FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 • THE QUEENS COURIER 11
Increased trash bin pickups coming to NE Queens
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
cmohamed@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
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.
Th e 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.
Courtesy of Vallone’s offi ce
An overfl owing garbage bin at a College Point bus stop.
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