Trenton Is Out of Toilet Paper

City employees are hoping the city government will spare a square before the week ends

The city of Trenton is trying to wipe away a smudge on its reputation, as all city buildings, police headquarters, fire departments and senior centers will be completely out of toilet paper by the week’s end.

The rolls got down to a crisis level while the City Council and Mayor Tony Mack's administration fought over a contract to resupply the paper products for city government in New Jersey's capital, reports the Times of Trenton.

Council President Kathy McBride tells The Times of Trenton paper towel and toilet paper dispensers in senior citizen centers, police headquarters, the fire department and other city offices likely won't last through the week.

“I’m embarrassed,” McBride told the newspaper. “I’m a little disgusted, and I feel we’re doing an injustice to the residents of the city and the employees.”

If the bathroom dispensers go bare, state intervention could occur and buildings could be closed for not meeting health standards, reports the Times.

The council has thrice rejected a $42,000 contract for a year's supply of paper products because members raised concerns about a high unit price for hot drink cups.

Alex Bethea, one of the Councilmen who opposed the contract, told the Times that rejecting it was a “miscalculation” on his part.

“I don’t have any opposition to it, it was an oversight on my part,” Bethea said. “I didn’t realize at the time we were as low as we were.”

Mack's administration removed the cups from the contract and sent it back to the council.

“They’re just ridiculous over cups,” George Dzurkoc, the Policemen’s Benevolent Association head, told the Times of Trenton.  “It’s a circus-like atmosphere for sure.”

Mack has faced frequent criticism and scandal since he took office in 2010.

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