Pigeon poop and illegally dumped waste have turned an underpass in Howard Beach into an eyesore that requires a detailed plan of action, according to state Senator Joe Addabbo.
Addabbo wants city and state agencies to clean up the underpass at 84th Street between 157th Avenue and Shore Parkway. Residents say that the underpass has had an issue regarding pigeon presence and other waste buildup.
Addabbo initially called on the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) as well as the New York State Department of Transportation (NYS DOT) regarding the underpass. While the agencies have come up with short-term solutions, Addabbo is continuing to work with them to create a long-term solution.
“I am grateful for the assistance both the DSNY and NYS DOT have given on this problem,” Addabbo said. “However, after the solutions were implement, the problem has persisted, which is why I will work together with governmental agencies to create a long-term solution to this problem.”
This is not Addabbo’s first experience in cleaning up an unsightly underpass. In 2016, Addabbo began to work with the NYS DOT to address the underpass along 80th Street under the Long Island Expressway on the Middle Village/Maspeth border, which also had an excessive amount of pigeon waste.
After reviewing the situation, the NYS DOT placed wooden boards under the roadway to prevent pigeons from congregating in the underpass.
“No community should have to live with an underpass that is not only an eyesore, but a health hazard as well,” Addabbo said. “We were able to mitigate the situation in Middle Village, and I have no doubt that the underpass in Howard Beach will see similar results. I appreciate all my constituents who have contacted me regarding this issue and I understand their frustration, but I want them to know this will be resolved.”
