Restrooms: For Customers Only?
It's not my fault. It's no ones fault really. Everyone has to go to the bathroom but no one really wants to address the issue for anyone that has made their way down thames street past the Armory building.
There are no public restrooms from there until you get to King's Ppark a few miles down the road. Anyone that has ever gone into a public store or restaurant just doesn't understand why we don't want you to come in to use our bathroom.
First, it's ours. It's a private place that we keep clean and stocked with fresh supplies for our staff and our customers. Stomping your feet and threatening not to spend a thousand dollars as soon as you're done just doesn't cut it.
Second, water is very expensive in Newport, people that aren't from around here laugh when we tell them how high the water rate is here. They think we must be just making that up. The fact is, water here is through the roof and if anyone thinks that the bottle of water they buy makes up for the three gallons that we get charged for everytime they flush has lost touch.
It's not just you. More than forty people came into my store this weekend just to use the bathroom. They think it's a right under the state government that they can use my restroom. It's not.
The department of Health has stated that I have to have a restroom for my staff only and it has to have a place to wash your hands, soap and paper towels. That's what I have. The Newport Fire Department has stated that my restroom can only be used by my staff and not be open to the public because it doesn't have a fire alarm system installed with a light. Try and tell any of that to anyone and they think your making up stories.
Lower Thames needs toilets. Permanent toilets. I think the best use of space would be the small spot of land that the bank and the police share. The plumbing is already there and I know this because I send people there to use the restroom at the police office all the time. I wonder if they stomp their feet when the police say no.
ECB
3:34 pm on Monday, August 6, 2012
I feel for you, as my dad is a local business owner, as well (and owns a gas station, no less - talk about people thinking it's their right to use it regardless of not spending a dime!). It's interesting that Newport, a city that promotes year-round tourism, has such strange priorities as far as what services it feels it owes to its visitors. Public bathrooms should be a no-brainer.
Good Year
3:59 pm on Monday, August 6, 2012
Welcome to Newport. We've made it illegal to park your vehicle anywhere witihin a 2 mile radius of downtown. We don't provide public restrooms. So like it and "PAY UP."
Mike Cullen
4:38 pm on Monday, August 6, 2012
Welcome to Newport & RI where no one wants to take ownership for "Tourism Inc." I'm still looking for any recent survey of Newport tourists. No one appears to conduct surveys. I like the earlier idea of a pay toilet near the ATM/COP office. Other cities have different approaches: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pay_toilet But at least they take ownership for the need and find a solution.
nptresident
6:25 pm on Monday, August 6, 2012
Am I getting this right? A person purchasing a bottle of water is not considered a customer????? How much did you buy that bottle for?? And how much are you selling it for???? The profit on water is through the roof - just ask anyone who has sold water at charity events, etc. A huge case costs $5.00 at BJs and each bottle can be sold for at least a buck. Come on. Obviously Newport needs more restrooms and I admire your addressing the issue, but don't cut off your nose to spite your face.
Jack
8:15 pm on Monday, August 6, 2012
All the Newport Councils want is to visit sister cities on our dime, Ireland, Italy, Japan and looking for more.....next trip is coming up and I hear the EX mayor is going for free again......we are a generous group
nptresident
8:57 pm on Monday, August 6, 2012
What does this have to do with the issue? And, by the way, I heard the opposite is true.
John Weisley
11:28 am on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Depends what kind of business you are. Customarily, restaurants and bars have bathrooms open to customers. Retail shops do not.
All bars and restaurants in Newport should allow tourists to use their bathrooms irregardless of whether they purchase anything. Why? because the bars and restaurants operate with a privilege of holding an unnecessary monopoly paid by and owned by the taxpayer (liquor licenses). If Restaurants and bars don't open up, we should just print 200 more liquor licenses.
Regarding the cost of water. Water in Newport is more expensive than it used to be, and is only going to increase especially after spending $100 mil in bonds to redo the system.
But guess what?? Water is expensive everywhere. Even in the rural midwest, homeowners spend $100.00 month for water and $200.00 a quarter for sewerage fees for a 3 bed house.