Q&A
Addressing the criminalization of public urination
0:53:18
·
115 sec
Council Member Sandy Nurse raises concerns about the criminalization of public urination, given the lack of sufficient public restroom infrastructure. She inquires about any ongoing conversations with law enforcement agencies regarding this issue.
- Sandy Nurse highlights the disproportionate impact on unhoused individuals and those with medical conditions
- Ya-Ting Liu acknowledges this as an area for potential future work and coordination
- The Parks department currently prioritizes education over enforcement
- There's an opportunity to engage with the NYPD to balance quality of life concerns with the need for more accessible public restrooms
Sandy Nurse
0:53:18
But, you know, one of the I'm sorry.
0:53:20
I rolled on.
0:53:21
I wasn't expecting to go so early.
0:53:23
So what are some of the conversations you all are having about the criminalization of, you know, public urination or things like that.
0:53:35
Given we acknowledge we don't have a sufficient public infrastructure network for people who need to go, the number of on house people on our streets, the the number of people who just need to go for a a number of medical issues or conditions therein, are you all having these inclusive of your conversations where you're thinking about the public realm and everything that happens in are you all having any conversations with NYPD or the law department or any police about how we can decriminalize this thing given it is the city's fault mostly that we don't have enough infrastructure and that the amount of summonsives have gone criminal summons is, the amount of people who are incurring fines, who literally don't have a dollar to them to pay something like this, and they just they have a bladder and they gotta go.
Ya-Ting Liu
0:54:24
Yeah.
0:54:25
You're pointing out an area of work that absolutely our team is happy to sort of start conversations.
0:54:33
And you're you're pointing out like an area that is an opportunity for us to take more of a role in and play that coordination role.
0:54:40
I know from the Parks department side and talking to the Parks team, the PEP officers like to lead with education 1st and foremost, but there is absolutely room and opportunity to engage PD as well to sort of figure out how we balance quality of life and maintaining that quality of life, but also making sure that we're not overly penalizing to your point, New Yorkers who are lacking this access and amenity.
Sandy Nurse
0:55:11
Thank you.
0:55:12
Thank you, Cher.
