I’m not in the habit of copying an entire article into a post, but this one is short and too bizarre to even pull a quote from. Each detail is it’s own little gem. I hope my friends at the AP will forgive me:
Seattle’s five problem-plagued public toilets could be yours if you’re flush.
City officials decided to pull the plug on the multimillion-dollar self-cleaning toilet stalls and instead put them on the auction site eBay.
Starting bids are $89,000 apiece.
Neighbors and city-commissioned analysts said the unisex facilities attracted drug users and prostitutes, and were less cost-effective than regular public restrooms.
On May 19, the City Council voted to remove the problem toilets. Council President Richard Conlin said although people were using the high-tech, self-cleaning silver stalls, they also fostered illegal behavior, such as prostitution and drug use.
The German-made automatic, high-tech toilets were installed in 2004 and have cost the city about $5 million. Each has handsfree washing and drying ability and an emergency button that automatically dials 911.
The automated doors on the impact- and graffiti-resistant toilets will close Aug. 1, said Andy Ryan, a spokesman for Seattle Public Utilities. The auction will last for 10 days.
As of Thursday morning, none of the toilets had received any bids.
2 things – why the hell would you wash and dry your hands in the toilet? I know its German-made and Europeans like the whole toilet/water fountain thing a crapper ain’t a scrub basin. That’s nasty.
And why would I want an $89,000 toilet if it attracts prostitutes and drug users?
Seattle was the birthplace of grunge, right?