Dear Editor: Whitehall Public Restrooms

Dear Editor,

I am a bit cautious about writing such a letter, on what could be a very touchy issue, but the growing lack of public restrooms in Whitehall is a bit distressing! One really can't blame our local business owners, with the blatant disregard that many people these days seem to exhibit for other people's property. Many businesses in town have closed off what used to be public restrooms to all but paying customers. Again, this is not so much a reflection on any particular business here in Whitehall, but rather on the irresponsibility of people in general.

"If it's not theirs, they don't seem to care." Now, this IS a generalization for sure, because we know that not everyone is that callous. However, those that are have made things more difficult for those of us who actually care about others' stuff!

Tourist season is upon us, and if there are no public restrooms available, what's to keep them from moving on?! Most tourists, yes, ARE paying customers, but the call of nature doesn't differentiate between paying customers and people just passing through. The older we get, the more urgent that call becomes. "When we gotta go, we gotta go!"

Now, with all the changes happening in our little town, it is somewhat difficult to write such a letter, but something has got to give! Even if we were to rent several porta-johns and place them strategically around town, I believe this would be a boon. Could other issues arise from doing this? I'm sure they could and most likely will, but again, this is a people problem!

Now, on the business end, it's not difficult to see their point in closing their restrooms to all but paying customers. Again, we're back to those people who just don't seem to care! If anyone can just walk in (or run) off the street, make a mess in the restroom, and leave, who gets to clean up after them? Yes, the employees who are being paid, not to clean restrooms, but to serve food to paying customers. I get that.

Thanks for listening,

Charles Haddon Shank