EVANSVILLE — The city’s new public restroom available 24/7 in Downtown Evansville opened May 11. And with it came a flood of misinformation.
Evansville announced the opening of the facility via a social media post on the official city government page, which itself contained incorrect information about how the project had been paid for.
In April 2025, Evansville City Council approved $275,000 in casino funds for the construction of the city’s Portland Loo, now located at the corner of Sycamore and Sixth streets near the METS bus station. Last month, the city council approved $33,000 to pay the Downtown Economic Improvement District for maintenance.
Those dollars all come from proceeds at the Terre Haute casino as outlined in Indiana code. The city received $1.2 million in 2024 and $900,000 in 2025. The final payment will come in December totaling $600,000, according to city controller Robert Gunter.
In its original post, the city stated the money came from interest earned on American Rescue Plan Act dollars. That incorrect claim was then parroted by local TV and radio stations, as well as shared around social media as a part of the conversation spurned by the restroom opening.
Money generated from interest connected to ARPA dollars don’t come with the same requirements as ARPA dollars themselves. It can be used for a variety of things — and has been, such as for the city’s Forward Together Grant and helping residents leave a troubled mobile home park.
Casino dollars are guided by a council resolution stating the money should be used for capital purchases, according to the city.
Misinformation spread across social media, and beyond
The city’s post was up for about 24 hours before it was edited to remove the statement about where the money for the project came from. There was no correction. The information was simply deleted. Facebook allows users to see how many likes each version of a post has. The first post, with the statement about ARPA interest, was liked over 1,200 times. The version with it removed had just over 250.
Multiple outside organizations that had already posted about the restroom still have the incorrect source of funding in their articles as of Tuesday morning.
The same issue presented itself when city councilor Mary Allen, D-At-Large, shared the opening of the restroom via her official city council Facebook page. In her first post on May 12, Allen also incorrectly stated it had been paid for by ARPA interest.
The morning of May 14, Allen edited the post to include more context around the need for the facility, noting that since 2023, the Downtown Economic Improvement District’s Clean & Safe Team had responded to more than 800 cleanups involving human waste. She also emphasized that no taxpayer dollars were used, but instead that the money ARPA interest which, again, is incorrect.
That evening, Allen edited the post a last time to remove info on ARPA interest and correct it to Terre Haute casino dollars.
But that correction itself drew ire on social media, as did Allen’s vote for the project, from those who used it as a tool to attack Allen in her run for Congress. Allen, who just won a four-way Democratic primary earlier this month, is currently running against Republican Rep. Mark Messmer for the 8th District seat.
A day later, Allen posted a video to Facebook addressing the restroom, and the misinformation around it.
“Unfortunately, I was a part of that misinformation. Unintentionally, I looked at a different source when it was put out on social media that had mentioned ARPA interest,” Allen said. “You know, the finance ordinance was approved quite some time ago, and I didn’t double-check. Should have done that, so I apologize, and went back and tried to edit any of the places where I put that.”
Allen said it wasn’t intentional.
She also said she would defend her yes vote on the project any day of the week, which was a part of a unanimous yes vote from city council. There were also no remonstrators against the project, she said.
‘Basic dignity and hygiene’
As the misinformation swirled, so did hateful comments.
Most of them were focused on people Downtown who are experiencing homelessness. Others aimed their vitriol at drug users.
“Wait till the crackheads get word of this,” one said.
“Yup a good place for addicts to destroy,” another stated.
In many instances, those comments were batted down my other commentors.
Organizations who do work in the housing and recovery spaces also made posts of their own, applauding the addition of the facility to Downtown Evansville.
“With a lack of access to public restrooms, this provides a clean, regularly maintained place for thousands of people in the downtown area,” a post from Echo Housing & Community Development. “This includes visitors, people waiting for the bus, concert goers, and the population we serve, unhoused individuals.”
For those dealing with homelessness, a restroom that is reliable supports “basic dignity and hygiene, helps reduce public health concern, and can be a safer alternative to being turned away from businesses or having to use unsafe, unsanitary options,” the post further states.
The facility itself is also set up, according to its creators, with harm reduction and safety in mind.
Answers to a few other questions seen on social media
Is there a baby changing station?
Yes.
How often will the restroom be cleaned?
According to the city, the restroom will be cleaned twice daily.
Is the restroom accessible?
Yes. The restroom is in compliance with ADA standards, according to its creators. It is set up to be comfortable for anyone using a wheelchair, walker or stroller. There’s also no step-up or curb into the facility. Grab bars are set up inside the restroom.
For those with limited hand strength or dexterity, the fixtures like a door lock and handles, flusher and sink tap are meant to need minimal effort, the organization states on its website.
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Misinformation clogged the conversation around Evansville’s new toilet
Reporting by Sarah Loesch, Evansville Courier & Press / Evansville Courier & Press
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