To strengthen its commitment to business owners on the Rockaway Peninsula, Alderman Joann Ariola sponsored several cleanup events and plans to partner with local merchants to host events and increase commerce. doing. Ariola works with the Rockaway Beach Civic Association and the shopkeepers of 116th and 219th Beach Streets to help small business owners establish merchant associations in some of the region’s most important commercial corridors doing.
“These new merchant groups will help improve commerce and beautify these important corridors for years to come,” said Ariola. “Once these are in place, Rockaway businessmen can work together to host events and pool funds for important projects to make the city better and more attractive to both residents and visitors. You can land it.”
She also pledged to sponsor some cleanups throughout Rockaway. in partnership with the Queens Chamber of Commerce. The event will feature an early visit from Santa Claus and lots of cookies, cocoa and face painting. for children.
Queens Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tom Grech said: “We applaud Council member Ariola’s commitment to partnering with us to ensure increased commerce along Beach 116th and Beach 129th as it is a key part of the city’s overall economic recovery.”
Ariola also praised Mayor Eric Adams for launching a new $14.5 million citywide initiative to pick up trash from streets and parks. His plan includes adding 200 of his DSNY workers to help him clean up efforts across five city boroughs, an additional $1.5 million towards rat mitigation, and 200 vehicles. including new surveillance cameras to strengthen against illegal dumping.
“For too long, parts of this city have been neglected and allowed to flood with garbage and debris,” said Ariola. “With this latest initiative, the Mayor, DSNY, DOT and NYC Parks are finally correcting years of neglect and making substantial investments to improve the quality of life for New Yorkers across our five boroughs. From much-needed rat-reduction measures to more crackdowns on illegal dumping, the Get Stuff Clean initiative will make New York City a better, brighter, cleaner place for all of us. .”
The mayor’s new initiative was supported by elected officials from across Queens.
“For decades my voters have asked the city to address the illegal dumping hotspots in my district. “We have a government that is committed to cracking down on people,” said Jennifer Rajkumar, a member of parliament. We are tightening our control over the city, so tourists can return to the city without a pile of garbage as their first impression.”
Alderman James Gennaro said the new program is a necessary investment to address an overlooked area across the city.
“Together with the recently passed Rat Mitigation Bill, New Yorkers are confident that their quality of life will improve significantly across the five boroughs,” he said.
Alderman Robert Holden said keeping streets safe and clean is paramount to a functioning city.
“I recently allocated nearly $400,000 for cleaning up district boulevards, increasing trash bin collection, removing graffiti and illegal dumping, and surveillance cameras to combat illegal dumping,” Holden said. . “We thank Mayor Adams and his administration for taking steps to improve the quality of life in this city, and look forward to working with them to make New York City cleaner.”
Back at Rockaway, Alderman Selvena Brooks-Powers said New Yorkers deserve clean public spaces.
“For several fiscal years, council members have had to use discretionary funds to monitor dumping,” she said. “Our parks and streets are vital community assets and the city should strive to keep these spaces free from waste and rats. We look forward to the government’s continued investment in improving public spaces.”