather, along the lines of how disenfranchises and often mentally ill people, are a total waste of money. Again, Georgians and southerners, you are creating a mean and viscious state and region for yourselves. Ironic how the atlanta area is so materialistically fortunate, yet the people here on these posts seem to be some of the most ungrateful and unkind of human beings.

By rightiswrong

February 25, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this

To ATL404: Amen!!!
To Bob Barr: It would be best for all of us if you would stick to the “paper ballot” battle not the “toilet paper” battle.

By Nick

February 25, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this

Oh please, both the traffic problem and water problem will be solved through the people themselves. If they don’t demand more mass transportation instead of larger roads, we’re doomed to repeat our mistakes of the past. If we don’t think about the water supply and ration (and yes build a better reservoir too) then we’ll be doomed to repeat those mistakes as well.

I admit the public toilets are a stupid thing to spend your money on, but don’t lie Bob, spending huge amounts of money on expanding the roads only contribute to the problem.

In some cases, in Germany, when the roads become too congested, they reduce the size of it to push more public transportation. After all, the Eisenhower Interstate system was inspired by the germans, maybe we should take another hint from them too?

By mark

February 25, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this

WOW!! A private place to smoke, drink, etc… out of public view. Great idea

By Michael

February 25, 2008 11:06 AM | Link to this

For: GaLiberal

Actually this process was rather quick, less than a year. They decided that they wanted them and they went out and got them. Then they said that we all wanted them and believe me we didn’t want them. And if you think all they are going to cost us is $1.5 mill you are wrong the cost will now go up that we have to cover them so they aren’t such an eye sore and we will have to constantly repair the damage that will be done to them and add security features to prevent future damages, etc…. and it will just keep going on and on.

By Stephen

February 25, 2008 11:09 AM | Link to this

Providing basic human accommodations for the less fortunate that will have a positive effect on the quality of life downtown (for the homeless, as well as business people, students, and tourists)should not be discounted and treated sarcastically. And I am assuming that these facilities will be available to tourists as well, which is something that Atlanta needs to consider if it wants to become a world class city and tourist destination with heavy foot traffic. As a taxpayer I think this is a great idea and I fully support this project.

By Rhett

February 25, 2008 11:23 AM | Link to this

I used to work with an outreach program. A lot of those folks don’t WANT to be off the streets but will go in to wash up or use a restroom safely. If the toilets are only for the homeless, they will deal with the stench. I don’t agree with the no loitering law or cost of the facilities, but since none of us are gonna crusade to stop the city, they should build an outdoor community and ban all the homeless to that area where they won’t offend those of us who’ve never relied on government assistance or never been in their shoes.

By Realist

February 25, 2008 11:30 AM | Link to this

Question number 1. How do you keep the homeless from using these restrooms as a place to sleep/live etc?

Question 2. How do you keep these places from turning into places of sex, drugs, etc?

Question 3. How do you keep these places from being damaged/vandalized and being run down in short amount of time?

If these questions werent asked and answered to satisfaction beforehand, then shame on the idiots who approved it. This is nothing but a money pit that will accomplish nothing!!!

By Daytunaguy

February 25, 2008 11:45 AM | Link to this

Having worked around 5 Points/Courthouse “homeless men” I can tell you for certain what will happen. An alpha male “homeless” will take up residence in each of these toilets,store his plastic bags there and claim it as his own. He won’t care that the door is open,it will be HIS location and he WILL control it. That is for sure!

By BPJ

February 25, 2008 11:47 AM | Link to this

Dear “realist”,

Please see my post (10:16am).

By Myers

February 25, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to this

Good to see Barr back on his game. Back to throwing red meat to the Ayn Rand groupies. Look, over there a shinny object. After his ankle deep analyses of the threat to the 4th amendment last week, he is back to what really threatens us, Public toilet expenditures. Now that he has established his street cred with his I’m a (faux) “Libertarian” posturing , here is a question, did Bob ever get any contributions from the telecoms when he was in office? Oh, and the $9 billion that has disappeared down the Mission Accomplished rat hole,just as your job one, secure F-22 funding to keep us safe from box cutters, is just the price we must pay to live “free”. Well, actually , that our children ,yet unborn, will pay ,plus interest due China. Bob’s successor Dr. Phil , now claims we must build F-22’s to protect ourselves from China even though,they are lending us money so we can build them. Or something like that.

By Keeping It *REAL* Real

February 25, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to this

There have already been public toilets for the ATL homeless for decades:

MARTA Elevator Floors !

By hmaddox

February 25, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to this

I would rather see the money go toward training the homeless to get jobs. Having a toilet to use is a privelege not a right.

By Atlresident

February 25, 2008 12:02 PM | Link to this

To Realist: Question number 1. How do you keep the homeless from using these restrooms as a place to sleep/live etc? Toilets are timed to open up after 6 minutes. Additionally, the unit opens up automatically when it senses dead weight. If you can somehow sleep or live in a unit that opens every 6 minutes, go for it. I DOUBT THAT YOU CAN! Question 2. How do you keep these places from turning into places of sex, drugs, etc? See answer to question 1. Question 3. How do you keep these places from being damaged/vandalized and being run down in short amount of time? Units are “touch free” stainless steel boxes, with no edges and corners. It will be very difficult to damage or vandalize them. Additionally, the exterior is painted with an epoxy finish that is graffiti resistant. Not to mention that all of the City’s units are cleaned manually throughout the day and can be programmed to shut down completely and self-clean. This is a complete wash of the entire interior. To all: Before you begin your negative tirade please Google the FAQ’s that were published on the units. These are truly state of the art public amenities, which have been tried and tested in “truly” metropolitan cities. They work and are used by the public, all members of the public. Can we contain our prejudices, please, and stick to the facts!

By Atlresident

February 25, 2008 12:02 PM | Link to this

To Realist: Question number 1. How do you keep the homeless from using these restrooms as a place to sleep/live etc? Toilets are timed to open up after 6 minutes. Additionally, the unit opens up automatically when it senses dead weight. If you can somehow sleep or live in a unit that opens every 6 minutes, go for it. I DOUBT THAT YOU CAN! Question 2. How do you keep these places from turning into places of sex, drugs, etc? See answer to question 1. Question 3. How do you keep these places from being damaged/vandalized and being run down in short amount of time? Units are “touch free” stainless steel boxes, with no edges and corners. It will be very difficult to damage or vandalize them. Additionally, the exterior is painted with an epoxy finish that is graffiti resistant. Not to mention that all of the City’s units are cleaned manually throughout the day and can be programmed to shut down completely and self-clean. This is a complete wash of the entire interior. To all: Before you begin your negative tirade please Google the FAQ’s that were published on the units. These are truly state of the art public amenities, which have been tried and tested in “truly” metropolitan cities. They work and are used by the public, all members of the public. Can we contain our prejudices, please, and stick to the facts!

By ATL123

February 25, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this

Before you make negative comments about the toilets, you should visit one and see if it smells, is stopped up, or even dirty.

Visit the units @ City Hall, Fire Station 4, Fire Station 21, and Woodruff Park.

Some people just like to read what they type.

By blacksheep

February 25, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this

to Myers (11:54 AM): Yeah, Bob’s really re-invented himself since his defeat, huh? I really sleep well at night knowing that he’s out there protecting my country from the fascists. Jeez.

By SharonH

February 25, 2008 12:22 PM | Link to this

Well that’s better than having them pee on the sidewalk right in front of your favorite eatery, isn’t it? And besides that you know you don’t want them walking into the restaurant or hotel behind you and using their bathrooms. This is a good thing. Much as you or I might want it, the homeless are not going to go away so you might as well as address these things.

By Alex

February 25, 2008 12:29 PM | Link to this

I’m so happy I’m leaving this city and this state later this year!!

By taxpayer

February 25, 2008 12:35 PM | Link to this

Were the people who made this decision ever in the Air Force?

By Soylent Green

February 25, 2008 12:56 PM | Link to this

Most of the “poor unfortunate homeless” are that way because THEY made the decisions that created their situation. At this point, you are not going to train those filthy, stinking, parasitic leeches to get a job or even to use a restroom. Turn them into food product to feed the rest of their lecherous kind and then keep repeating the cycle as needed.

By Hard Working citizen

February 25, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this

What an appalling waste of money! Most homeless are worse than animals (at least my cat uses a litterbox & buries what she makes) & are content to urinate & defecate in the streets. I get SO angry when I hear about homeless “rights”. Scum like that do not deserve rights. They are filthy, disease-infested & dangerous. The so-called “mentally ill” are revolting; at best they harrass decent citizens. At worst, they are a danger & are violent. They do NOT deserve help! They should all be turned out in the streets on the coldest night of the year..that will end the “homless problem” once & for all.

By CMCD

February 25, 2008 1:07 PM | Link to this

Wow, what a bunch of silvered spoon spoilt brats….. Obviously none of you have ever been down on your luck!! Homeless people deserve respect too, not all of them choose to live that way!!!!

By kay

February 25, 2008 1:09 PM | Link to this

Yeah, as someone who works downtown I can tell you I’d rather the city paid twice that than have to step over poop or see people urinating on my door at work (I’ve seen both.) And its a problem for everyone, not just the homeless. You can’t come downtown as it is, and if you do venture down here you will find yourself stranded with nowhere to go to the restroom. I brought my son downtown when he was little to lookt at the tall buildings, etc., and found that no store or business we entered would let us use the bathroom. I ended up having to take him behind a building to urinate! The same is true for almost every retail store in a black neighborhood. Just this morning my fiance and I stopped at a BP for gas and he was told he couldn’t use the restroom where we’d just bought the gas! And we ain’t homeless! What Atlanta needs is a law like one I saw in a Florida town—where every store open to the public is required to have a public restroom, also. People—allpeople—gotta go. Deal with it, or deal with human waste in the streets and alleys.

By Michael

February 25, 2008 1:12 PM | Link to this

Now you people are just getting silly. I’m guessing you are trying to smear this topic with a lot of homeless rhetoric. I’ve worked with homeless people a lot in the past 3 years and while you are correct most of them do choose to live like this. But there are a lot of mentally challenged people out there who need to be in an institution of some kind. But they are humans and while I’m not going to be feeding them and coddling them I’m also not going to be advocating for their deaths on the street like some of the posts here.

By Hard Working Citizen

February 25, 2008 1:17 PM | Link to this

CMCD, I can’t & won’t speak for anyone else on this blog, but I assure you I’M no silver-spoon trust fund brat. My user-name says it all. I’m working class, live in a rental, drive a beater (which still partly belongs to the bank) & there have been times when I worked 2 jobs. And you really believe lazy, AIDS infested drug addicts “deserve” respect? Aw heck no, they deserve to be spat on. I’ve had to go without because my taxes subsidize scum like that. And before you tell me “There but for the grace of God”…uh uh. I CHOOSE to work as opposed to being a crack-head/wino

By 2008

February 25, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this

And Shirley raised the water rates to offset the deficit created from consumers conserved as they were asked to do. Looks like the Ms. Franklin and the City need to do a some conserving!!! This is so screwed up, but then so is pretty much everything associated with the City of Atlanta any more.

By sdfasfa

February 25, 2008 1:48 PM | Link to this

And the city wonders why Underground Atlanta never succeeds. Do you think it might have something to do with the cesspool that downtown has become? There isn’t anyone there except for government workers (who go home at 5:00) and street trash that more closely resembles something from Dawn Of The Living Dead. And now we are going to build luxury toilets for this blight on society? If you want to see how these poor unfortunate live and trash their surroundings, drive past the shelter across from Crawford Long hospital. What an eyesore.

By Mara

February 25, 2008 1:51 PM | Link to this

Wouldn’t it be a better investment to create more shelters, or create a mental institution for those on the street who have mental illnesses.

Instead we spend thousands on toilets. If we are going to throw our money away at least it could go towards fixing the overall problem, instead of enabling people to live on the street.

By Terry

February 25, 2008 1:57 PM | Link to this

Enough already with coddling a group of people who are not interested in becoming contributing members of society. I work hard and pay taxes. Burns me up to think that those tax dollars will provide a toilet for someone who chose to become a leech on society. I know there are some who simply had the bottom fall out of their lives and want to work their way back into society. Those I am happy to help. I am sure that group does not use the street as a toilet - they have self respect. The group of scum who chose to use drugs, break laws, and just did not think they should have to work - they can cross their legs and hold it in!! We will never solve the drug and crime problems in our society if we continue to pity these leeches and not hold them accountable for their conduct and their lives.

By RDog

February 25, 2008 2:14 PM | Link to this

No doubt a politically connected croney got the contract for this limited production toilet that likely cost about $50,000 to make. Probably will break down after 100 uses which will require a long term service contract from the manufacturer for big bucks. The government cheese flows heavily for the ethically challenged.

By RDog

February 25, 2008 2:14 PM | Link to this

No doubt a politically connected croney got the contract for this limited production toilet that likely cost about $50,000 to make. Probably will break down after 100 uses which will require a long term service contract from the manufacturer for big bucks. The government cheese flows heavily for the ethically challenged.

By MC

February 25, 2008 2:24 PM | Link to this

I wonder how many of the most furious respondents attend church weekly?

By What a joke

February 25, 2008 2:36 PM | Link to this

Being surrounded with as many drug addicted family members, the mayor should realize that these “advanced public toilets” are going to be used for everything other than a place for a homeless person to relieve themselves. It will become a place to shoot up, a prostitution hot spot, a place to sleep and anything else that you can imagine a homeless person doing with “shelter”. For the person who drew the parallel to England using these public toilets is an absolute joker. England and Atlanta are so much alike, let me tell you. If it works there, it will be fine here. I’ve been an Atlanta native for 30 years and have never been so embarrassed to call myself a tax payer in

By Terry

February 25, 2008 2:57 PM | Link to this

Not quite sure what going to church has to do with being furious that my tax dollars are going to buy toilets for leeches. Pretty sure I would be angry inside or outside church.

By Blkshepherd

February 25, 2008 3:18 PM | Link to this

I am on the same page as Realist. How do you keep the homeless from actually taking up residence in one of these Private Portable toliets. Folks as will move in. sleep. do drugs, Privacy for sex, who will clean them and if they r self cleaned the homeless will move in them. Other homeless will not be able to use them as homeless folks are like guard dogs..very territorial. I mean they claim areas as their own,ie under the bridge, doorways. If you dont believe me..try to take one of Their Spots and see wont you get cussed out possibly attacked. Its the law of the land..whoever lands there First, it becomes theirs. Many times at the old fashioned bathrooms at 5points many homeless used stalls as their dressing and bedrooms blocking anyone who really had to use it. So go right ahead and give them Private indivdual bathrooms and you will be also giving them a new home and no one else including other homeless will be able to have access to them..watch and see. I for one will Not use them because I can just imagine the filth and diease that will be lurking all over the stalls..and dangerious at night especially.

By Maurice

February 25, 2008 3:38 PM | Link to this

At least they are spending it on the homeless this time and not just giving it away to the wealthy. They usually spend more time accomodating the people who don’t need it.

By MC

February 25, 2008 3:43 PM | Link to this

@Terry: If you had paid any attention to the Gospels, you would know what Jesus taught regarding treatment of the poorest and most desperate people:

Matthew 25:40

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Wouldn’t these people be more than leeches to their Maker, if nobody else?

By Hard Working Citizen

February 25, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this

Maurice, what have the homeless actually DONE to merit having money spent on them? Assaulting passers-by? Speading filth & disease? And, MC, there’s a huge difference between being a hard-working, clean, industrious person who’s going through a rough time & a lazy piece of garbage who won’t even try to improve themselves & feel entitled to be handed everything.

By Terry

February 25, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this

I think helping poor and desperate people is a wonderful idea - within limits. They need to be making an effort to better themselves as well. I am sick of the “victim mentality” - I am owed, but don’t need to work for anything. I draw the line at people who brought on that lifestyle through poor life choices such as drugs and would stab/shoot/rape me without blinking an eye while I am trying to be a good Christian. I should put myself at risk for someone who has no respect for either my life or their own? Don’t think so.

By To Pee Or Not To Pee

February 25, 2008 4:09 PM | Link to this

Sure, it does sound like a poorly chosen use of public funds, but I’d bet that the people here complaining about it would also complain if they saw a homeless person p** in public.

By Peggy Davis

February 25, 2008 4:15 PM | Link to this

I applaud the City of Atlanta for finally putting in some public toilets, and high-tech, low-maintenance ones at that. By the grace of God, we are not homeless ourselves. Everyone, regardless of their circumstances, needs to use the toilet. You can’t get more essential than that. Bob Barr and others should be ashamed at their criticism of this this most necessary expenditure. I hope those toilets function well for a long time.

By no pc

February 25, 2008 4:20 PM | Link to this

Putting in public toilets - good idea. Putting in public toilets that will no doubt be destroyed by drug addicts and homeless people and never actually be used by the good people of Atlanta, not so good. Perhaps the grace of God had something to do with me not being homeless, but I am sure my having a job and working my tail off to support myself and my family had an awful lot to do with it.

By Midtowner

February 25, 2008 4:21 PM | Link to this

Yes, Charlotte, the toilets do cost $290,000 - 5 toilets plus a 2 year maintenance contract for $1.5M. SO what happens when the maintenance contract lapses? Will the City have the $$ to renew? What if they don’t? The City should have put that $$ into the Hope program of addressing the mentally ill homeless…

By sj

February 25, 2008 4:39 PM | Link to this

Well that’s just perfect - my husband always say Atlanta is nothing more than a s…hole anyway -why not provide better toilets for the losers of Atlanta.

By Mara

February 25, 2008 4:49 PM | Link to this

5 toilets cost $290,000….something is definately wrong with that

By Will

February 26, 2008 7:37 AM | Link to this

As a Midtown resident, and one that frequently uses Piedmont Park, I am actually glad the City has installed this new pay-toilet at the Charles Allen entrance. Sure, it is a hideous structure and profoundly misplaced. But it is a helluva lot better than walking in to the other toilet, underneath the playground, and finding a filth-ridden pit populated with men engaged in naughty activities.

By itsallu

February 26, 2008 7:46 AM | Link to this

Socialism helps us poop better. Yeah, support another tax option today!

By Larry

February 26, 2008 8:00 AM | Link to this

Or they could give the money to the Central Library since all the homeless are hanging out in there anyway. Every time I visit to do research, there’s at least two homeless guys at each table discovering new ways to catch 15 minute naps on the little wooden barstools provided for our “comfort”.

By Thomas

February 26, 2008 8:31 AM | Link to this

This is a typical example of why our government chooses not to be transparent. The more layers of positions, roles, job titles, etc… are to keep the avg. people from figuring out who’s to blame and/or what is going on.

Imagine if every action were posted on a public bulletin (one source) for all.

The tax payers dollars should be spent on developing a universal (state) website which all counties must post information on spending, associations, employee profiles, etc…

Big government dilutes the ability to make them transparent, hence all the corruption.

By Thomas

February 26, 2008 8:35 AM | Link to this

Bob,

Thank you for exposing this and being a target by the city. This is truly journalistic work and it’s about time we see it from the ajc.

Thank you for helping our economy.

Thomas

By Thomas

February 26, 2008 8:43 AM | Link to this

Oh, by the way Shirley Franklin should be fired and be sued for all the money she wasted. Those companies who benefited, her friends, should also be sued.

By Sundance 44

February 26, 2008 8:51 AM | Link to this

Atlanta is run by a bunch of crooked politicians just like any other large city. I would suggest checking the bank accounts of the Atlanta city officials to see if large deposits have recently been made by the companies who build and sell those toilets. My guess is someone has been paid off.

By Gandalf, the Grey

February 26, 2008 9:03 AM | Link to this

ANTHONY! Ever heard of a part of the BILL OF RIGHTS that refers to separation of CHURCH AND STATE? You Dufus!

By delane

February 26, 2008 10:22 AM | Link to this

That much, for toilets, for the refuse of society, worthless junkies, lazy filth. Hey Atlanta, you are dumb@$$es. So, where did all that money really go? Can’t believe that kind of loot would be shelled out so the useless could go potty, sounds liked fake receipts and somebody’s raking in some cash. What is it city of Atlanta are you overwhelmingly corrupt or incredibly stupid? Hell, why not start an adopt a bum program, people can keep them in their yards like dogs. Teach them tricks, give them treats, scratch their bellies.

By demwit

February 26, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this

The homeless can pee there, but stay too long…, their arrested for loitering and run out of town. A new kind of homeless trap, if you will, and a great investment for getting rid of the trash..

By slippy

February 26, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this

do a BARREL ROLL!

By Eastwood

February 26, 2008 12:49 PM | Link to this

They’ll never use the toilets anyway…they all poop on Grant Street.

By myers

February 26, 2008 1:00 PM | Link to this

By blacksheep

February 25, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this

to Myers (11:54 AM): Yeah, Bob?s really re-invented himself since his defeat, huh? I really sleep well at night knowing that he?s out there protecting my country from the fascists. Jeez.

Barr is as worried about the fascists as I am concerned, that Elle McPherson is going to drop in unannounced.

He patriotically, is going to save us all, from the horrors of public money expenditures on toilets though. Patrick Henry has got nothing!

Not to put too fine a point on it but he is just the same charlatan he has always been. Why go to all that bother at “reinventing himself “, when being a phony is so lucrative?Working the rubes, no differently than any other snake oil salesman. He and Boortz can shuck and jive, with the best of them, when it comes to their faux libertarian pabulum. As the old saying there is a sucker born every minute. Like the great line from Good Morning Vietnam . I wouldn’t trust either of them with so much as a rotten apple. They would literally burn the constitution on national TV, if they could make dime for doing so.

By suntrust employee

February 26, 2008 3:38 PM | Link to this

Great, now I dont have to look out of my office window and see some homeless junkie shooting up in Woodruff Park. He has a state of the art outhouse to do it in. Franklin and her admin. are a complete joke. The city has a $60 million deficit, and they spend $1.5 on five toilets? They’re running a tight ship up there at city hall.