By DAVID GREENE

This week we asked readers if the city should decriminalize public urination, changing the penalty of those caught in the act to getting a summons, in light of talks on the matter between the NYPD and the City Council.

I agree with that because anytime you have to use the bathroom and go to places like some Burger Kings or McDonald’s, you’re not allowed to use the bathroom. Even when you take the train and have to use a bathroom, there’s no bathroom available. They have the key to the bathroom but we can’t use it. The MTA locks all of the bathrooms in all the stations. You shouldn’t go to jail. The city should provide more public restrooms in the street.
Ismael Figueroa
Hunts Point

I think they shouldn’t do that because it’s a quality of life issue and bad behavior should not be dismissed. I do think that it will lead to a misconception of people thinking that it’s all right to start doing this kind of stuff. So first it’s urination and eventually people will think that stealing something or drinking in public is not that bad. It can lead to more serious issues down the road and it’s a quality of life issue for the neighborhood.
Kevin DeMatteis
Norwood

I have mixed feelings about it because sometimes you have to go and there’s nowhere to go, but I think it’s fine if you find a secluded area where there’s nobody around and you do it. I don’t think it’s a problem. But I think if you do it on people’s property or if people can see you, it’s a problem.  I think the city should place public restrooms in the more busy areas.
Rodney Wimberly
Norwood

Well I can understand the summons because the city makes money from summonses. I live here in Norwood and across the street is a beautiful park. With everything they do to beautify the park, why do you have people urinating and defecating in the park? That’s disgusting. We as Americans lead good clean lives. We work to have good things. I agree the penalty should be strong, it should be mandated. They shouldn’t go to jail, but the penalty should be a strict monetary penalty. If you suffer a penalty, you won’t do it again and the money can help the schools and it can go back into the system.
Adolph Santana
Norwood

It’s common sense. It would be a way for the city to get some revenue. It should be a summons and not to throw somebody in jail and waste tax dollars, so yes, it should be a summon-able offense. Yes we do need more public restrooms.
Henry Ramirez
Bedford Park

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Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.