Photo Courtesy of Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office
“The efforts of the City Cleanup Corps have been instrumental in storm cleanup, pandemic recovery and the revitalization of our city,” Sanitation Commissioner Ed Grayson said.
By Michael V. Cusenza
The City Cleanup Corps has hand-swept over 50,000 blocks, among several milestones achieved within six months of the program’s launch, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Thursday.
Since April 2021, de Blasio’s New Deal-inspired economic recovery program has also removed 600,000 bags of trash, hosted 400,000 work shifts, repainted 900 defaced properties, and cleaned 25,000 rain gardens, among efforts to revitalize and refresh public areas in neighborhoods across the five boroughs.
“City Cleanup Corps was created not only as an opportunity to get hard-working New Yorkers back on their feet, but also to fortify our commitment to the City’s neighborhoods and communities,” de Blasio said. “With over 50,000 blocks cleaned, thousands of pounds of litter removed, and many other milestones met, City Cleanup Corps members are creating a clear, lasting impact that is being felt by New Yorkers and revitalizing the streets, parks, and public spaces that make our City great.”
In response to Hurricane Ida, City Cleanup Corps members helped New Yorkers across the five boroughs clear debris from their residential properties damaged by the storm.
“The efforts of the City Cleanup Corps have been instrumental in storm cleanup, pandemic recovery and the revitalization of our city,” said Middle Village native and Department of Sanitation Commissioner Edward Grayson. “On behalf of the nearly 10,000 NYC Sanitation employees who work hard to pick up 12,000 tons of residential refuse every day, I thank the City Cleanup Corps for their partnership in our shared mission of keeping our city clean and safe for all.”
Howard Beach resident and Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Vincent Sapienza added, “The City Cleanup Corps has been a terrific help in ensuring the City’s drainage infrastructure is operating as efficiently as possible. The Cleanup Corps has helped to clear trash and debris from catch basins and curbside rain gardens across the city. This is an important reminder that all New Yorkers can play a part in making New York a more livable city and support our drainage system by not littering on our streets.”
“Congratulations to the City Cleanup Corps on their impressive milestone of hand-sweeping over 50,000 blocks across the city in only six months,” said State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach). “I would like to personally thank this amazing group for helping to clean the Addabbo Memorial Bridge and the surrounding area. Since the maintenance and condition of this area in my district became a main concern for my constituents, having the City Cleanup Corps there cleaning the bridge and adjacent areas has been a great improvement for the community. I wish them continued success in the future.”
Alex Zablocki, executive director of the Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy, said, “In Jamaica Bay and Rockaway parks, City Cleanup Corps members are hard at work removing graffiti, painting benches and fences, removing trash and weeds from our parks, and beautifying spaces millions of New Yorkers enjoy annually. Throughout these parks, Corps members are working to lift their communities up and revitalize public spaces, leading our city’s recovery forward.”
The New York City Cleanup Corps is revitalizing neighborhoods and public spaces across the five boroughs while creating 10,000 jobs for New York City residents. Jobs with flexible hours and competitive hourly rates are still available. Learn more and apply today at https://nyc.gov/ccc.
