A recent small-town newspaper article in Rockland, Maine, outlined how several waterfront property owners were trying to get portable restrooms at the entrance to a public park walkway removed. As it was explained, the residents objected to seeing the restrooms near their housing development.
The local municipality, which rented the restrooms for visitors to use, agreed to move the units, but the locals didn’t like the new location either. The situation has grown into a longstanding “not in my backyard’’ battle, and I’m sure a PRO is caught in the middle of it.
Have you ever been embroiled in this sort of a controversy? If so, how did you handle the negative publicity from being dragged into the argument?
I’m surprised when I hear about cases like this. First, today’s portable restrooms are well designed and attractive, and can be specified by color to blend into natural surroundings. Second, don’t these neighbors want to provide portable sanitation options for visitors to their area? Providing proper facilities at remote public parks is the right thing to do.
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