The Brief

LOS ANGELES - A proposed $1 million restroom at the popular Runyon Canyon hiking trail is drawing fire from some local residents, with many questioning whether the city’s latest park improvement plan is a necessary public service — or an expensive misstep.

The bathroom, planned for installation at the Fuller Avenue entrance, has reignited long-standing concerns about public safety, fire hazards and how the city allocates funds.

"Aside from the epic waste of money being spent on it, I think it’ll attract more of what we don’t want," said Shira Scott Astrof, a concerned resident, referencing fears about crime and homelessness near the trailhead.

Currently, only portable toilets are available at the entrance of the park, which welcomes an estimated 2 million visitors each year

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