Public Restrooms for the City of Poughkeepsie, NOW!

Over the last 5 years or so, gentrification has caused a significant increase in homelessness in Dutchess County, NY. This has caused the City of Poughkeepsie to leave its native citizens in the dark depths of the unforgotten, beneath all those pristine new luxury apartment buildings and beautiful art installations. These people may be seen as "vermin" by the uneducated and unsympathetic, however they are human beings and have the same needs as everyone else that are being neglected. The lack of resources provided to the city's homeless population has caused public health issues, such as leaving used needles in the streets and defecating in public behind buildings and dumpsters. Small businesses, their clients and tax paying citizens are directly being affected by this homeless epidemic. While the City of Poughkeepsie focuses on economic growth, it is important to allocate some of those funds to help a marginalized group in need. It's time for Poughkeepsie to step up and install public bathrooms. This will not only decrease public defecation and other public health risks, but it will benefit citizens, vagrants and tourists alike. All while keeping our city clean.