PHOTO: City Councilman Ruben Wills this week was joined by CB 10 Chairwoman Betty Braton (l.) and DSNY Commissioner Kathryn Garcia on a tour of Liberty Avenue in South Richmond Hill.
City Councilman Ruben Wills (D-Jamaica), city Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia, DSNY Enforcement agents and civic leaders on Tuesday toured a patch of Liberty Avenue in South Richmond Hill, educating area merchants about proper sidewalk maintenance and refuse disposal, answering questions, and dispensing literature that included information related to the administration’s recently activated Styrofoam products ban.
Originally scheduled for July, the tour was billed as the first in a series that Wills has pledged to conduct over the coming weeks as part of his “Clean Streets, Safe Neighborhoods, Strong Communities” initiative.
“I am looking to our community’s local business owners to show leadership on this issue,” Wills said. “They have a primary responsibility to observe our sanitation laws by engaging in practices that will enhance people’s awareness about proper trash disposal, and encourage greater cooperation. Accountability for the cleanliness of our streets begins and ends with each of us as fellow neighbors. I thank Commissioner Garcia and CB 10 Chair [Betty] Braton for joining me today in this ongoing effort to heighten the community’s consciousness about the neatness of its streets and sidewalks.”
Since last year, Wills has employed the nonprofit Fedcap-Wildcat Services Corporation to supplement the sanitation services provided by the agency. He recently announced that new high-end litter baskets, with small openings designed to curb illegal dumping, have been distributed throughout Council District 28’s commercial corridors by Sanitation.
“We appreciated the opportunity to walk in the neighborhood with Council Member Wills, and educate business owners on best practices such as dealing with garbage pickup, recycling, and the new foam ban,” Garcia said. “The New York City Department of Sanitation is also pleased to partner with Council Member Wills to provide extra high end baskets and additional service to the Liberty Avenue corridor for a cleaner and safer city.”
Tour stops included Sybil’s Bakery & Restaurant, Singh’s Roti Shop & Bar, and Allstate Insurance Company.
Additional Enforcement agents and staff members visited the remaining businesses along Liberty Avenue, and distributed Adopt-a-Basket literature, provided routing times, and supplied Styrofoam Packaging Restrictions Hardship Waiver applications.
“Community Board 10 welcomes this opportunity to join with Councilman Wills and Commissioner Garcia in this effort to help make our business owners more aware of DSNY rules and ways to improve conditions on the vibrant Liberty Avenue commercial strip,” added Chairwoman Betty Braton.
By Michael V. Cusenza michael@theforumnewsgroup.com
