NYC allocates $14.5 million to clean up its streets and parks
Although New Yorkers generate less garbage per capita than the average American, the streets of the largest and busiest city in the country are filled with garbage bags. For decades, local residents have been asking politicians to address this issue and clean the streets. This year, the change might be finally coming.
Mayor Eric Adams announced that the city would invest $14.5 million to clean its dirty streets and parks. This investment will go toward cleaning over 1,000 neglected areas around the city, installing more litter backtests, and hiring 200 additional sanitation workers. The "Get Stuff Clean" plan also introduces a new evening shift within the NYC Parks for hot spot cleaning and rat mitigation.
“America's biggest city is going to be America's cleanest city,” said Mayor Eric Adams at the press conference. “This $14.5 million investment will help build a cleaner, more welcoming city across all five boroughs and target over 1,000 areas that have long been neglected. New Yorkers are tired of seeing overflowing litter baskets and trash under overpasses, so our administration intends to deliver a more functional and more well-kept city for all.”
NYC plans to spend $4.9 million on installing and servicing more trash cans across the city. Additional litter baskets will be installed at the entrances of bridges and along the perimeters of city parks. According to the mayor’s office, phase one of this plan has already gone into effect on July 1. It has shown a 55 percent reduction in litter basket complaints.
The "Get Stuff Clean" initiative also plans to invest more money into the partnership between the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) and the sanitation agency. Together they will receive $470,000 and use this money to clean up the highway on- and off-ramps. The mayor’s administration would also install additional 200 cameras throughout the city to address illegal dumping. Those who engage in illegal dumping will face $4,000 fines and vehicle impounds.
Recently, the Department of Sanitation released a report, which states that only 1.5 percent of New York City streets are considered “filthy”. New Yorkers and New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli disagree with the DOT’s measurements. According to Gothamist, the Scorecard survey, used for evaluating the streets, does not offer precise results.
Resources:
“NYC Is Investing $14.5 Million to Clean Up Its Dirty Streets,” by Serena Tara (thrillist, 2022)
“An Eyebrow-Raising Report Claims Only 1.5% of NYC Streets Are 'Filthy',” by Serena Tara (thrillist, 2022)
“NYC is going to spend millions more to clean up the streets,” by Shaye Weaver (Time Out, 2022)
“A new study claims NYC streets aren’t that dirty and we’re all confused,” by Anna Rahmanan (Time Out, 2022)
“Mayor Adams’ office says less than 2% of NYC streets are filthy, baffling New Yorkers,” by Sophia Chang (Gothamist, 2022)
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