San Diego has a lot to offer. From their unique dining, their oceanview, and their downtown San Diego condos in walking distance to many amenities or local transportation, it’s no wonder potential investors have their eyes on the area. However, downtown San Diego is not without fault. The state of California has faced a homelessness problem for decades, but with increasing inflation and joblessness, the homeless community continues to grow.
The city has been criticized in the past for public restroom shortages, resulting in public health threats. In 2017 and 2018, a hepatitis A outbreak in the area disproportionately impacted the homeless population. In response, city officials are proposing plans that would have public restroom access within a five-minute walk from anywhere downtown.
City officials are currently using city data and mapping tools to help locate where to place hand-washing stations, which will later convert into bathrooms. They have also identified a number of locations to place port-a-potties in an effort to curtail a recent shigella outbreak. They later mapped complaints tracked through the city’s Get It Done app about homeless camps and the area and assessed which areas would benefit from public restrooms the most.
The goal was set to have public restroom access within a five-minute walk by the city, and Kirby Brady, the city’s chief innovation officer, said that the plan aligns with a common city planning focus on amenities that are about a quarter mile walking distance. He identified gaps in Little Italy and near Children’s Park, but those gaps will be filled with renovations that include public restroom access.
City officials are working around the clock to make San Diego more beautiful by the day. While already an attractive area to tourists, life-sciences students, and business owners, city officials are taking necessary steps to address the city’s downfalls. City officials hope to move forward with the plan “as soon as possible,” though a timeline has yet to be set.