PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Teddy Siegel, Founder of got2gonyc, on Public Bathroom Access
2:01:19
·
3 min
Teddy Siegel, founder of Got To Go NYC, testified about the critical need for public bathrooms in New York City. She shared her personal experience that led to creating a crowdsourced bathroom map, which has become Google's largest and most frequently used map worldwide. Siegel emphasized that the lack of public restrooms is not just a quality of life issue, but an equity crisis affecting various populations.
- Siegel's map has garnered thousands of locations and editors, with her content reaching over 100 million people across social media platforms.
- She shared stories from her community, highlighting how the lack of public bathrooms affects homeless individuals, delivery workers, tourists, and people with medical conditions.
- Siegel argued that the proposed legislation package has the potential to positively impact everyone in New York City, as access to bathrooms is a universal need.
Teddy Siegel
2:01:19
Good afternoon.
2:01:20
I'm Teddy Siegel, and I'm the founder of Got To Go, a social media based mission dedicated to sharing accessible bathroom locations.
2:01:28
In the middle of Times Square, in July 2021, I sipped the last of my iced coffee and realized I had to go.
2:01:35
After several businesses turned me away, I burst into a McDonald's in tears, only to be told the bathroom was for customers only.
2:01:42
I paid $3 for a bottle of water, ran up a flight of stairs, and found the door unlocked.
2:01:48
I thought to myself, if only I had a resource that showed me where the closest bathroom was, I could have just gone in and used the toilet, saving my time, money, and anxiety.
2:01:57
I took a video of the outside of the McDonald's and posted on a TikTok account I created later that night.
2:02:03
Got to go NYC.
2:02:04
I hope that sharing this information would offer relief to at least one other person.
2:02:09
As of today, my crowdsourced bathroom map is Google's largest and most frequently used map in the world, having garnered thousands of locations and thousands of editors.
2:02:18
My community has also grown.
2:02:20
Today, there are over half a million people across all my social media platforms, and my content has reached over a 100,000,000 people.
2:02:27
And while I am proud of my work, I'm not saying these numbers to Brad, but to underscore the gravity of this issue.
2:02:33
Gautogou was born out of a direct result of the city's failures.
2:02:36
It's extremely alarming that sharing videos of accessible bathroom locations on TikTok would resonate with millions of people.
2:02:44
I've learned from my Gautogou community that New York City's lack of public restrooms is not only a quality of life and public health issue, but it's an equity crisis.
2:02:52
What might be considered an occasional nuisance for all New Yorkers is a pressing issue for many.
2:02:57
In February of 2022, a man commented on my page I'm a big black guy who does deliveries at night.
2:03:03
I don't even try at this point.
2:03:05
Later that month, I received another comment.
2:03:07
I used your account when I was homeless.
2:03:09
Thank you for real.
2:03:10
Realizing that this is so much more than just bathrooms, I encourage my community to submit their own bathroom struggle.
2:03:17
A forty four year old New York City resident with irritable bowel syndrome had to deprecate between 2 parked cars on their morning commute.
2:03:23
A homeless couple were denied the bathroom code to a cafe despite offering to buy something with their limited funds.
2:03:30
A tourist from London witnessed her elderly friend but herself.
2:03:34
A trans man tore his pelvic floor due to holding it in for so long because the park bathroom stalls were missing doors.
2:03:41
As a says, gender white woman, I'm aware of the inherent privilege that my appearance in orientation gives me.
2:03:47
I can walk into most hotels and use their lobby bathroom without being questioned or told to leave.
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This is not the case for the majority of people who live in New York City.
2:03:55
And this is New York City, the greatest city in the world.
2:03:58
Why are we ranked 93rd in the nation when it comes to bathrooms per capita?
2:04:01
Why was a twenty seven year old New York City resident forced to bleed through her pants in a CVS while holding a box of tampon she bought begging to use the rest astrome.
2:04:09
Why did a twenty two year old camp counselor at Prospect Park have no choice but to change children in a bathroom where human feces was smeared on the floors and walls for days on end despite having reported it to the parks department.
2:04:22
Why was a New York City school teacher left with no choice but to endure a humiliating accident in her car after being turned away from several businesses in search of a bathroom?
2:04:30
This legislation package has the potential to positively impact the lives of every single person who lives in or travels to New York City.
2:04:38
Because no matter who you are, where you're from, or what you believe in, everybody's got to go, and we all deserve the right to do so in peace.
2:04:45
Thank you.
