NEW YORK (PIX11) -- Finding a public restroom in New York City has long been a challenge, but on Thursday, advocates celebrated a major step forward as the City Council passed legislation to address the shortage.
The bill requires the city to develop a plan to build one public bathroom for every 2,000 residents by 2035, marking a significant effort to improve access to clean and safe facilities across the five boroughs.
Outside City Hall, City Council members and supporters rallied with chants of "Free to pee, free to pee!" hours before the vote. Councilmember Sandy Nurse, who spearheaded the initiative, expressed her excitement: "Today, nature is calling, and we are answering it. We are so excited to finally pass this bathroom bill."
With only one public restroom for every 7,500 residents currently available, advocates say this legislation will help address inequities impacting vulnerable groups like delivery workers, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
A delivery worker at the rally shared their struggles: "This is especially important for delivery workers across the city, who have to work 12 or more hours a day without access to public bathrooms. And even when we go to pick up food from a public restaurant, we are often denied."
Advocates emphasized that restroom access is a universal need.
"Whether you are a low-income New Yorker, whether you are street homeless, whether you are a doctor or a lawyer, whether you are commuting to work like millions of people do in the city, you need a public restroom," one advocate said.
Among those celebrating was Teddy Siegel, founder of Got-To-Go NYC, a social media movement advocating for better restroom access. Siegel began her work after struggling to find a bathroom in Times Square years ago and has since created Google’s largest map of public restrooms.
"It’s a historic day for anyone who travels to or lives in NYC," Siegel said. "The fight for more bathrooms in the city is definitely not one I started, but I’m so proud to be part of this movement."
Now that the bill has passed, the city will begin planning where new restrooms will be built and how they will be maintained. Advocates hope this marks the start of making the city more inclusive and livable for all its residents and visitors.
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