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Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration announced 17 new high-tech toilets that will cost $235,000 a pop — part of a $4 million plan to offer relief to the city’s public bathroom crisis.
Hizzoner initially announced the $4 million plan in January as a first step to add to the measly 1,100 public restrooms for the city’s 8.6 million people.
“We have listened intently as a worker in Chipotle whispers the bathroom code to another paying customer,” Mamdani said at Queens press conference Wednesday, referencing an all-too-familiar situation for city slickers,
“We have bought that nine-dollar latte, and all of us have, at some point or another, just turned around and had to go home,” he added.
New Yorkers said more places to go — on the go — were desperately needed.
“I mean, I’ve been in places where I held my bladder for how long, and I felt like I was gonna explode and just had to go think it’s this long overdue,” 50-year old Bed-Stuy resident Jeffery Sidnez told The Post at Columbus Park in Brooklyn — which will house one of the new toilet trailers.
“I think it’s a positive thing if it’s going to be well monitored,” said another Brooklyn resident, Debra S.
The pricey Johns will be delivered by Throne Labs – a modular toilet company that submitted the winning proposal to construct, install and maintain the units for one year.
The toilets are ADA accessible and come complete with running water, climate control and baby changing tables. They will be open for use from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily — and can be opened via phone text message, QR code, the Throne Bathroom Network app or a tap card.
The Throne bathroom app will give New Yorkers real time cleanliness ratings, find restrooms and unlock doors. Those without a smart phone can get a tap card from “local community partners” that are yet to be announced.
“I understand the idea of doing it, but I just don’t think it’s a good idea or that safe or sanitary,” said 22-year-old Bensonhurst resident Adrianna Mendizabal, who said she’d only use the toilets as a last resort and still worries about homeless New Yorkers sleeping in the pods.
Throne Labs CEO Jessica Heinselman also noted the bathrooms have a cut off time for use – preventing New Yorkers from overstaying their welcome in lavatories. The pods give a warning with flashing lights if the user hasn’t exited in about four minutes.
“The door eventually will open, letting that user know well in advance, and that’s actually saved lives in other locations where someone is having a medical emergency, contrary to your traditional public restroom,” Heinselman said.
City Hall said the roll out will take place in the following areas across the City:
