In an effort to provide needed city services to the Far Rockaway community in preparation for Pesach, Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder, the Jewish Community Council of the Rockaway Peninsula (JCCRP), the Rockaway Nassau Safety Patrol (RNSP) and the White Shul announced that the NYC Department of Sanitation, in partnership with the Parks Department and the FDNY, will hold additional garbage collections and a centralized location for chometz burning to accommodate families.

“It’s so important to have the appropriate services and assistance from the city as our families in Far Rockaway and Bayswater prepare for Pesach,” said Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder. “I commend the Department of Sanitation, the Parks Department and the FDNY for providing these additional services and helping to keep our families safe.”

“With the recent tragedy affecting the Jewish community, now more than ever, we need to be diligent in fire safety,” said Naamah Aisenbaum, Senior Case Manager, JCCRP. “The Jewish Community Council of the Rockaway Peninsula is pleased to partner with Assemblyman Goldfeder’s office, the Rockaway Nassau Safety Patrol, FDNY, the White Shul and the Parks Department to provide a safe environment for chometz burning.”

The Department of Sanitation will conduct additional garbage collections on Erev Pesach, Friday, April 3rd from 6:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Additionally, stationary Sanitation trucks will be at the corner of Beach 6th Street and Hicksville Road in Far Rockaway during this time. To accommodate the anticipated large amount of trash, Sanitation requests all garbage be placed outside by midnight on Thursday, April 2nd. To speed up the collection process, residents are encouraged to use plastic bags where possible. The Department of Sanitation will make every effort to complete this task by 11:00 AM on Friday, April 3rd, Goldfeder noted.

In an effort to keep every family safe, Goldfeder and the JCCRP have also arranged a centralized location for a community-wide chometz burning under the supervision of the FDNY. Chometz may be brought to the White Shul parking lot at 728 Empire Ave. in Far Rockaway on April 3rd from 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM. The RNSP will be on hand to supervise the fires and ensure the safety of those present. This comes as the community is still reeling from the tragic house fire in the Midwood section of Brooklyn that killed seven haredi children last month.

“We have a responsibility to keep every family safe this Pesach,” concluded Goldfeder. “I encourage everyone to take advantage of these services.”

(YWN Desk – NYC)