Gennaro announces clean-up partnerships

City Councilmember James Gennaro announced new partnerships with DSNY, Wildcat Service Corporation and The Doe Fund in Briarwood.  Photo courtesy of Gennaro’s office

By Jacob Kaye

City Council District 24 is about to get a whole lot cleaner, City Councilmember James Gennaro announced last week.

District 24, which includes Kew Gardens Hills, Pomonok, Electchester, Fresh Meadows, Hillcrest, Jamaica Estates, Briarwood, Parkway Village, Jamaica Hills and Jamaica, will be the beneficiary of increased clean-up services provided by a host of agencies and initiatives, Gennaro said.

The councilmember fought for a $430,000 allocation to clean-up efforts targeting litter and graffiti in this year’s budget. Last week, Gennaro announced a partnership with the Department of Sanitation, the Wildcat Service Corporation and The Doe Fund to bring increased cleaning efforts to the Queens district.

"I am thrilled to partner with DSNY, Wildcat and The Doe Fund to offer much-needed supplemental sanitation services throughout the district," Gennaro said in a statement. "I am confident that these partnerships will make a visible difference in our communities, and I remain committed to making this district the cleanest it has ever been.”

As part of the partnership, DSNY will add sanitation services along Union Turnpike from 164th Street to 188th Street, and on Main Street from Grand Central Parkway to Queens Boulevard. The agency will add two service days for trash pick-up and additional trash baskets along the routes, Gennaro said.

The partnership with the Wildcat Service Corporation will see the group clean up trash-prone areas, including Hillside Avenue from Sutphin Boulevard to 173rd Street, three times a week. Wildcat will also remove graffiti and snow and cut large tree limbs in public spaces in the district upon request.

Lastly, The Doe Fund will clean up other trash-prone areas, including Main Street between Melbourne Avenue and 7th Avenue and Queens Boulevard from Main Street to Hillside Avenue twice a week.

"With the effort of Wildcat and The Doe Fund and also Sanitation, we expect to see things look much better," said Martha Taylor, the Community Board 8 chair. "The Councilman has created all these funds and possibilities for people to be able to do their job. We are delighted to know that our streets will be much cleaner."

Of the funding designated to the clean-up effort, $185,000 went to Wildcat, $150,000 went to The Doe Fund and $95,000 went to DSNY.

Residents can request clean up services by calling Gennaro’s office at 718-217-4969. The snow removal services offered by Wildcat will only be available to senior citizens and disabled residents.