This is a complaint and a report on the deplorable and depraved conditions I experienced in the men’s rest rooms of NJT and LIRR Penn Station in New York City. On Monday August 23, 2010 upon arriving in Penn Station just after 8AM I had the unfortunate and immediate requirement to use a toilet. I first tried the men’s restroom up by 8th Avenue and found it populated with indigent/homeless men (one bare foot and dirt encrusted) and not a single open stall. One kindly homeless man offered me his spot in the line for a stall, but I could only imagine what unsanitary conditions I would have found once the stall was vacated.

I dashed out of there hoping to find an open stall and a better situation at the NJT restrooms near 7th Avenue by the “ticket holders” only waiting area. (I was transferring to a NJT train at 8:41AM). What a joke! The NJT restroom had 2 open stalls, the first stall (handicapped) had no door at all and the smaller second stall had a banged up door with no lock and no way to close the door properly or secure it for any measure of safety. The stall toilet paper dispenser was also missing. It appears the dispenser had been ripped from the wall but someone luckily had fashioned a toilet paper holder with the wire hanger. On the way out of the restroom another homeless men had arrived (with large plastic bag of redeemable cans in tow) was forced to use the toilet with no door. Meanwhile out in the “ticket holders only” waiting area a group of other mostly homeless men sat quietly. There was nobody sitting at the security desk.

As a New Yorker I was ashamed to find these unacceptable, unsafe, and unsanitary conditions for both myself and the homeless (not to mention the poor unknowing tourist that might need to use a bathroom anyplace in Penn station). The MTA/LIRR/NJT needs to correct immediately the poor physical condition of these rest rooms (especially the NJT restroom) and also address the complete lack of security in the restrooms, and lack of compliance with the “ticket holders” waiting area security. These depraved conditions are likely a symptom of the homeless situation in NYC, so the NJT/LIRRMTA needs to more resources for them and partner more with Homeless Coalitions or something to improve the situation, because someday day YOU too might find yourself in the unfortunate situation of needing a restroom in Penn Station. NYC is the greatest city in the world and even our restrooms should reflect that reality.
cc: LIRR/NJT/MTA