NationStates Jolt Archive

Seems Seattle spent 5 million four years ago for five high tech, self cleaning toilets. They just sold them for a little more than $12,000.00. Another good example of government waste. They should have taken the 5 million and flushed it down a regular toilet and use porta-potties instead. :(

http://www.usatoday.com/news/offbeat/2008-08-15-seattle-toilets_N.htm?csp=34

outdoor public toilets have worked well in other countries.

i dont think they can ever work in the US. we have far too many casual vandals.

It's just regular embezzlement, the typical scheme.

Why do toilets need to be more high tech? You piss/shit in them and flush. Simple as that.

I'm confused how they ever could have thought that was a good financial decision. How many years would $5 million have been able to pay sufficient human cleaners? What else did they approve at that committee meeting? A $12 million study into what religion the Pope is?

I remember seeing an article on these things a few years ago. I figured they were a waste of money; turns out I was right.

I'm confused how they ever could have thought that was a good financial decision. How many years would $5 million have been able to pay sufficient human cleaners? What else did they approve at that committee meeting? A $12 million study into what religion the Pope is?

Some say he is a Buddhist. *nod*

I'm confused how they ever could have thought that was a good financial decision. How many years would $5 million have been able to pay sufficient human cleaners?
It's the classic scheme.

The toilet costs $100,000 to build, the city pays $1,000,000.

Of the $900,000 left, $100,000 goes to the company's profits, $400,000 to the company's owner, $400,000 to the official who authorized the purchase.

Why do toilets need to be more high tech? You piss/shit in them and flush. Simple as that.

man, that's soooo old now. Didn't you know that now toilets flush for you?

It's the classic scheme.

The toilet costs $100,000 to build, the city pays $1,000,000.

Of the $900,000 left, $100,000 goes to the company's profits, $400,000 to the company's owner, $400,000 to the official who authorized the purchase.

What the hell? Are you serious? I'm not American, y'see. Is politics that corrupt in America? Isn't there any committee to check on how money has been spent?:eek2:

man, that's soooo old now. Didn't you know that now toilets flush for you?

And then soon they'll gain AI and they won't take kindly to taking shit!

What the hell? Are you serious? I'm not American, y'see. Is politics that corrupt in America? Isn't there any committee to check on how money has been spent?:eek2:

Yes. But they get $200,000 from the official behind the sceme.

Remember kids, private industry never invests in something that doesn't pan out...

Those toilets work fine here in San Francisco.

What the hell? Are you serious? I'm not American, y'see. Is politics that corrupt in America? Isn't there any committee to check on how money has been spent?:eek2:
Pretty much everywhere, it's just that in America it makes the news.
The money is spent all fair, it goes to the company. But the company makes a massive profit, and half that profit goes to bribe the official to buy the overpriced item.


There have been minor (orderly silenced) scandals with Pentagon buying $10,000 toilet seats and paying $500,000 for shipping a 50 cent nut to Iraq, to a total of tens of millions. These schemes are clear as water, but they used the loophole that "urgent war expenses" don't need to be authorized by the bureaucratic body, and went on for years.

Celt, ol'bear, I hate to break it to you, but pointing out waste and/or corruption in Seattle politics is like pointing out the sun is bright or water is wet.

Seattle's first mayor was Henry Yesler -- a man so corrupt that in his first term (among other things) he:

-- started a city lottery and won it
-- sold city park land and pocketed the profits
-- received a tax bill from the city council he didn't like, and sued the council as a private citizen, then settled out of court with himself for a sizable sum.

And what happened to this corrupt city father? He was re-elected twice, and has a street (and other things) named after him. (Source: Sons of the Profits, by Seattle Underground Tour founder Bill Speidel.)

So save your indignant repudiations for a city unused to such shenanigans. From its sports teams to its floating infrastructure, Seattleites expect epic failure. You've merely highlighted one of my hometown's charms.

What the hell? Are you serious? I'm not American, y'see. Is politics that corrupt in America? Isn't there any committee to check on how money has been spent?:eek2:

We wish it was only that corrupt.

And then soon they'll gain AI and they won't take kindly to taking shit!

I'm watching out for those that wipe your ass for you... can you imagine what would happen if that malfunctions and the arm shoots up a couple of inches or so higher than normal? :eek:

What the hell? Are you serious? I'm not American, y'see. Is politics that corrupt in America? Isn't there any committee to check on how money has been spent?:eek2:

of course... they get paid even more!

I'm watching out for those that wipe your ass for you... can you imagine what would happen if that malfunctions and the arm shoots up a couple of inches or so higher than normal? :eek:

What you speak of as a malfunction should be included as an extra option.

What you speak of as a malfunction should be included as an extra option.

not when it's only holding a wad of Toilet Paper... getting bits of those things crammed up there is really uncomfortable and ends up being really ticklish.


...


or so I've heard...

not when it's only holding a wad of Toilet Paper... getting bits of those things crammed up there is really uncomfortable and ends up being really ticklish.


...


or so I've heard...

Honestly:rolleyes:...ok, have options for both with or without toilet paper. As optional extras, these could dramatically increase revenue potential.

What you speak of as a malfunction should be included as an extra option.

LMAO

[ Top Secret ] Apparently your friend was unaware of the difference in voltage between our two countries. We found him impaled on this device [introduced earlier as "The Anal Intruder"]. Our surgeons did their best, but it took them three hours to pry the smile off his face. [ /Top Secret ]

LMAO

[ Top Secret ] Apparently your friend was unaware of the difference in voltage between our two countries. We found him impaled on this device [introduced earlier as "The Anal Intruder"]. Our surgeons did their best, but it took them three hours to pry the smile off his face. [ /Top Secret ]

and here I was thinking along the lines of the ATR button... :eek:

What the hell? Are you serious? I'm not American, y'see. Is politics that corrupt in America? Isn't there any committee to check on how money has been spent?:eek2:

After the committee divided up the money, there wasn't any left for the study. :eek:

outdoor public toilets have worked well in other countries.

i dont think they can ever work in the US. we have far too many casual vandals.
It's not just the vandals that make these toilets unavailable. It's the prostitutes, the drug dealers, the "urban outdoorsmen", and so on. As long as cities tolerant this nonsense, then I would forget about providing private spaces in public places.

Well, I'm just glad I don't live in Seattle... I'll just make a note to never accept a job there.

Seems Seattle spent 5 million four years ago for five high tech, self cleaning toilets. They just sold them for a little more than $12,000.00. Another good example of government waste. They should have taken the 5 million and flushed it down a regular toilet and use porta-potties instead. :(

http://www.usatoday.com/news/offbeat/2008-08-15-seattle-toilets_N.htm?csp=34

You're kidding, right?

Seattle should have just flushed 5 million down the toilet.

Why when you can spend it on the toilet instead? Thats the beauty of politics in the United States.

Well, I'm just glad I don't live in Seattle... I'll just make a note to never accept a job there.

Hallelujah.

If only we knew that spreading stories about our bums and public money sponges shaped like auto-potties would have kept people away, Seattle might not be so congested. The ghost of Emmett Watson snaps his fingers at missing that opportunity.

SO how many people do you think pissed on the side of the pay toilet?

You're kidding, right?

Nope. :( Clickie linkey and check it out.

SO how many people do you think pissed on the side of the pay toilet?

If you have ever been to Seattle, I know of at least one. :D

If you have ever been to Seattle, I know of at least one. :D

Like Captain Kirk, I boldly go where no man has gone before. :)

they must of really wanted to use the loo bad :p

outdoor public toilets have worked well in other countries.

i dont think they can ever work in the US. we have far too many casual vandals.The same toilets that Seattle is unloading are in use in other locations. They have them along the Embarcadero in San Francisco. The high tech design is supposed to provide clean restrooms at all times while minimizing vandalism and maintanance. The unit seals between uses and is automatically cleaned and sanitized. They also time out so homeless can't 'camp' in them. The fixtures are pretty much bulletproof. Now nothing is vandal proof if one is determined enough, which is probably why the S.F. units are along a wide open well patrolled waterfront. Seattles problem might have been where they located the units, not that they didn't work as designed.

The same toilets that Seattle is unloading are in use in other locations. They have them along the Embarcadero in San Francisco. The high tech design is supposed to provide clean restrooms at all times while minimizing vandalism and maintanance. The unit seals between uses and is automatically cleaned and sanitized. They also time out so homeless can't 'camp' in them. The fixtures are pretty much bulletproof. Now nothing is vandal proof if one is determined enough, which is probably why the S.F. units are along a wide open well patrolled waterfront. Seattles problem might have been where they located the units, not that they didn't work as designed.

One of them was on Western Ave. near the Pike Place Market. It's well patrolled during the daytime/market hours (can't have tourists being mugged in broad daylight), but not well patrolled at night. I find it charmingly stupid just what Seattle chooses to hang on to (monorail) and what it chooses to let go of (the Interurban streetcar system) and then need to re-invent (light-rail to replace the roads that eliminated the Interurban). At least it's predictable. Also, it's easy to make fun of -- the abbreviation for South Lake Union Trolley has made it on to a locally-popular t-shirt reading "Ride the SLUT". I love my home city.

Why did they even bother :(