Seattle mayor fails to flush public toilet proposal

Published 9:00 pm Saturday, August 4, 2001

Associated Press

SEATTLE — Mayor Paul Schell had an accident.

Even though he has adamantly opposed the city council’s plan to spend $6.4 million on five public toilets, Schell mistakenly signed the council’s resolution of support last week.

"It was inadvertently signed," said Roger Nyhus, Schell’s press secretary.

Deputy Mayor Chuck Clarke accidentally placed the council’s resolution in a pile of paperwork for Schell to sign July 30, Nyhus said.

Schell has repeatedly said that the plan to spend $638,000 a year for 10 years for the high-tech, self-cleaning toilets is too expensive. He prefers changing the city’s sign ordinance to allow for restroom adverstisements that would pay for the facilities.

Effectively, his signature on the document means nothing because council resolutions don’t have the force of law. He can ignore the council’s wishes on the issue.

Still, Nyhus said, "It would have been better if he hadn’t signed it." He emphasized that "the mayor has been consistent on this issue."

The toilets at issue were intended for the Pike Place Market, Pioneer Square, Ballard, the University District and the International District.

Schell has said Boston and San Francisco have free public toilets paid for by advertising.

The mishap helped conclude a rough month for the mayor, who suffered broken bones in his face when he was attacked by a megaphone-wielding protester July 7.

On July 31, he was pressured to double the amount of rent he is paying for his re-election campaign headquarters. He was paying just $600 a month for the 2,163-square-foot suite in the Lenora Square building just north of downtown, far below market value.

The city’s Ethics and Elections Commission said the cheap rent could constitute an illegal campaign contribution; Schell said it was justified by construction and other inconveniences at the site.

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