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To the Editor: 

Why is it that businesses are allowed to sell coffee and food without being required to provide toilets? Why is it that public bathrooms in Berkeley parks are not equipped with sinks or toilet paper? I made Berkeley my home three years ago, and for the most part I love living here. But I am so completely horrified at how difficult and unsanitary it is to use the bathroom in Berkeley. 

There is no reason why any business in Berkeley should be allowed to sell coffee or food without providing clean bathroom facilities. This is basic zoning 101. There is a direct correlation between drinking coffee and needing to use the bathroom. Businesses should be forced to deal with people’s need to use the bathroom if they are to sell any sort of food, including prepackaged drinks. Most other civilized cities have such requirements. 

Berkeley park bathrooms are in desperate need of maintenance. Why is it that toilets are provided without sinks to wash your hands or toilet paper? This is disgusting. Are we really in such dire financial shape that we cannot afford to clean up our own waste in a sanitary manner? There are Thirds World countries that deal with their own waste better then we do. I’ve seen overflowing portable toilets in Berkeley Parks that made me want to vomit. It's very sad that a city so world renowned for it's revolutionary ideas is so far behind the rest of the world in our cleanliness. 

Zach Tomcich 

Berkeley