Andre said that there were porta potties at one park, but someone “effed it up by using drugs in there.” He was concerned about getting stuck with a syringe someone left behind.

Doesn’t like Spike

I don’t know what’s more bloated — Spike Steffenhagen’s bladder or his ego. Reading his yappy drivel (“San Diegans split on public access to bathrooms”, Cover Story, July 26), I imagine some dime-a-dozen probably-from-Brooklyn transplant with beady eyes peering through thick-rimmed glasses sitting on a long nose, always finding a way to beat others over the head with the cudgel of his own professional victimhood while dancing around the actual causes of his problems — namely the bullsh*t policies that he and others like him voted for.

Knuckleheads like him were cheering on the same lockdowns, social-distancing, and other cargo-cult voodoo that included closing restrooms off. Knuckleheads like him were calling themselves “anti-Fascist” for marching in lockstep with the same large corporations who are all still screwing us over, because fuck Trump or something.

I bet Ol’ Spike and his tribe were also calling themselves “anti-racist” in saying it was okay to beat up White people because some of them might have enjoyed the privilege Spike was born with — his articles did get published here, after all, so he is acquainted with a clique that has some in-group preference aka “White” privilege. Funny how 99% of the houses with BLM signs on their lawns also happen to be owned by “White” people living in upper middle-class neighborhoods.

The only amazing feat he undertakes in writing his “article” is that he manages to single-mindedly bitch and moan for 4 long pages without blaming Donald Trump or Evil Mexican White Supremacists from Santee.

Lavon Liberty

The nice part of North Park

Head to Mission Bay if you can't wait

I agree with "Laven Liberty" whose well worded, lengthy (worth the read) letter ("Doesn't like Spike", Letters, August 9, 2023) totally and completely resonates. "Grossed Out" similarly reflects my own reactions to the premise of this ridiculous, long-winded, demand for public bathroom accommodations at local businesses. The sense of entitlement all over the crude article "No Restroom for the Weary" featured in the 07/27 edition is hard to even quantify.

As adults, we should not be behaving like a toddler who is not completely potty-trained. As for the foolish "Bladder without borders" remark directed at "Grossed Out", an adult should be bowel trained so that the need to go 'number two' should not be occurring at random times during one's day. If that were the case, those of us who work very long shifts with essentially no breaks whatsoever, with constant priority tasks, would not be able to function, especially with maybe one bathroom used by scores of people. And doing that in public, unless you are on a very long road trip, even if you are a 'paying customer' should be avoided as a matter of dignity.

I used to take my German Shepherd with me in my van when I went shopping or running errands. She never once did her 'business' in the back seat. She wasn't deprived of water, never, but I walked her after I fed her. She did what she had to do at about the same time, after a meal, every single day. My little kids weren't ever ready to wet or make a mess in their pants, either, when we went out for the day. And I can't recall a time when I had to find a restroom at the grocery store for one of my cherubs. If this is a problem for certain adults, presumably seniors, perhaps they should be availing themselves of bladder and bowel training techniques successfully used in rehab facilities, or resorting to Depends.

It is NOT the responsibility of the Dollar Store or any other business to provide a toilet to the public on demand. There are, however, open door public toilets, usually without soap, at many public parks (Mission Bay, for one) in San Diego. Head on over if you can't wait until you get home.

LaurieK

East Chula Vista

Live poets society

Congratulations to whomever selects items to place in the Reader’s poetry feature for finally choosing to publish contemporary poems by an actual living poet (“Five poems by Scott T. Starbuck”, Poetry, Aug. 4), written in modern English, rather than the usual desiccated and incredibly awful examples of dreck by dead guys that usually appear there. How about keeping it coming?

Greg Kosmicki

Alpine