San Francisco, California’s three-year plan to build one public toilet for $1.7 million could literally be flushed down the drain.
California Governor Gavin Newsom is threatening to withhold funds until the city figures out a more efficient way to use the money.
The toilet’s outrageous cost was met with disgruntled opinions last week. This prompted California Assemblyman Matt Haney to cancel an event celebrating the new bathroom in the Noe Valley Town Square.
Newsom, the former mayor of San Francisco, is now threatening to withhold the funds altogether.
“A single, small bathroom should not cost $1.7 million,” Erin Mellon, a spokesperson for Newsom said on Sunday. “The state will hold funding until San Francisco delivers a plan to use this public money more efficiently. If they cannot, we will go back to the legislature to revoke this appropriation.”
Haney said, “The governor’s office has been in touch with me about the price tag. I support not spending the money. The cost is ridiculous, and it will take far too long. Noe Valley should get a bathroom, but $1.7 million should pay for seven bathrooms, and it should happen much quicker. I fully support and agree with the governor here, and we’re going to work together to get this done cheaper and quicker and also send the message that San Francisco needs to fix its broken processes.”
The San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department said earlier this week that the price is due to high construction costs, as well as the “cost of planning, drawing, permits, reviews, public outreach and construction management.”
“We estimate high, not because we want to spend more money, but because we want to ensure we can deliver projects to communities even if we are hit with unexpected costs,” a spokesperson for the parks department said.
1.7 million for a toilet? but seven would be a better deal??? (just shy a quarter million dollars / toilet)??? A typical American Standard toilet might cost $200-$300, I used to install them for $200 (assuming infrastructure in place) If not, that cost falls under ‘construction’… That would leave approx. $1,699,600 for digging a ditch, laying a pipe and connecting it to the main sewage. This Mayor got caught red handed, is pretending to “do the right thing” now? wow!… Who votes for these palm greasers? Who would even suggest charging a 1,700,000 to dig a ditch, lay a pipe and install a shi@@er? It’s obvious at least 1.5 million of those TAX PAYER DOLLARS was just going into their pockets… scumbags, and stupid people over there…
That’s some expensive sh!t.
Mayor Newsom, you are the laughing stock of our country. “Only in California!” One toilet … even seven, to handle your problem with $1.7 mil?
To avoid any future disappointment, NEVER loan anyone MONEY and expect repayment, never let them use your credit or debit card and expect repayment, never let anyone use your vehicle and never buy them a vehicle and expect them to pay you back. Stop bending over backwards.