A set of portable toilets set up in a Passaic County town to help the homeless population has sparked a debate in the town.
About 10 to 15 people are living on the streets of the Botany Village section of Clifton. City officials say that they often relieve themselves outside, creating a health hazard.
Two port-a-potties were set up so that the city could help the homeless population, while also keeping Clifton cleaner. But not everyone is happy about it.
“Some people are in favor of helping and giving them a place to go,” says Clifton City Manager Dominick Villano. “But some say that now we’re attracting more by putting these port-a-potties there. That we’ll attract additional homeless people from surrounding areas.”
Villano says he is meeting with members of the Botany Special Improvement District this week to try to come up with a solution.