Sen. Joseph P. Addabbo Jr. (D-15) joined a local non-profit on Wednesday, July 17, for their inaugural community cleanup initiative in Ozone Park.
Addabbo secured $60,000 in funding to support a year-long community cleanup initiative led by the New York City Center for Employment Opportunity (CEO). CEO employs recently incarcerated individuals and works to reduce their likelihood of re-incarceration.
The cleanup route began at 96th Street and Liberty Avenue, adjacent to the Walgreens at 96-02 Rockaway Blvd. in Ozone Park. Members of the organization worked in crews of four and were overseen by a site supervisor during the event.
The crews will continue to work on other targeted cleanups three days a week throughout the year, weather permitting. They will alternate service to the inaugural cleanup route and parts of Liberty Avenue and Jamaica Avenue. CEO crews provide various services, including weed removal, snow removal, graffiti removal, trash management and park cleaning.
Sen. Addabbo shared his support for the organization’s work in rehabilitating formally incarcerated individuals. “It is hard for those recently incarcerated to find work. This is a great opportunity to get them back on their feet,” he said. He also praised CEO’s decades-long success rate in decreasing recitivism.
Addabbo added that he hopes to continue the program and his partnership with CEO. “If the project proves to be successful, not only will I reinstate the $60,000 for the same stretch, but I would like to expand it throughout my district,” he said.
