6 GROUNDCOVER NEWS HUMAN RIGHTS The Game of Throne From the mire of the Dark Ages, the mold-injected, formaldehyde-infused, construction-worker-butt porta-johns comes the Renaissance of outdoor public toilets. Ann Arbor’s Parks and Recreation Department proudly brings us the “Throne.” The Throne is a “smart toilet” that sends a link to your phone to gain access and monitors how long you are in it. Like a knight in shining armor, the Throne monitors for cleanliness and preventative maintenance. The Throne can also summon management and law enforcement if you are in it too long. I used the Throne this summer at Sonic Lunch. The attendant, Rebecca, taught me how to get in. “Scan the QR code and the Throne will send you a link,” Rebecca instructed. “When it's your turn, click the link and the door will open. Do not click the link before the current occupant leaves and the ‘available’ sign comes on. Otherwise you will have to start over.” Rebecca continued, “The link sends an unlock code to the door; it's like getting buzzed in, so the timing has to be right.” Rebecca talked about working for Throne Labs, the makers of the Throne. “They’re a good company doing a good thing,” she said, referring to the company’s mission and vision to provide the public with clean, safe and accommodating commodes. “People are appreciative,” she added. Rebecca facilitates the guests of the facility and helps to keep it clean. Thrones are remotely monitored. A sensor tracks how long you take. There is a ten minute time limit with warnings. After fifteen minutes, the door opens a crack, then it gives another warning before it opens all the way. Then a notification goes to the Throne manager on duty. If they determine there is a safety issue, they may notify JIM CLARK Groundcover vendor No. 139 first responders. I asked Scott Spooner, Deputy Manager for Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation, why the stall was installed in Liberty Plaza. “There were two reasons: one is that there are no public bathrooms in the area. Secondly, people who frequent the park use it [Liberty Park] as a bathroom which ends up being the city’s responsibility to clean it up.” Derek Delecourt is the Ann Arbor Community Service Administrator, who oversees Parks and Recreation. Delecourt is on a mission to provide better public services — especially bathroom facilities. I asked him how the Throne solves Ann Arbor's public potty problem. “The Throne is a oneyear pilot program, which began in June 2024. It was funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, the University of Michigan, and Ann Arbor’s Downtown Development Authority.” When asked about his role, he replied, “I was tasked with improving our public restroom system. At the time we were using regular port-a-johns. The toilets are too hard to maintain. Some companies quit doing business with Ann Arbor because of their misuse. We are considering permanent structures, but they are expensive and have their own problems. After doing some research, I discovered Throne Labs. Although Ramón Roberto Isla Caballero, vendor No. 347, smiles outside the Throne closest to his corner on Washington Street. Last summer Caballero received a ticket for urinating in public even though there were no nearby public restrooms available at the time of arrest. they are more expensive, the added features prevent the maintenance and safety problems presented by them.” But why worry about toilets at all? Delecourt says, “All citizens are entitled to a clean usable facility. It’s for the public good. I want to add that Ann Arbor works for better quality public services in general. This includes our homeless population.” Anthony M., Ann Arbor denizen and regular at Liberty Plaza, has been using toilets his entire life. I asked him about his experience with the Throne. GCN: Is it unlike any bathroom you’ve ever used? AM: Yeah, it is unlike any bathroom I've ever used. GCN: How so? AM: Because it is internet capable. He pointed out that the internet connection would make it easy to summon someone if there was a horrible mess. Anthony originally said “because it’s run by AI.” We agreed that would be giving it too much credit. And a little creepy. GCN: What was your favorite feature? AM: It is a port-a-potty that has running water and is always clean. GCN: Anything else? AM: It would be cool if it told people about any cool events happening in town. Anthony agrees with the mission of Throne Labs. He says, “Dignity is important to people and elimination is basically part of digestion, so shouldn't a clean safe toilet be as important as food and water?” There are eight Throne stalls installed in Ann Arbor — at Washington and Main Street, the Farmers Market, Liberty Plaza, the Delonis Center, West Park, Riverside Park, and two in Veterans Park. The Throne is wheelchair-accessible and you can get a pass card from City Hall or the Delonis Center if you do not have a smartphone. See page 11 for a map of all Ann Arbor Throne bathrooms. SEPTEMBER 6, 2024
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