$4 Million-Worth Of Self-Cleaning Public Restrooms May Be Heading To NYC

NYC has world-class dining, Broadway, and a bodega on every corner—but try finding a public bathroom when you need one...yeah, good luck with that. Thankfully, after years of side-eyeing locked doors, memorizing which Starbucks won’t give you a hard time, and “customers only” signs, a much-needed flush of good news has arrived. On Saturday, January 10, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and City Council Speaker Julie Menin announced a $4 million pilot program to bring modular, self-cleaning public bathrooms to all five boroughs. The announcement was made in West Harlem, a neighborhood that knows the struggle all too well. The (Very Real) Bathroom Shortage --------------------------------- If it feels like you’re always on a desperate scavenger hunt, you’re not imagining things. NYC currently has about 1,000 public restrooms for 8.5 million people–that’s roughly one bathroom for every 8,500 residents. Not exactly luxury accommodations. “In the greatest city in the world, you should not have to spend $9 on a coffee just to find a little relief,” Mamdani said, calling the current struggle a shared “desperation that nearly every New Yorker holds.” Honestly? No notes. What To Know About NYC’s New Public Bathrooms --------------------------------------------- Here’s what makes these new restrooms different (and way more promising than what we’ve had before): * The Tech: these are “modular” units (built off-site) that don’t need to be hooked into the city’s deep, complicated sewer lines * The Clean Factor: they are automated and self-cleaning–the units wash down the floors and walls and disinfect high-touch surfaces after every single use * The Rules: to keep things moving, there’s a 15-minute time limit per person * The Maintenance: city officials say they will be physically inspected and maintained twice a day * The Timeline: a request for proposals (RFP) will be issued within the Mayor’s first 100 days, with 20 to 30 units planned for the pilot The first shiny new unit is slated for 12th Avenue and St. Clair Place in West Harlem, replacing a bathroom that had reportedly been “languishing” for years. A Full-Blown Restroom Revolution? --------------------------------- This announcement is just the latest in a string of quality-of-life wins during Mamdani’s first two weeks in office. From personally shoveling asphalt to fix the infamous Williamsburg Bridge bike lane bump to reviving the full McGuinness Boulevard redesign, the new administration seems laser-focused on fixing the small, annoying things that make NYC life harder than it needs to be. As Councilmember Shaun Abreu put it: “Every public bathroom brings dignity and accessibility... it keeps people out in their neighborhoods.” In other words: fewer emergency dashes home, more time actually enjoying the city. Need To Go *Right Now*? ----------------------- While we wait for these shiny new bathroom pods to roll out, don’t get caught wandering in panic mode. Here’s every open bathroom in NYC on one genius map–from coffee shops to parks. And if you’re feeling fancy, check out our list of the best public restrooms in NYC (yes, some are actually nice! ). Because in New York, knowing *where* to go might just be the most valuable insider info of all! 🚽✨ Watch the press conference below: Source: https://secretnyc.co/self-cleaning-public-restrooms-proposal-mayor-mamdani/