Flushing Council Member Sandra Ung and Department of Sanitation (DSNY) Commissioner Jessica Tisch toured downtown Flushing on Friday, Nov. 15, to discuss ongoing sanitation issues, including unlicensed street vending and businesses violating stoop line regulations with excessive merchandise displays.
The congestion caused by these violations obstructs sidewalks, hampers accessibility for individuals with mobility challenges and fosters an environment conducive to theft and pickpocketing. Additionally, overcrowded sidewalks deter customers, negatively impacting small businesses reliant on foot traffic.
“Downtown Flushing is a vibrant, dynamic neighborhood, but it is also one of the most congested areas in the city,” said Council Member Ung. “Unlicensed street vending and stoop line violations are more than just a nuisance, they’re a public safety concern that makes it harder for residents, visitors, and especially seniors or those with disabilities to navigate our streets. These issues also harm small businesses that rely on clear and safe sidewalks to attract customers. I’m so grateful to Commissioner Jessica Tisch and her team at the Department of Sanitation for their commitment to tackling these challenges head-on.”
To address the problem, Ung requested weekend enforcement, citing increased sidewalk congestion on Saturdays and Sundays. This past Sunday, Nov. 17, DSNY agents issued summonses on Main Street as part of the expanded enforcement efforts.
Commissioner Tisch reaffirmed the department’s commitment to addressing sanitation violations in commercial corridors. “New York City’s commercial corridors can only thrive when people and businesses play by the rules. Merchandise displays that block sidewalks, commercial trash left behind at the end of the day – these are issues that lower quality of life and hurt our neighborhoods. I appreciate Council Member Ung’s leadership in bringing these ongoing issues to our attention, and want to assure Flushing residents that we will do what it takes to enforce against these offenses,” said Tisch.
Flushing is one of the city’s busiest neighborhoods, serving as a major retail corridor and transit hub. The area is home to the primary bus-to-train transfer station, and the intersection of Main Street and Roosevelt Avenue is the city’s third-busiest intersection.
In 2018, the City Council designated a large portion of downtown Flushing as a no-vending zone, prohibiting general vending even with valid licenses within an area bounded by Northern Boulevard, Union Street, Sanford Avenue, and College Point Boulevard.
Since taking office in 2022, Ung has made improving Flushing’s quality of life a top priority. Through her advocacy, vendor enforcement was transferred from the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection to the Department of Sanitation, a larger agency with uniformed officers authorized to issue fines and confiscate goods.
“Downtown Flushing is a vital economic and cultural hub, and it deserves our full attention,” added Councilmember Ung. “This tour with Commissioner Tisch was a meaningful opportunity to highlight these ongoing challenges and discuss solutions that will create a safer, more welcoming environment for everyone who lives, works, and visits here. I look forward to continuing our partnership with the Department of Sanitation to keep Flushing clean and thriving.”
