PHILADELPHIA, PA. (THECOUNT) — The first of several public toilets and sinks installed in Philadelphia in hopes of curbing the Kensington neighborhood’s ongoing hepatitis A outbreak, were vandalized after 15 minutes, according to local reports.
Installed on Monday, the two restroom trailers and a hand-sanitizing station had been activated on Wednesday — and promptly got vandalized and rendered a total loss.
|
Advertisement |
On its first day in action, the soap dispenser at Kensington Avenue and F Street was tipped over into a trashcan and dented.
“15 MINUTES ON KENSINGTON AVENUE,” reads a Facebook post from an account called Juniata News. “New sanitizing station is being vandalized already.”
The pop-up potties are part of a pilot program organized by the city’s Managing Director’s office. The program’s cost is around $250,000 for installation and twice-daily cleanings through the end of the year, reports BillyPenn.
Each mobile restroom trailer has three toilets, plus sinks. They’ll be locked up each evening, according to spokesperson Deanna Gamble. The ADA ramps will also be removed at that time.
DEVELOPING::
Geo quick facts: Kensington, East and West, are neighborhoods in the North Philadelphia section of Philadelphia. It is north of Olde Kensington. The Market Frankford El above Front Street forms the line between West Kensington and Kensington. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania’s largest city, is notable for its rich history, on display at the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall (where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were signed) and other American Revolutionary sites. Also iconic are the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, immortalized by Sylvester Stallone’s triumphant run in the film “Rocky,” wikipedia.