In response to substantial cuts to the Department of Sanitation’s (DSNY) operating budget in this year’s challenging citywide budget, Councilman Paul Vallone has secured and designated $71,000 through the New York City Council’s Clean Up NYC Initiative to fund additional garbage pickups in northeast Queens neighborhoods.
The increased services began on Sunday, Aug. 23, and are in addition to regularly scheduled pickups, which were scaled back due to agency-wide cuts.
“As we continue to face the ongoing impact of COVID-19, public health remains top priority, and this allocation will serve to keep our streets clean and our neighborhoods safe,” Vallone said. “Increased trash bin pickups, particularly around our busy commercial corridors, will help ensure safety and sustained quality of life for all those living, commuting and doing business in northeast Queens.”
Community Board 7, which covers the neighborhoods of Flushing, Bay Terrace, College Point, Whitestone, Malba, Beechurst, Queensboro Hill and Willets Point, will see additional trash bin pickup service on Sundays.
Meanwhile, Community Board 11, which covers the neighborhoods of Bayside, Douglaston, Little Neck, Auburndale, East Flushing, Oakland Gardens and Hollis Hills, will see pickups on one additional weekday for 30 weeks.
“CB 11 is being hit hard by budget cuts across our agencies and all City Services as a result of the tax revenue lost during the pandemic,” said Joseph Marziliano, district manager of Community Board 11. “We are so thankful to see Councilman Vallone taking the initiative to step in and keep up the quality of life and sanitation we have come to enjoy in northeast Queens.”
Facing the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis and a $9 billion budget shortfall, every city agency was forced to implement cuts this past June. As a result, the Department of Sanitation was forced to eliminate $106 million from their operating budget and subsequently reduce their level of services.
