Controversial diaper changing station proposal in Miami

COCONUT GROVE, Fla. (WSVN) -- A South Florida City could see a massive diaper change if a Miami Commissioner has his way, but not everyone was happy to hear about it.

A Miami City Commissioner and first-time father is asking for the installation of new baby changing stations across bathrooms throughout the city. However, some say the money could be better spent elsewhere.

City of Miami Commissioner Frank Carollo noticed that the baby changing stations are usually in women's restrooms and not in men's rooms. He proposed as many as 165 new stations be installed in both men and women's restrooms in city-owned buildings across Miami. It sparked a near hour-long debate during the city's commission meeting Thursday afternoon.

As a new father, Carollo had noticed how difficult it was to find diaper changing stations inside men's rooms, so he championed the proposal. It would cost close to $45,000. "So what you have an issue with is maybe using $42,000, maybe $45,000, of Homeland Defense bond dollars on changing stations because they should go to police?" Carollo said during the debate.

"I think that, right now, this is not a top priority," responded Miami Police Sgt. Armando Aguilar, President of the Fraternal Order of Police. "I do not think Homeland Defense finds should be used for that."

After the hour-long debate, Carollo decided that he would raise the money needed for the baby changing stations through private donations and no tax-payer money will be used. "And that's going to be our present to the City of Miami and to all the mothers and fathers and families," Carollo said.

Aguilar said the city needs to worry about a leaky roof at police headquarters, the bomb squad's need of a truck and officers without computers in their squad cars. "It's just an additional slap in the face," said Aguilar after the meeting. "I can't believe where their priorities are at."

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