FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM MAY 3, 2018 • THE QUEENS COURIER 29
Astoria residents want city to change
how often their streets are swept
BY JENNA BAGCAL
jbagcal@qns.com / @jen_bagcal
Astoria residents are fed up with how
frequently the Department of Sanitation
comes to clean the streets.
In response to this, the Old Astoria
Neighborhood Association fi led a proposal
to the DSNY requesting that the number
of street cleanings be decreased from
a required four times per week to just two
times a week.
Th e letter mentioned that they wanted
legislation to “change the irresponsible
way street-cleaning frequency is
determined” and that each neighborhood
should be “studied individually” to determine
need. Th ese measures are supported
by Councilman Costa Constantinides,
according to OANA President Richard
Khuzami.
In addition, the OANA mentioned
that two times is the default amount of
times street cleaners should come until
an actual need is determined. Some parts
of the area, generally south of the Grand
Central Parkway, are required to be swept
four times per week — something which
doesn’t sit well with many residents.
“Th e DSNY stated that CB 1 District
south of the Grand Central does not meet
standards, so it does not matter what the
residents of Old Astoria want, four times a
week is required. Because of this, the residents
of Old Astoria will never approve
street cleaning. Th ey insist on two times
per week,” Khuzami said. “Th is whole
process is counter-intuitive. Wouldn’t it
be better to have some cleaning instead of
none, especially in neighborhoods considered
below standard?”
According to their website, the OANA
is a 501(c)3 non-profi t organization
that serves parts of Astoria bounded by
Ditmars Boulevard and 36th Avenue,
between the East River and 21st Street.
Khuzami said that many of these areas
have been negatively aff ected by the frequent
street cleanings.
“We have tried for many years through
direct interaction with Sanitation to alleviate
our issues of litter and garbage on our
streets, and also the parking of vehicles for
extended periods of time,” said the OANA
in their proposal.
Since many streets do not have alternate
side parking regulations, cars are able
to park in spaces for an extended time, taking
away spaces from residents in the area
where parking is oft entimes scarce.
Street cleanings are determined based
on a scoring system that determines the
“level of cleanliness” in an area. Khuzami
said that the DSNY administers surveys to
the community boards in each neighborhood.
Areas that score low require four
street cleanings, while higher scoring areas
can be cleaned less frequently. However
in their proposal, the OANA said that the
street cleaners come “regardless of need.”
On the fl ip side, Khuzami also mentions
that some areas never get cleaned by
sanitation. He mentioned 11 streets that
have poor street cleaning implemented,
which he adds is “only a small portion of
the waterfront from Astoria Park to 31st
Avenue.” Some of these streets include
25th and 26th roads, Second and Th ird
streets and Welling Court.
George Hatzopoulis, owner of the
Arcadia Bar and Kitchen on Astoria
Boulevard said that although his business
is not negatively aff ected by street cleanings,
the way the DSNY handles cleanings
in other areas is “not right.”
“We were never approached about a
survey,” said Hatzopoulis, despite the
acceptable standard of cleanliness around
his business. Th e restaurant owner thinks
that the reason some streets get neglected
is that the DSNY does not administer surveys
as oft en as they should.
Despite their eff orts, the OANA has not
made headway regarding this issue.
“Regretfully, as of today, no progress has
been realized,” Khuzami said. “Change
is diffi cult, especially when dealing with
city agencies. We have tried the normal
channels, the Community Board and the
offi ce of Councilman Constantanides, and
talking directly with DSNY. Even with
petitions from local residents asking for
twice a week cleaning, we have so far been
unsuccessful.”
Photo via Flickr/Jason Lawrence
Astoria residents want the DSNY to clean the streets more consistently
Two Queens lawmakers announce cross endorsements ahead of November election
BY JENNA BAGCAL
jbagcal@qns.com/@jen_bagcal
Senator Jose Peralta and Assemblyman
Jeff rion Aubry announced yesterday that
they will be cross endorsing their reelection
campaigns ahead of the November
2018 elections.
Th e elected offi cials have overlapping
coverage areas; Senator Peralta governs
over New York State District 13, while
Assemblyman Aubry covers Queens
Assembly District 35. Both men have
expressed mutual support and admiration
for each other.
“Working together in Albany, I have
seen fi rsthand his commitment and passion
for issues that aff ect our community
and New York as a whole,” Aubry said.
“Having worked with him extensively,
from bringing pre-K to Flushing Meadow
Corona Park to fi ghting for increased
aff ordable housing, I know him to be a
true advocate for education, tenant protections,
immigrants and his constituents.
Th ere is no question he will continue
to bring this tremendous work ethic
and dedication as he serves another term
in the state Senate.”
In the past, Senator Peralta has worked
to protect the rights of immigrant communities,
with his involvement in organizations
like the Astoria-based nonprofi
t Center for the Integration and
Advancement of New Americans
(CIANA). In the beginning of April,
Senator Peralta secured a $40,000 state
allocation for the organization, which
went toward providing legal and other
services for immigrants.
His work has been especially important
in an era where DREAMers from several
countries are constantly fi ghting for their
rights to stay in the United States.
Senator Peralta shared similar sentiments
about Aubry’s reelection campaign.
“Jeff has consistently advocated for a
brighter and more equitable future for
the 35th Assembly District and all of New
York. Together we have worked to connect
our shared communities to necessary
resources and improve our schools, parks
and businesses. I look forward to continued
collaboration with the Assemblyman
so we can have many more successes,”
Peralta said.
Assemblyman Aubry served as the chair
for the Committee on Correction, where
he worked to reform drug laws and championed
for those in prison with mental
health issues. In 2009, Aubry supported
legislation that reformed the Rockefeller
Drug Laws, which subsequently allowed
judges to give drug addicted off enders
Senator Jose Peralta and Assemblyman Jeff Aubry announce cross endorsements
an option to receive treatment instead
of serving prison time, according to his
biography on the NY Assembly website.
Aubry has also fought for Queens residents’
Photo via nystate.gov
rights to aff ordable housing and
education by funding public schools
and pushing for supportive housing to
decrease homelessness in the borough.
link
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