When nature calls in downtown Denver ... well , though luck . Residents in the city has been complaining to the local government over a lack of public restrooms , leading downtown alleys and side streets to become rank with the smell of urination . Just last year , local police issued 550 misdemeanor citations for public urination and only 40 per cent were given to the homeless . Scroll down for video . Rude : Denver residents are complaining over a lack of public restrooms in the downtown area . In addition to a lack of public restrooms , many business only open up their bathrooms to paying customers . Above , a stern sign outside one downtown business . The issue is not only because of a lack of public restrooms , but also businesses who only open up their bathrooms to paying customers - going so far as to hang up stern signs like 'No pay . No poop . No pee . ' In an op-ed for the Denver Post , retired journalist Dennis Ryerson cites suburbanization for the lack of free toilets . He says that when immigrants were first moving to downtown Denver a century ago , the city installed several 'comfort stations ' . But as new building codes required businesses to provide restrooms for workers , and more people began to move to the suburbs , the restrooms were closed . No place to go : A Denver Public Works spokesman said the city is looking into solutions for the public restrooms issue . Heather Burke of Denver Public Works says the city is aware of the issue and is looking to rectify it . 'It 's definitely on the city 's radar ; we have a working group that 's looking at different options for public restrooms , ' she told KDVR . 'There has n't been a big need for it in the past but we 're looking into it now because we 've heard from the community that there is a big need for it , ' she added . However , the speed of addressing the issue has Ryerson concerned . 'Denver has installed dog parks in my neighborhood and others . We are taking care of the dogs . Why ca n't we address a basic element of human health and sanitation ? ' he writes . 'Other cities , from San Francisco to New York , Calgary to El Paso , Victoria , B.C. , to Philadelphia , are beginning to address the issue . Not Denver . Here , we pretend it 's not a problem , or that it 's somebody else 's problem , ' Ryerson adds .
Only 40 per cent of the citations were issued to the homeless . The city has been criticised for its treatment of the homeless.