‘Not in My Backyard’ cleans up Farragut Road
By Nelson A. King
City Council candidate
Anthony Beckford says his “Not
in My Backyard” community
group on Friday took the initiative
to clean up a portion
of Farragut Road in East Flatbush,
Brooklyn that has been
the site of illegal dumping.
Beckford, the son of Jamaican
immigrants, who is vying
for the 45th Council District in
next year’s Democratic primary,
told Caribbean Life on Monday
that his team was joined
by community members, the
Department of Sanitation and
local small business, DPH
Property Maintenance Service
in cleaning up the area.
“Before COVID, there were
disparities that our community
endured. Due to the recent
City Council Budget vote,
Sanitation’s budget was cut
by $100 million, which minimized
service and allowed the
already problematic area of
Farragut Road between Utica
Avenue and Kings Highway to
go untouched and for illegal
dumping to go unchecked,”
said Beckford, president of
Black Lives Matter Brooklyn.
He noted that Brooklyn Borough
President Eric Adams has
helped to put a spotlight on
the issue.
“I would like to thank the
Department of Sanitation for
assisting with the removal of
the heavy debris on Friday,
which allowed my crew and I
to do a thorough cleaning of
that area,” a US Marine Corps
veteran and community leader.
“I will be expanding this
cleanup to various parts of
the district and welcome all
community members to get
involved,” he added. “I will also
be working with various community
Caribbean L 6 ife, October 23-29, 2020
members who have volunteered
to help monitor areas
like the Farragut Corridor, so
that we can catch the illegal
dumpers, hold them accountable
and continue our mission
in beautifying our community.”
In addition, Beckford said he
will be setting up meetings “to
find a way to transfer ownership
of the abandoned, burned
out Qualimaxx Car Wash to the
City, so that the community
can decide on whether they
would like a community center,
senior center or 100 percent
affordable low-income housing
to be developed there.”
Anthony Beckford with the Department of Sanitation workers
and volunteers during his “Not In My Backyard Community
Clean-up” in East Flatbush. Anthony Beckford/Not in my
Backyard
Workers from DPH Property Maintenance Service helping
to beautify the corner of Farragut Road and Kings Highway
during clean-up. Anthony Beckford/Not in my Backyard
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