WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES AUGUST 6, 2020 5
Holden links with nonprofi t to clear graffi ti
BY JASMINE PALMA
EDITORIAL@QNS.COM
@QNS
A local nonprofi t joined forces
with Councilman Robert
Holden to remove some graffi ti
in District 30 last week.
Wildcat Service Corp., in partnership
with the councilman, cleaned
buildings marked with graffiti in
the district with its Neighborhood
Improvement Program (NIP), after
an increase in spray paint and
vandalism incidents, according to
Holden.
“Our Neighborhood Improvement
Program (NIP) provides work-readiness,
job training and employment
services. Working in partnership
with NYC Council members and
members of the New York State
Senate, NIP’s friendly and dedicated
work teams — recognizable in
their bright green shirts — provide
comprehensive cleaning services
to ensure cleaner, safer neighborhoods
and Business Improvement
Districts,” said Wildcat Executive
Director Edward Arsenault.
The nonprofit began to collaborate
with District 30 in 2018. Holden allocated
funding from his discretionary
budget to the organization and
has resumed to do so annually since,
according to Ryan Kelley, Holden’s
communications director.
According to Arsenault, NIP
services include sidewalk cleaning,
graffiti/signage removal, snow removal,
integrated pest management,
power washing, landscaping, and
tree and flower planting. The service
program responds to 311 calls
dispatched from NYC Service, a division
of the mayor’s office that seeks
to develop civic involvement. In addition,
Wildcat has been delivering
meals to senior citizens sequestered
at home to ensure they practice social
distancing.
“Wildcat also introduced an ewaste
recycling disposal program
that serves senior citizens and
people with disabilities,” Arsenault
continued. “Our crews also pick up
used electronic devices including
computers and television sets at the
homes of constituents that are then
refurbished and donated to other
nonprofit agencies or disposed of in
an environmentally friendly manner.
NIP services increase property
values, improve retail sales and decrease
commercial vacancy rates.”
“The Wildcat Service Corp. has
been doing phenomenal work in
our community to clean up litter
and graffiti for the past two years.
We’ve seen a major uptick in graffiti
during the pandemic, and Wildcat
has responded by working into the
night to paint and power wash after
dark,” Holden said. “That’s why I am
proud to continue funding this program
for the third straight year, and
I worked hard to increase that funding
despite the budget crisis caused
by the pandemic. I truly appreciate
the partnership my office has developed
with Wildcat and the excellent
service they have provided.”
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