In relation to experiencing Seattle parks, residents have a transparent directive: Repair the loos.
Too unhealthy circumstances failed to enhance because the Seattle Metropolis Council raised property taxes three years in the past and promised that issues could be higher.
Final month, the Seattle Metropolis Auditor launched a report headlined: “Metropolis Ought to Reassess Method to Park Restroom Cleanliness and Availability.”
It revealed that Seattle Parks and Recreation just isn’t assembly its plan of cleansing each restroom two to a few occasions day by day, just isn’t cleansing restrooms at a constant stage of high quality all through town, and lacks dependable knowledge to guage restroom cleansing efficiency, amongst different findings.
In 2022, the editorial board put a spotlight on park bathrooms because the council thought of new funding for the division.
The Instances famous {that a} survey of residents revealed that 21% gave the Parks Division an “F” for upkeep and cleanliness; solely 9% awarded an “A.”
The division’s ballot listed “elevated restroom cleansing” because the No. 1 upkeep precedence.
As we wrote on the time, “Elected officers ought to take cautious measure of bills and outcomes, and make fundamental upkeep the highest precedence.”
This was not a brand new concern.
In 2014, voters authorized the creation of the Seattle Park District, which offered a devoted, ongoing property tax. In accordance with the “professional” assertion within the voter’s pamphlet, the funds would go to main and ongoing upkeep “like cleansing restrooms, trash pickup, and mowing.”
When the Metropolis Council elevated property taxes in 2022, it pledged that enhancements had been on the way in which.
The parks funding proposal — almost twice as a lot as residents paid below the earlier six-year cycle of the Seattle Park District — was about $342 per yr for property assessed on the median worth.
Within the phrases of former Councilmember Andrew Lewis on the time: “This plan is a funded mandate for park loos which are clear, secure, and open.”
Or not.
The Parks Division agreed with varied observations and suggestions by town auditor and famous that staffing remained a problem. Responding to repeated and excessive vandalism in park loos additionally soaked up lots of money and time.
However there appeared a definite lack of urgency about the entire challenge when the auditor introduced its toilet report back to the council’s Parks, Public Utilities, and Know-how Committee final month.
Councilmembers thanked the auditor and parks management. Parks management thanked the council and the auditor. The auditor thanked parks and the council. A veritable love fest.
As Chair Pleasure Hollingsworth instructed parks management: “We all know the work you do is phenomenal.”
Is it? Residents have lengthy complained about park loos. Seattle properties — residences, properties and companies — are actually taxed twice as a lot as a couple of years in the past to assist issues get higher. But the identical issues stay.
To make sure progress on fundamental companies, Metropolis Corridor must stress much less congeniality and extra accountability, and never lose monitor of repeated and worthy targets.
