Is Portland really this dumb?

[Cool Texan]

Apparently the city has decided to buy 3....yes 3... stainless steel public toilet facilities to place in downtown....for $200,000. They will cost another $200,000 a year to operate them. And the best part is, Seattle already has some, and people are "demanding their removal". Yeah, this sounds like a smart investment...

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/orego...950.xml&coll=7

I'm guessing the next Multhnomah County tax surcharge will take on a new aroma all together.

[finclipped]

I saw one of those Seattle toilets recently on a trip up there. Looked like a hub for drug deals. No one I know would use one, based on what I saw.

[Chug]

WOW, Portland is sure going down hill fast..

CT.. I like your posting nunmbers.. 6,666

[Cool Texan]

Chug, it just means I've wasted a lot of time on here over the years.

[HOOKUP]

seattle has huge problems with thiers...including having to make a 1 person at a time rule because of hookers using them as brothels...pretty convient that they clean themselves!

Also they are hubs for drug dealers, and the homeless using them as tents all night.

[Tilla]

So where do you do your business then,in the parking garages?

[flapbreaker]

Seems like you could rent a WHOLE LOT of porta potties for just the operational cost alone. Can't believe that Portland is only short THREE toilets and that's going to solve some sort of potty problem. LOL

[Freakwater]

Originally Posted by Tilla

So where do you do your business then,in the parking garages?

Freakwater

[freespool]

When you look at the tram, water billing and reservoir covering capers, this looks like chump change.




salmon hugger


Tilla, they use the stairwells, PU does it stink.

[PGJPJ]

It can be a challenge to find a bathroom if you are just hanging out at Saturday Market. And yeah, the stair wells at the parking garages don’t exactly smell pleasant.

But we all know these are going to be used for drug deals and prostitution. So, they will have to hire extra law enforcement to watch the new bathrooms, and make sure only one goes in at a time. And no suspicious behavior around them.

Sounds like another Tram project. Is old Sam running this program?

[HeavyMetal BankFisherman]

"Is Portland really this dumb?"

Yes Portland is.

I was just reading the article about it in the oregonian. Apparently in Seattle they have disabled the self cleaning function and now have people do the cleaning. Several hours after cleaning they are filled with garbage and pop cans used to cook heroin. Nothing but free hotel rooms for drug dealers, prostitutes and homeless taking sink showers.

They should charge to use them. .50 cents a flush.

[1bigfish]

Originally Posted by HeavyMetal BankFisherman

They should charge to use them. .50 cents a flush.

If they did that, how many people do you think would flush?

[Abalone]

I remember how they handled this problem overseas in the Phiilppins !

They call it a Binjo Ditch...

[StickFish]

Originally Posted by freespool

When you look at the tram, water billing and reservoir covering capers, this looks like chump change.




salmon hugger


Tilla, they use the stairwells, PU does it stink.

You mean like the $1 million dollar police horse barn that ended up costing $5 million for the 6 police horses - I'd love to live there more over seabiscuit.

[drano100]

Sure they are, they build mass transit to bring people downtown to shop while city government drive business out with none support, they spent $1,000,000 to see if PGE is worth buying, sign a tram contract without any idea of what that contract holds them too, and passes city resolutions that the City of Portland does not support a war with Iran?( thats right Iran) This seems pretty par for the course after all we don’t want the dealers to get wet, they might bring suite against the city for not supplying adequate cover to protect their customers, thus causing financial distress.

[cougfan]

Originally Posted by HeavyMetal BankFisherman

"Is Portland really this dumb?"

Yes Portland is.

I was just reading the article about it in the oregonian. Apparently in Seattle they have disabled the self cleaning function and now have people do the cleaning. Several hours after cleaning they are filled with garbage and pop cans used to cook heroin. Nothing but free hotel rooms for drug dealers, prostitutes and homeless taking sink showers.

They should charge to use them. .50 cents a flush.

So if Seattle tried this unsuccessfully wouldn't that make Portland dumber? OK OK, I'm sorry, I take it back. It will never cease to amaze me what bureaucrats do to justify their existance. Give me 200K and I'll be happy to supply and service 3 restrooms. Oh, I'll need a 5 year deal to make it worth while, its kind of a crappy job.

[CATCH AND EAT]

Sounds like a great scrapmetal supply for tweekers. Another Eric Sten, Dan Saltzman, Sam Adams scam. Build three toilets but screw the schools. What fools we have in office.

The honey bucket idea may be sound in principle but in reality they will be even more of a hub for prostitutes and druggies. Kinda catch 22 situation because of the low lifes that exist in our city. We gotta do something but this project is way overkill IMHO.

Bernie Buckle

[johndeeregreen]

Like I've said a million times Portland city gov. are the most ignorant city officials right behind San Freakcisco.

[flapbreaker]

Originally Posted by CATCH AND EAT

The honey bucket idea may be sound in principle but in reality they will be even more of a hub for prostitutes and druggies. Kinda catch 22 situation because of the low lifes that exist in our city. We gotta do something but this project is way overkill IMHO.

Bernie Buckle

Take the porta potties off the street after business closes. Put fresh ones out in the AM. I bet it would still be cheaper. Probably not practicle though.

[Pete]

Well, if folks use the new facilities on average once every 5 minutes, it works out to only $1.90 per use. Maybe they could sell naming rights and get the cost covered, like they did by using only private donations for the horse barn.

[roadsend]

"Is Portland really this dumb?"

Yes.
Why does everyone seem so surprised?

[freespool]

Originally Posted by Pete

Well, if folks use the new facilities on average once every 5 minutes, it works out to only $1.90 per use. Maybe they could sell naming rights and get the cost covered, like they did by using only private donations for the horse barn.

Good point Pete, Portland also was able to get the airport Max line built without tax payer money.
Sometimes they do get it right.



salmon hugger

[Irish Pennant]

Another measure 37 claim

[retiredgal]

Originally Posted by CATCH AND EAT

Sounds like a great scrapmetal supply for tweekers. Another Eric Sten, Dan Saltzman, Sam Adams scam. Build three toilets but screw the schools. What fools we have in office.

The honey bucket idea may be sound in principle but in reality they will be even more of a hub for prostitutes and druggies. Kinda catch 22 situation because of the low lifes that exist in our city. We gotta do something but this project is way overkill IMHO.

Bernie Buckle

I do think some provision should be made for people caught on the street, in the park, the mall, whatever for relieving themselves appropriately. The emergency facilities should be strictly utilitarian! No room for others at the same time, no running water, basically a "honey bucket" that serves a practical purpose and can be rented reasonably, maintained and repaired by it's owners. If ya gotta go, ya gotta go..................Thats life folks!
Stairwells, etc. and our senses should be :blush: should be spared.

[skroverjd]

feed um give um money and now we are paying for them to take a @#$@
cmon portland what have we came to

[Something Good]

I work for the city and yes they are that dumb. Oh the stories I could tell you but then you would never want to pay taxes again and I'd be out of a job.

[Headhunter]

We went to Italy last year for a few weeks and these types of restrooms are all over the place. They charge .50 Euros to use them and from what we saw, they were ok in a pinch, but we tried to use a cafe or some other establishment. None of them had TP so you needed to bring your own tissue. My wife and daugher were not big fans of them!

[Chromaflage]

With that kind of a price tag, maybe they'll look something like this.

[Fish_N_Russ]

Is Portland really this dumb?

........well they have voted for some real winners in the past while the rest of the state votes for another way

[Hell-B]

Originally Posted by Headhunter

We went to Italy last year for a few weeks and these types of restrooms are all over the place. They charge .50 Euros to use them and from what we saw, they were ok in a pinch, but we tried to use a cafe or some other establishment. None of them had TP so you needed to bring your own tissue. My wife and daugher were not big fans of them!

When we were in Italy, I was very pleased every time I found one of these. The only problem was having the right change. They had a timer inside that told you how much time you had left. An alarm would sound and the self cleaning cycle would start. The one's that I used were very clean and don't remember any w/o paper.
When using a restroom in an establishment, many times there was an attendant that expected a tip and would sometimes ration out the paper plus you were expected to buy something.
Same place, different opinions.

[fish_on]

Originally Posted by freespool

Good point Pete, Portland also was able to get the airport Max line built without tax payer money.
Sometimes they do get it right.



salmon hugger

Can you support this claim that no taxpayer funds were used? That means no general fund and no federal funds. I find that really hard to believe. This would also mean that the cost of operation is not being subsidised by tax revenue like the rest of the max system.

[BCF]

I love the idea. And Iwould be looking to Seattle to buy some units at a discounted rate. My wife would never use one but it sure beats people having to just go in the street.

BCF not politically bashing

[Cool Texan]

I'm thinking most users would see "stainless steel" as a personal challenge.

[LanceinOregon]

Originally Posted by Cool Texan

Apparently the city has decided to buy 3....yes 3... stainless steel public toilet facilities to place in downtown....for $200,000. They will cost another $200,000 a year to operate them. And the best part is, Seattle already has some, and people are "demanding their removal". Yeah, this sounds like a smart investment...

I believe there was an Air Force contractor fraud scandal back in the 60's, when it was discovered that they were paying $700 for high tech toilet seats. It was considered a very sensational example of waste and fraud in the government at that time.

I sure hope these toilets get a lot of use. If people use one ever 6 minutes, 24 hours a day, for 365 days a year, it would only be costing the taxpayers $2.28 per usage for the maintenance.

These toilets are not free to use, are they?

Lance

[fish_on]

Originally Posted by Cool Texan

I'm thinking most users would see "stainless steel" as a personal challenge.

[boardman]

while our children sit at home the homless will have a place to do drugs and fornicate

[Just_learning]

Originally Posted by boardman

while our children sit at home the homless will have a place to do drugs and fornicate

Make sure you know who they are with and where they are at...otherwise they may be doing the same thing...just not in a port o pot.

Such a shame, whatever happened to just taking a wiz in the bushes or an alley way? I live smack dab in the middle of downtown Philly and just wish I could use nature as a urinal. People out here just dont understand.

[Seefood Man]

200k a year to operate Heck I'll clean them for $195,000 a year
And I'll throw in St.Patricks Day for free

Maybe they'll change the name to PorTPottyLand

[freespool]

Originally Posted by fish_on

Can you support this claim that no taxpayer funds were used? That means no general fund and no federal funds. I find that really hard to believe. This would also mean that the cost of operation is not being subsidised by tax revenue like the rest of the max system.

Airport MAX is a $125 million, 5.5-mile extension developed through an innovative public/private
venture involving the Port of Portland, Tri-Met, the city of Portland, Portland Development
Commission and Bechtel Enterprises. Because of this private/public venture, Airport MAX
requires no additional property tax dollars, state general funds or federal new starts monies.
Bechtel Enterprises contributed $28.3 million toward the $125 million light rail project. In return,
Bechtel, in partnership with Trammell Crow Company, will develop a 120-acre, transit-oriented
development at the entrance to the airport. Around 11,000 jobs and $400 million worth of
hospitality, entertainment, retail and office space will be built at the site, called CascadeStation,

when build out is completed in 2015.




salmon hugger

[Kentucky Hog Hunter]

It's Portland & Multnomah County at its finest.....

What did you expect

Install a toilet, support a *******/prostitute and the heck with using that $$$$$ for something as foolish as a school upgrade, firehouse or police station upgrade.

In the words of the Guiness Guys: Brilliant

[Clyde]

The toilets sound great...the problem is that the cops aren't doing their job...no revenue in busting tweekers or hookers. Too busy giving out jaywalking and traffic tickets.

[Just_learning]

If a police officer ever tried to give me a jaywalking ticket, I would just laugh. Talk about a power trip.

[drano100]

Why not just do the honey bucket deal there are a few local companies that could use the business, and they could rent at least 50 a year at that kind of money, with $0 for maintenance.

[wishin]

Originally Posted by Just_learning

If a police officer ever tried to give me a jaywalking ticket, I would just laugh. Talk about a power trip.

Say, what!?!?

[Just_learning]

Wishin,
I said it. I have gotten some pretty outlandish tickets in my day.

-Urinating on the side of my house in college(at night, and in the bushes)
-Having an open container on the sidewalk in front of my house.
-An MIP for having a hangover because I was "in possession"
by consumption.

A jaywalking ticket would make me laugh much like the other tickets. I am sure most police officers dont care about such trivial things, but come on...stopping someone and giving them a jaywalking ticket. I would comply, but I would be laughing and cracking the whole time the ticket is being written. People who are jerks like that tend to be miserable with their lives. I will gladly pay the ticket, but i will get a laugh.

[Super Fluke]

That's pretty dumb

[freespool]

Originally Posted by Just_learning

Wishin,
I said it. I have gotten some pretty outlandish tickets in my day.

-Urinating on the side of my house in college(at night, and in the bushes)
-Having an open container on the sidewalk in front of my house.
-An MIP for having a hangover because I was "in possession"
by consumption.

A jaywalking ticket would make me laugh much like the other tickets. I am sure most police officers dont care about such trivial things, but come on...stopping someone and giving them a jaywalking ticket. I would comply, but I would be laughing and cracking the whole time the ticket is being written. People who are jerks like that tend to be miserable with their lives. I will gladly pay the ticket, but i will get a laugh.

Do you know what someone looks like after they are run over by a bus?
Trust to say it is not a pretty sight, jay walking tickets are for Slow_ learners.



salmon hugger

[Just_learning]

Originally Posted by freespool

Do you know what someone looks like after they are run over by a bus?
Trust to say it is not a pretty sight, jay walking tickets are for Slow_ learners.



salmon hugger

Kidding aside, safety falls on both the driver of the car and the person crossing the street. Defensive driving, and knowing when it is safe to cross the street all come into play. I refuse to stand at a light when there is no traffic in sight. Call it a care free attitude or whatever you want, I have places to be.

Besides, I work in risk management. I guess nothing is better than a personal testimonial right?

[Tilla]

Used to be a Camel, could hold it all day.
As a diabetic, when I gotta go, I go,and I will. Pay 50 cents? I would rather seek out a BMW tire.
I just luv SmartPark!

[matttheduck]

Regarding Airport MAX - the City gave away development rights to a huge piece of property. Those are public dollars they gave away. The City also gave property tax breaks to Bechtel on that property. Those are public dollars they gave away. Airport MAX does not earn enough in fares to pay for its upkeep and operating costs. The shortfall comes from public dollars. City,Tri-Met and other officials collected salaries and benefits while developing the Airport MAX project. Those are all public dollars. I could go on, but I'm sure you get the point.

[BCF]

Originally Posted by matttheduck

Regarding Airport MAX - the City gave away development rights to a huge piece of property. Those are public dollars they gave away. The City also gave property tax breaks to Bechtel on that property. Those are public dollars they gave away. Airport MAX does not earn enough in fares to pay for its upkeep and operating costs. The shortfall comes from public dollars. City,Tri-Met and other officials collected salaries and benefits while developing the Airport MAX project. Those are all public dollars. I could go on, but I'm sure you get the point.

Portlands public transportation system is the envy of many US cities. It is a model for many and it is in some ways an attraction of good civic planning and acts as a magnet for many people and businesses to the region. This translates into a greater tax base and given time a better overall quality of life for our local communities.

I think Portland does a pretty good job. IMO.

BCF

[shorthair]

in a word YES. portlands "leaders"seem to have NO reservations about whining about not having money for essential services then the very next moment blowing more tax money on BS like this. All the city vehicles used to say "city of roses" then vera katz decided to change it to "the city that works" to hide the fact that it does not.

[freespool]

Originally Posted by shorthair

in a word YES. portlands "leaders"seem to have NO reservations about whining about not having money for essential services then the very next moment blowing more tax money on BS like this. All the city vehicles used to say "city of roses" then vera katz decided to change it to "the city that works" to hide the fact that it does not.

Sorry there shorthair, but your wrong. The reason Portland had to change it's slogan was simple, Pasadena California already had the name.



salmon hugger

[MetalHead]

Originally Posted by Tilla

Used to be a Camel, could hold it all day.
As a diabetic, when I gotta go, I go,and I will. Pay 50 cents? I would rather seek out a BMW tire.
I just luv SmartPark!

Armoraling the tires on a beemer, I love it

[fish_on]

Originally Posted by freespool

Airport MAX is a $125 million, 5.5-mile extension developed through an innovative public/private

venture involving the Port of Portland, Tri-Met, the city of Portland, Portland Development
Commission and Bechtel Enterprises. Because of this private/public venture, Airport MAX
requires no additional property tax dollars, state general funds or federal new starts monies.
Bechtel Enterprises contributed $28.3 million toward the $125 million light rail project. In return,
Bechtel, in partnership with Trammell Crow Company, will develop a 120-acre, transit-oriented
development at the entrance to the airport. Around 11,000 jobs and $400 million worth of
hospitality, entertainment, retail and office space will be built at the site, called CascadeStation,

when build out is completed in 2015.
salmon hugger

Originally Posted by freespool

Bechtel Enterprises contributed $28.3 million toward the $125 million light rail project. In return,

125-28.3= $97.7 Million of public funds spent. That is a long way from

Originally Posted by freespool

Originally Posted by freespool
Good point Pete, Portland also was able to get the airport Max line built without tax payer money.
Sometimes they do get it right.

Originally Posted by freespool

Because of this private/public venture, Airport MAX

requires no additional property tax dollars, state general funds or federal new starts monies.

Isn't that nice they didn't have to ask for even more money than the PUBLIC $$$ they were already spending on it.

So yes Portland is just that Dumb

[freespool]

Bechtel, in partnership with Trammell Crow Company, will develop a 120-acre, transit-oriented
development at the entrance to the airport. Around 11,000 jobs and $400 million worth of
hospitality, entertainment, retail and office space will be built at the site, called CascadeStation,when build out is completed in 2015.


In my mind this is a win/win proposition for the tax payers of Portland.
Sinse you don't live in Portland, what does it matter to you?
Further more, the land in question was created by the Port of Portland in the first place, at a rock bottom price.




salmon hugger

[fortywinks]

What's the problem guys? It's "THE CITY THAT WORKS"!

[roadsend]

Originally Posted by freespool

...In my mind this is a win/win proposition for the tax payers of Portland.
Sinse you don't live in Portland, what does it matter to you?
Further more, the land in question was created by the Port of Portland in the first place, at a rock bottom price.

salmon hugger

Don't all of us, who use the airport or buy products shipped through the marine terminal, pay taxes to the Port of Portland regardless of where we live?

[pdxkevin]

ahhh... come on. Just because a concept has failed (badly) each and every place it was tried doesn't mean Portland can't toss even larger piles of 'extra' tax dollars at it. They jumped off that bridge so why can't Portland?

[Gundog]

If there will be only three I can't believe anyone really thinks it will stop the going in the stair wells. Do you really think the vagrants will walk 10 blocks to use one? I doubt they would walk 1 block.
Mike