The Los Angeles City Council’s Homelessness and Health Committee is set to meet at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday at City Hall to consider a motion that would launch a citywide hygiene‑infrastructure expansion. Councilmembers Nithya Raman and Ysabel Jurado, who introduced the proposal in October, want the first phase to target the under‑served Skid Row area.
What the motion calls for
The motion would task the city administrative officer, the Bureau of Street Services, the Bureau of Sanitation, the Department of Water and Power and the Board of Public Works—working with Metro—to produce, within 60 days, recommendations for a comprehensive plan. The plan would explore public‑private partnerships, such as expanding the Hollywood Partnership’s 40‑stall public bathroom facility in the parking garage at 1627 Vine Street, and would examine opportunities to place restrooms and hand‑washing stations on city‑ and county‑owned property, especially near Metro station entrances.
Funding and stability
Raman and Jurado also asked staff to look at whether funds from the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program could support the effort, and to identify stable financing for the continued operation of public toilets in Skid Row, regardless of the broader expansion timeline.
Background on existing facilities
In 2021, Los Angeles signed a contract with Outfront/JCDecaux for the Coordinated Street Furniture Program, which allowed the installation of up to 150 automated public toilets at no direct cost to the city. During that contract, 14 units were installed, but when the agreement ended the city was required to replace 13 units because the restrooms were owned by the private company. Funding constraints for fiscal year 2025‑26 onward have left only four replacement toilets in operation today.
Why the expansion matters
The motion notes that the current scale of public hygiene infrastructure is “woefully inadequate,” leaving streets—particularly in under‑invested neighborhoods like Skid Row—without reliable access to sanitation and water. Most available restrooms are located inside private businesses, placing a burden on owners and forcing people experiencing homelessness to resort to outdoor defecation. In 2025, the Los Angeles Sanitation Livability Services Division collected and disposed of more than 70 tons of human waste from the public right‑of‑way.
Expanding public restrooms and hand‑washing facilities would improve health and safety for all residents, the motion states. During the COVID‑19 pandemic, the city provided portable toilets and hand‑washing stations at encampments to curb virus spread, but those measures were temporary. Councilmembers now seek a permanent solution.
Next steps
If the committee votes in favor of the motion, it will recommend approval to the full City Council. The recommendation would include designating a lead department or office to ensure clear accountability for planning, funding, operations and maintenance, fostering coordination across the city’s sanitation and hygiene efforts.
The proposal reflects a common‑sense approach to a basic public‑service need, aligning with the city’s responsibility to protect the health and dignity of all its citizens, especially the most vulnerable. By securing stable funding and a coordinated plan, Los Angeles can finally provide the sanitation infrastructure that families, businesses and community members have long needed.
Original reporting: NBC4 Los Angeles — read the source article.
