By Michael V. Cusenza
State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Woodhaven) on Wednesday participated in a community cleanup initiative alongside the City Center for Employment Opportunity.
This latest CEO endeavor, made possible through $60,000 in funding secured by the senator, aims to enhance local neighborhoods and business corridors.
Fellow CEO supporter Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park) joined Addabbo at the top of the inaugural cleanup route at 96th Street and Liberty Avenue in Ozone Park.
“The senator and I fund CEO because of their dedication to our communities as they help people transition back into the work force,” Ariola said. “To all other elected officials, if you’re thinking about funding CEO, make it happen. The community will be better for it.”
CEO, a nonprofit social enterprise organization, specializes in providing comprehensive employment services to individuals recently released from incarceration. By targeting individuals under parole and probation supervision, CEO focuses on aiding those at high risk of recidivism, effectively reducing the likelihood of re-incarceration.
Photo Courtesy of Councilwoman Ariola
“This morning I met up with Senator Addabbo and the @ceoworks on their newest route down Rockaway Boulevard,” Councilwoman Ariola tweeted on Wednesday.
Addabbo expressed his optimism in supporting NYC CEO’s work, emphasizing the dual purpose of the initiative to both assist individuals transitioning from incarceration to secure gainful employment and foster community beautification efforts. “We are helping people get a second chance at life by providing them with good-paying jobs to help them become productive members of society,” the senator said.
CEO provides training, equipment, transportation, and comprehensive oversight. The organization’s crews can adapt to evolving community needs, offering a range of services including outdoor maintenance, landscaping, waste management, and graffiti removal services, Addabbo noted.
The targeted cleanup areas span from 96th Street and Liberty Avenue to Lefferts Boulevard and Liberty Avenue and 101st Street and Jamaica Avenue to Jamaica Avenue and Lefferts Boulevard. Each cleanup crew is comprised of four participants led by a site supervisor.
“It is my intent that if this clean up initiative proves to be successful, I will seek to expand it to other parts of my district where needed,” Addabbo added.
