Baseball and tourist season are again upon us, and the Central Lake View Merchants Association (CLMA) has a few thoughts about the ongoing problem of public urination. The CLMA suggests a "logical solution" to the lack of public facilities in their neighborhood, which is home to a large shopping area adjacent to the Belmont El, as well as home to Wrigley Field.
"Relieving oneself in public was a Chicago City Council hot topic during the 2002 baseball season, with the Council even going so far as to increase the fine from $100 (when peeing in public was put in the general category of 'disorderly conduct') to a whopping $500 for offenders caught in the act! The increased fine for public urination may indeed be a part of the solution if it scares some people into reconsidering this uncouth behavior. However, most offenders are very good at not getting caught. And it hardly seems a good use of their time to put trained police officers on 'Pee Patrol,'" says Elizabeth Caldwell, Executive Director of CLMA. "This fine criminalizes people for committing a private act in public while offenders are offered no public accommodations or public solutions for dealing with the problem."
Thousands of Cubs fans visit the Central Lake View neighborhood every summer—Fans who eat, drink and shop there—Fans who spend money—Fans the area merchants like to see. And some of those fans don't always visit the bathrooms before they leave the ballpark.
"Most wait until they're at a bar or restaurant before very properly excusing themselves to use the available facilities. However, there are those who believe any alley or doorway is fair game in their time of need. And this creates constant clean-up and sanitation work—and sometimes an embarrassing situation—for the area residents and merchants. We don't think that urination sting operations are the only answer," says CLMA President Jim Schuman, owner of the Berlin nightclub, 954 W. Belmont Ave.
In addition to Cubs fans, the Belmont el station, the fifth busiest el stop in Chicago, is smack dab in the middle of the Central Lake View business community. There are currently no public restrooms at the elevated stations, which is scheduled to be remodeled soon, and no plans to install any, even though thousands of riders get off the trains at Belmont and believe that the alleys, doorways, and even the bathrooms of area businesses are fair game as places to relieve oneself.
"Central Lake View Merchants Association appreciates the public input the CTA is asking for, and we have been, and are delighted to participate in discussions, do our homework and help create a more effective and attractive El station. We have encouraged the CTA to explore the idea of public restrooms further, but to date the CTA has been less than encouraging about the possibility of restroom facilities at the new station, citing liability concerns. There are public restrooms available at the beach and in the parks and even at Navy Pier. European cities recognize the service they are providing to travelers and tourists with well-laced public accommodations. For the convenience of the weary traveler, the visitor to the area, the baseball fan, as well the local merchants, we would like to suggest public restrooms at the Belmont Elevated station as a hopeful solution to the problem of public urination," concludes Schuman.
Central Lake View Merchants Association (CLMA) is a not-for-profit organization of business owners in the area bounded by Clark St. on the east and Racine Ave. on the west, Addison St. on the north and Diversey Ave. on the south.
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