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At the beginning of the pandemic, security concerns prevailed downtown as people living on the streets suddenly had no access to shelter or municipal washrooms and tried to access private facilities. In addition, the ongoing requirements for extra sanitization are time consuming, costly and an increased health risk for staff (and really, would require a full time bathroom attendant for busier places). I would suggest that one should assume there will be no washroom and plan ahead. Go to the toilet before you leave the house. Eat or drink after you run errands. Have things delivered if you must always be near a bathroom. Call ahead to inquire about facilities if you have a special medical need and the trip is unavoidable. ....
I cannot understand the TC’s ruthless defence of the status quo, through an editorial rife with inflammatory and unempirical statements. It disrespects the professional planning staff at the city, who have spent far more time researching best practice in urban green space and infrastructure than the editors at the TC. This includes accessibility concerns, the balance of which goes much further than simply vehicle access. No city with Victoria’s coastal amenities would waste the opportunity to reimagine a site like Clover Point during a major transformation, as the pump station project presents. I suggest the TC’s editorial board gain some perspective on forward-facing mixed-use planning before reactively disparaging everything that comes across this council’s table. ....