Photo Courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office
City Sanitation Commission Jessica Tisch delivers remarks on Thursday regarding the “Get Stuff Clean” initiative.
By Forum Staff
The Adams administration on Thursday announced $14.5 million in new funding to create a cleaner city through a major upgrade to cleanliness protocols across the five boroughs. The “Get Stuff Clean” initiative will invest $14.5 million this fiscal year alone to clean more than 1,000 “No Man’s Land” neglected areas around the city, increase litter basket service, expand camera enforcement against illegal dumping, and bring on additional rat exterminators—resulting in faster and more reliable cleaning of every corner of the five boroughs.
“Get Stuff Clean” includes the following initiatives and new funding:
- 200 new DSNY workers will be added to support cleanliness across the five boroughs.
- NYC Parks will add new evening shifts for hot spot cleaning and rat mitigation within City parks, made up of 240 NYC Parks’ posts.
- $7.1 million for DSNY this fiscal year alone and more than $6.5 million annually thereafter to regularly clean approximately 1,500 ‘No Man’s Land’ areas around the city — areas that past administrations put under the jurisdiction of other city agencies without dedicated cleanliness resources. DSNY will also organize a new unit, the Targeted Neighborhood Taskforce (TNT), to give these areas regularly scheduled cleanings.
- $4.9 million for DSNY to implement Phase Two of the litter basket servicing plan this year, and resources in upcoming years, to service litter baskets at the entrances of bridges and along the perimeters of city parks. Phase One of the litter basket service plan that went into effect on July 1st is already showing promising results: A 55 percent reduction in litter basket complaints, bringing complaints back in line with pre-pandemic levels. Phase Two covers additional baskets at some of the city’s most highly-trafficked tourist areas.
- $470,000 this fiscal year and $1.1 million annually thereafter for a DSNY and DOT partnership to take on regular cleanings of highway on- and off-ramps. Like bridges and park edges, highway ramps are often one of the first places seen by visitors to New York City. They must be cleaned thoroughly and regularly, but this DSNY function was defunded at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and is now being restored.
- The Adams administration is deepening its investment in dumping enforcement by adding $1.4 million this fiscal year, and nearly $400,000 annually thereafter, for expanded camera enforcement against the scourge of illegal dumping. People engaged in illegal dumping will face $4,000 fines and vehicle impounds on a regular basis with these new cameras as part of an expansion of a highly successful and popular enforcement strategy.
- $630,000 this fiscal year and nearly $1 million in the next year for DOHMH to expand rat mitigation efforts.
- DEP will accelerate hiring 50 additional staff to inspect and clean sewer grates, also known as catch basins. Clean, clear, and unclogged sewer grates minimize flooding and improve the functionality of the sewer system.
“For much too long, portions of this city have been neglected and allowed to become inundated with trash and debris,” Councilwoman Joan Ariola (R-Ozone Park) said. “With this latest initiative, the mayor, DSNY, DOT, and NYC Parks are finally rectifying those years of neglect, and are making a considerable investment towards improving the quality of life for New Yorkers throughout the five boroughs. From the much needed rat reduction measures to the enhanced illegal dumping enforcement and beyond, the ‘Get Stuff Clean’ initiative will make New York City a better, brighter, and cleaner place to live for us all.”
