What to know
- “The city should supply menstrual products on its toilet in the way it provides other basic hygiene products, such as toilet paper, soap and paper towels,” Blumenfield said.
- The total cost of the program over two years is $ 53,205, which includes the monthly delivery cost.
- UCLA announced Monday that it will also begin providing free menstrual products on campus toilets from April 4, becoming the first campus in the University of California system to offer the service.
Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday advanced a pilot program to provide free menstrual products on restrooms at five public libraries.
The program was initiated in a proposal introduced in 2019 by Councilor Bob Blumenfield, who on Tuesday called the program “a long time ago” and said the COVID-19 pandemic had delayed efforts.
“The city should provide menstrual products on its toilet in the way it provides other basic hygiene products, such as toilet paper, soap and paper towels,” Blumenfield said. “Equity does not treat everyone exactly the same, it is a recognition that some groups of people, in this case women and some transgender men, have different needs that must be met in order for them to fully participate in the services provided by the city. provides.”
The pilot program, which was approved by a 14-0 vote by the city council on Tuesday, begins at 30 unisex and women’s restrooms at the following libraries:
- Central Library, at 630 W. Fifth St .;
- Canoga Park Branch Library, at 20939 Sherman Way;
- West Valley Branch Library, 19036 Vanowen St .;
- Los Feliz Branch Library, 1874 Hillhurst Ave .; and
- Will & Ariel Durant Branch Library, at 7140 W. Sunset Blvd in Hollywood.
According to the Department of General Services, the locations were chosen “as they represent a diversity of racial and economic populations, including people experiencing homelessness.”
The total cost of the program over two years is $ 53,205, which includes the monthly supply cost and the one-time cost of purchasing and installing dispensers. General Services estimated that each toilet would provide 60 menstrual products a day – 30 sanitary napkins and 30 tampons.
“I look forward to the results of this pilot and ultimately to extending this to all of the city’s restrooms throughout the city,” Blumenfield said. “The purpose of this pilot is to test different distribution mechanisms to see what works, because we know this is something that is needed, not just at the pilot level, but at the full-scale level.”
A report from the Department of General Services estimated that the pilot would begin in April.
UCLA announced Monday that it will begin providing free menstrual products on campus restrooms from April 4, becoming the first campus in the University of California system to offer the service.