Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
L.A. To Consider Implementing Portable Restrooms In Face Of Hepatitis A Outbreak
On Wednesday, an L.A. City Council committee voted unanimously to consider a plan that would bring portable restrooms to Los Angeles' vulnerable populations amid a hepatitis A outbreak.
Governor Jerry Brown deemed the statewide hepatitis A outbreak as a state of emergency last week. The statewide outbreak has largely been concentrated in San Diego, but a separate outbreak in Los Angeles was declared in September when it became clear two of the 10 cases of hepatitis A in Los Angeles were locally acquired and had no connection to the outbreaks in San Diego or Santa Cruz.
Access to restrooms are an instrumental component in fighting hepatitis A because the virus is transmitted through feces. Typically, contraction occurs when the virus is taken in by mouth from contact with objects, food, or drinks contaminated by the feces (or stool) of an infected person, according to the CDC. The virus affects homeless communities most aggressively because of the lack of sanitary restrooms. For example, Skid Row only has nine public restrooms available at night for the neighborhood's 1,800 residents.
Councilman Mike Bonin presented the motion, which was unanimously approved by the City Council's Homelessness and Poverty Committee. The motion calls on the city to explore ways of providing better access to clean restrooms and explore the potential for implementing a system of portable restrooms.
Support for LAist comes from
According to the motion, the city will primarily need to analyze possible locations and access to funding. "Best practices indicate public restrooms should be staffed by attendants to keep the facilities clean and free of criminal activity. And even if adequate funding were available, there remains a lack of adequate space in our dense neighborhoods to place restrooms without encroaching in the public right-of-way," the motion states. The motion requests a report on what type of funding may be available as well as a study of the best possible locations for the restrooms. This includes outlining the protocol for installing restrooms in walkways or parking lots, provided no other locations are "suitable or practical."
The motion cites San Francisco's "Pit Stop" program as a model for what Los Angeles could do locally. The "Pit Stop" program is a partnership between BART and the City of San Francisco, providing public, portable restrooms at 17 locations across the city, according to City News Service.
L.A.'s outbreak has yet to reach the size of San Diego's outbreak, which was declared a public health emergency in September. San Diego has seen 490 cases and 19 deaths from the virus so far.
Dr. Gil Chavez of the California Department of Public Health's Center for Infectious Diseases said, "I think there are two keys to preventing hepatitis A—one being vaccination, and two being good access to sanitation," according to City News Service. An increased number of portable restrooms would help to address the sanitation issue.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity. -
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?
Best of LAist