Nice Cans!

New York's finally getting its own "freestanding public" toilets.

First of all, since the user will have to pay a "nominal" fee, I don't think they can be called "public." Really, aren't they private toilets in public spaces?

Secondly, as part of the deal, the toilet company will also be "providing aesthetic order" to the city's bus shelters and newspaper stands. The company will install everything at no charge, and the city will, in turn, sell advertising. Since when does advertising "provide aesthetic order"?

I'm not necessarily against this company or the city's desire to charge people to pee (after all, I know many places in the city where you can pee for free). I just wish they'd call things what they are -- pay toilets (and other amenities) that sell crap.