Reader feedback in response to “Lack of public restrooms acute issue Downtown” published March 6. https://test.sdnews.com/lack-of-public-restrooms-acute-issue-downtown/

I read your article about the lack of restrooms Downtown. The same is true for our neighborhood of Normal Heights, and we have had the misfortune of finding human feces in the alley next to our home. It’s a terrible situation for the unhoused people who don’t have access to restrooms, as well as for the people who have to deal with that unsanitary mess. Even in a tourist area such as Sunset Cliffs, (which I notice every time we bring a visitor there), there is nowhere to “go,” which has caused some bathroom emergencies.

The lack of facilities is even worse for people with IBD or IBS, or those who have urinary incontinence. Their ability to attend events and participate in activities is ruled by the ability to find a restroom. It is hard enough to have Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis without this extra challenge, which severely diminishes their quality of life. People who have had colorectal or bladder cancer and have some of the same issues as people with Crohn’s. They may have had their bladder or colon removed, and if you have a “bag,” you have no control over how fast it fills, and it can leak or burst if you aren’t able to get to a restroom. There’s no “holding it” if you’re relying on a bag.

Every neighborhood should have public restrooms.

— Jen Salvo, Normal Heights

What a great and much needed article on public restrooms in Downtown San Diego! It amazes me how this city with its extremely high taxes, including special taxes for Downtown residents, cannot find the money to provide 24-hour security and cleaning at all existing public restrooms, not only for the purposes of homeless people but also for visitors, tourists and residents to use to promote general good health of our city. There always seems to be millions of dollars for free handouts, but no money for basic services (repair of street lights, potholes, clogged storm drains)

I also wanted to encourage you to write an article about the impact of California’s “Freedom to Walk Act” which eliminates any penalties for jaywalking. The only justification given by the authors of the act is the inequitable enforcement of jaywalking, and nothing to do with safety, when in fact of the over 6,000 pedestrian deaths per year over 5,000 of them occur outside the intersection! The city just installed delayed green stop lights at many intersections to provide safety for pedestrians to cross there. However since there is no compelling reason now to use the crosswalks, I predict there will be many accidents if not deaths occurring in the middle of the block as overconfident people of all ages play a deadly game of Frogger.

-Kevin Jones