By Naeisha Rose
City Councilman Donovan Richards says discretionary funding allocated by his office for the fiscal year 2019 has $220,000 in its budget for additional garbage pickups and other cleanliness efforts for his district. Richards made the announcement in Springfield Gardens last week.
The councilman’s constituents in District 31 reside in Arverne, Brookville, Edgemere, Far Rockaway, Laurelton, Rosedale and Springfield Gardens.
Work on tidying up the district with additional pickups, lot cleanups, graffiti removal and snow removal commenced in September, according to a spokesman for Richards.
Organizations like the Center for Employment Opportunities Works and Wildcat, which provides jobs for the previously incarcerated, homeless or those who were addicted to drugs will provide the boots on the ground for cleanups.
“Commercial corridors are the lifeblood of any community, which is why we must make every effort to keep our sidewalks free of litter and debris,” said Richards. “We also want to provide job opportunities for New Yorkers who struggle to find work because of being formerly incarcerated, homeless or addicted to drugs.”
CEO Works received $165,000 for the additional commercial corridor pickups, which will occur Monday through Friday at Mott Avenue (Beach Channel to Cornaga Avenue), Central Avenue (Bayport to Cornaga Avenue, Merrick Boulevard (Springfield Boulevard to 234th Street, and 243rd Street (Caney to Mayda), according to Richards’ office.
Wildcat was given $55,000 for the snow and graffiti removal and lot cleanups.
“This community has striven and suffered for so long without development,” said Lonnie Glover, President of SpringGar Civic Association. “There’s a lot of work that needs to be done for our businesses and we’re here to help.”
Funds were provided by the NYC Council Clean New York City initiative, according to Richards’ spokesman.
Reach reporter Naeisha Rose by e-mail at nrose
