Monaca Plumber Uses Toilets To Protest Parking Complaint
MONACA (KDKA) -- A Monaca plumber has taken plumbing to a new level, using toilets like ones on the roof of his garage, as a form of protest.
"Oh, that's been up there for many years," says Eugene Schmuck. "He protested the Huntington Bank."
Tom Suica, a former councilman, first objected when his neighbor, Huntington Bank, wanted a drive-thru.
His latest protest involves a new Japanese steakhouse that is replacing the bank.
"It's a parking dispute, and if you read the ordinance, you are supposed to have x amount of parking for a business that's going in," Suica told KDKA money editor Jon Delano.
Suica says that additional parking is coming at his expense, right next to his home, which used to be "no parking."
After the municipality painted over the yellow line and put three new parking spots in front of Suica's home, he protested by putting an unusual looking tricycle in two of the three spots - a toilet bowl on wheels.
"He rides them around town. He has. I've seen him on them," says Carey Woods of Monaca.
"He does everything for attention," adds Michelle Manzo, a Monaca neighbor.
She thinks Suica's protest hurts Monaca.
"It's disgusting. We welcome all businesses to Monaca, and he's making these people feel unwelcome," she says.
Inside the former bank, reconstruction is under way as co-owner Amy Peng hopes to open in mid-October. She says the toilet protest won't affect her business.
"No it doesn't bother me," says Peng. "I think I'm doing the right thing for the community."
Borough officials agree, saying it was Suica who wanted to park next to his home.
Notwithstanding the toilet publicity, Monaca leaders welcome the steakhouse.
"We're trying to revitalize our downtown, and we want to make downtown Monaca the eating capital of Beaver County," says Mario Leone, the borough manager.
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