HarborTides

Posted in: News on 4/29/08 at 2:30 PM PST

Media Credit: Ivan Adame Sign warns library men's room to be closed because of vadalism. [Click to enlarge]

In response to an inquiry by The Harbor Tides, a graffiti-marred men's restroom closed in the library has been re-opened.

The facility was closed by the Los Angeles County Sheriff department after complaints about vandalism. The Sheriff's office referred the Tides to Los Angeles Harbor College Vice President of Administrative Services Ann Tomlinson, who was not available.

In late April, after a visit to Tomlinson's office, the restroom was reopened.

Around mid-March a sign posted on the men's restroom at the library read that "This restroom will be permanently closed if the vandalism does not cease immediately."

On Monday, April 21, the sign lived up
to it's message and the restroom was closed down, with a new sign beside it redirecting anxious users to the cafeteria's restroom.
Robyn Lamoreux, who works at the Library, explained why.

"In the past, it was mostly graffiti, but we had problems with people taking excess amounts of paper towels and toilet paper, stuffing them into the toilets, and trying to flush them, and into the urinals, sinks, and turning the water on and leaving
it running."

The vandalism became a major source of
frustration for maintenance.

"If we found out it happened, the custodians would have to clean it up," she said. "Our evening custodian, who does most of the clean up in here, was having to clean this stuff up... the graffiti has been going on for years, but sometimes it's racial, and that's when it's really disturbing... this time the graffiti that's in there feels like someone's personal [message]."

Lamoreux wasn't responsible for the closing of the restroom, but was the person who referred the Tides to the Sheriff.

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