The issue of restroom facilities for Amtrak passengers — ormore specifically the lack of them — occasionally finds its way tothe city board table, like it did last week.

In a nutshell: Amtrak sees the matter as strictly a local issue,that it’s up to the towns along the train’s routes to providefacilities if they so desire. Most small towns have long sinceboarded up their train stations. Brookhaven’s currently houses theRecreation Department.

Tuesday’s discussion jumped the track quickly when one aldermanraised the preposterous notion of a boycott or preventing the trainfrom stopping here unless Amtrak provides restroom facilities.Other city officials, apparently fearing vandalism, do not favorhaving public restrooms in the depot either now or after theRecreation Department’s upcoming move.

We’d like to see the city fathers rethink that decision and openpublic restrooms. There would be no need to have the restrooms openafter dark, and hopefully that would limit any threat ofvandalism.

Can’t this city be hospitable enough to provide waiting trainpassengers a comfort station? A place to get a drink of water or asoda? It is Southern tradition to extend a helping hand totravelers passing through. If we really are the Homeseekers’Paradise, is it not the least we can do?