June 16-22, 2005

fine print

Urine Luck

Call it feminist, call it practical or call it a gift to women tired of standing in line. Legislation introduced last week by City Councilman Frank Rizzo Jr. would require that public places have twice as many bathrooms for women as for men. The bill, which garnered support from all members of council, would apply to new buildings and renovation.

"Everywhere I walked today the women especially are saying, 'Thank you, we really needed someone to do that,'" Rizzo said. "Today I got the message loud and clear and I heard a lot of thank-yous."

Men are grateful, too, Rizzo maintains, because they won't have to wait as long for their wives and girlfriends.

Mayor John Street says unisex bathrooms may also be an option to relieve "overtaxed" women's restrooms and "undertaxed" men's restrooms.

"It's something I'd like to take a look at. I think the goal is to make sure you have adequate facilities for both," he said. "But I have noticed it's a problem."

—Jenna Portnoy

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