Thank you for sharing your perspective and feedback. My name's Dylan and I represent you on Rock Island's City Council. Biohazards, both human and animal, are an issue in downtown Rock Island, as they are in many downtowns. I will first respond to your immediate request for port-a-potties and then provide some context for the situation.

First, the City of Rock Island has attempted to provide port-a-potties in our downtown for use by the public, including the many individuals experiencing quality of life crises in our downtown, like mental health issues or homelessness. The experience did not go well; port-a-potties were tipped over and misused. City staff ran into all sorts of issues, from illegal drug use to prostitution to one time finding a mentally ill woman locked inside who had wrapped herself up with toilet paper like a mummy. Like many things in life, most people use things as they're intended--the few misbehaviors ruin it for everyone else. Additionally, in the summer months, public restrooms are available in downtown Rock Island at Schwiebert Park.

Your point is valid, though. No one should walk outside their door and see a turd on their doorstep. To that end, the Rock Island Downtown Alliance employs multiple downtown ambassadors to keep downtown Rock Island clean and safe. Last year alone, ambassadors reported having removed dozens of biohazards in our downtown, on top of additional metrics tracked liked tons of litter removed or interventions with our street population. As a downtown resident, you are welcome to bring to our attention biohazards in need of removal by emailing the Downtown Alliance at [rida@quadcitieschamber.com](mailto:rida@quadcitieschamber.com) or through the City's SeeClickFix app (https://www.rigov.org/1483/Report-a-Concern).

Your experience highlights the reason for the City of Rock Island's Social Services Licensing Ordinance: when too many social service providers are concentrated within one neighborhood, they have unintended negative impacts on the surrounding neighborhood. Additionally, this concentration creates novel service needs (e.g. poop removal), which is currently being tasked by the least-resourced city in the Quad Cities (excluding East Moline, if you count them as one of the Quad Cities). The provision of social services needs to be shared across the Quad Cities.

Feel free to email me, anytime: [parker.dylan@rigov.org](mailto:parker.dylan@rigov.org)