July 9, 2012 By Christian Murray
Woodside’s about to be spruced up.
Two workers arrived in the heart of Woodside and began cleaning streets near the 61st Street subway station. This was their first day of employment, where they have been hired to work three days per week, for six hours per day.
Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer went to Woodside to announce their arrival and the beginning of the program. Van Bramer allocated $31,000 from the city budget to the Doe Fund, the group that is providing the staff. The Doe Fund is a program that employs people who struggle with addiction, have criminal histories or were at one time homeless.
The workers will maintain the streets along Roosevelt Avenue (from 51st Street to 61st Street), 61st Street (from Roosevelt to 39th Avenue) and Woodside Avenue (from 58th Street to 60th Street), including plazas and the surrounding areas.
“The residents of Woodside deserve their streets to be clean and maintained on a regular basis,” Van Bramer said. “This initiative ensures that a street cleaning team is dedicated to addressing their needs.”
Van Bramer said the introduction of the funding of the Doe Fund is a part of his efforts to maintain keep Woodside clean. This summer a $250,000 pigeon mitigation system is going to be erected at the 46th Street, 52nd and 61st Street stations.
This program aims to reduce the amount of pigeon droppings under these No. 7 subway stations. The MTA will put in place systems that include spiking, sound-based deterrents as well as low-voltage wire. These systems do not hurt the birds.
Services provided by the Doe Fund:
- Cleaning of sidewalks from the building or property line to the curb and gutters
- Removal and replacement of new liners in garbage receptacles;
- Cleaning out weeds, cigarette butts and debris from cracks in sidewalks and tree pits;
- Removal of all posters and graffiti from street furniture (ex. fire hydrants, light poles and mailboxes);
- Alignment of miscellaneous newspaper distribution boxes at all intersections daily
