Councilman David G. Greenfield held a rally today on the steps of City Hall to call for renewed and enhanced funding to his popular NYC Cleanup Initiative, which provides funding for each City Council member to clean the streets and sidewalks of their districts. Joining Greenfield in support of the initiative were several other members of the City Council, including Councilmembers Mark Treyger, Vanessa Gibson, Vincent Gentile, Costa Constantinides and Margaret Chin, as well as community organizations including ACE New York, the Doe Fund, Fedcap Wildcat, and the Center for Employment Opportunities. This year, Greenfield is calling for funding to the initiative to be increased by about $2 million to continue to build on the success it has demonstrated in previous years.

Greenfield launched the NYC Cleanup Initiative in 2014 with the aim of keeping neighborhoods throughout the city free of litter and graffiti. The program allows Councilmembers to decide which groups in their district should receive funding to clean up their neighborhoods, allowing them to make decisions based on which areas of their community have the greatest need.

The NYC Cleanup Initiative has had impressive results. In the last year alone, thanks to the NYC Cleanup Initiative, approximately 250,000 bags of garbage have been collected from city streets. Over 600 new garbage cans have been purchased and placed in areas where they are needed throughout the city. More than 800 electronic devices have been collected in e-waste collection drives. And a whole range of services have been provided through the initiative, including planting, tree guard installation, bagging, litter basket pickups, street sweeping, snow removal, and more.

Perhaps most importantly, however, the NYC Cleanup Initiative provides thousands of good jobs for people who need them. Groups that have received funding through the initiative include ACE New York and The Doe Fund, which help to find jobs for the homeless and people battling substance abuse problems. Fedcap Wildcat and the Center for Employment Opportunities, which are also funded through the program, offer jobs to ex-offenders as they work to rebuild their lives.

“The NYC Cleanup Initiative is about more than keeping our neighborhoods clean,” Greenfield said. “This is about creating good jobs for people who our society has too often left behind. The jobs created through the NYC Cleanup Initiative offer a path to sustainable success for those who need a hand up as they work to rebuild their lives.”

Community groups and Councilmembers joined Greenfield in calling for funding for the NYC Cleanup Initiative to be renewed and enhanced in the coming fiscal year:

“Councilmember Greenfield is showing us what a truly progressive city looks like: where jobs are created for those in need and neighborhoods are made cleaner and safer for our families. This is much more than just a street cleaning initiative. It’s a program that delivers on our city’s promise of opportunity, equality, and quality of life— not for a single block, or a street, or an avenue, but for all of us, the people of New York.” – George T. McDonald, Founder & President, The Doe Fund

“Councilman Greenfield’s initiative is one of the best initiatives that has ever come out of the New York City Council. Why? Number one, we are responding directly to the number one quality-of-life complaint we receive. Number two, who benefits? Our small businesses, our neighborhoods. … and Number three, which is equally important, I think my colleagues would agree, we are creating good paying jobs for the hard-working people of New York.” – Councilmember Mark Treyger

“I am so thankful for the leadership of my colleague from Brooklyn, Councilmember David Greenfield. I am so excited because when you look at the work that the NYC Cleanup has done, we are not only creating good-paying jobs, but we are helping to stabilize families and we are doing it in a way that we can beautify and make a clean New York.” – Councilmember Vanessa Gibson

“I want to thank the King of Clean, David Greenfield. This initiative will bring clean, clean, clean to the neighborhoods and will provide jobs, jobs, jobs, and that’s why this initiative is a win, win, win.” – Councilmember Vincent Gentile

“Through the NYC Cleanup, we have cleaned more than 220 sites across Staten Island, removing tons of debris, thousands of contractor-bags of trash and litter, and cleared weeds and graffiti from dozens of other locations. NYC Cleanup is a hugely successful program because it is provides almost immediate, tangible improvements to our communities and the quality of life of our residents.” – Council Minority Leader Steven Matteo

“I fully support the renewal of the NYC Cleanup Intitiative as it has made a tremendous difference in my district. We’ve been able to target trouble spots for regular maintenance, as well as send in requests on an as-needed basis. I believe that the presence of our Clean Team also has a valuable “lead by example” effect in the community. Homeowners, business owners, and especially the elderly appreciate this initiative as it helps with the upkeep of highly trafficked areas and creates a more desirable community in which to live and work.” – Councilmember Joe Borelli

“Clean streets and sidewalks bring benefits to all community members. The NYC Cleanup Initiative gives us added resources to keep our sidewalks litter-free for residents, visitors, shoppers, and tourists alike. It also helps organizations provide jobs to the men and women who work hard to keep our streets clean. I join Council Member Greenfield and my colleagues in asking for enhancements to this initiative so that our sidewalks can continue to look clear and litter-free.” – Councilmember Costa Constantinides

“The NYC Cleanup Initiative benefits all New Yorkers. I strongly support the renewal and expansion of this important initiative which keeps our streets clean and employs those working to rebuild their lives. NYC Cleanup provides indispensable services to my district and I join my colleagues in calling for its enhancement.” – Councilmember Daniel Dromm

“Sanitation is basic quality of life need for all New Yorkers, and the NYC Cleanup Initiative has proven a resounding success allowing for an extra two days of cleanup in downtown Flushing. I fully support expanding and enhancing this important program.” – Councilmember Peter Koo

“The supplemental sanitation and maintenance services provided through the NYC Cleanup Initiative go a long way in improving the aesthetics and cleanliness of our communities. The local jobs created through the initiative help to mitigate the problem of lack of employment, so it’s an all-around win for our City’s residents.” -Councilmember Fernando Cabrera

“I’ve been very pleased with the results of the Cleanup Initiative in the 34th District. Broadway is cleaner thanks to the work of ACE, the plaza on Borinquen is ready for spring thanks to the Hort, and Greater Ridgewood Restoration has been able to expand its graffiti removal services. Together with the new Mayoral CleaNYC initiative and the work of the Department of Sanitation, these services help keep our communities clean and safe.” – Councilmember Antonio Reynoso

“In the last two years, the NYC Cleanup Initiative has made a noticeable impact on both the appearance of our neighborhoods, and the livelihoods of citizens seeking to rejoin the workforce. My district continues to benefit from the array of services provided by Fedcap-Wildcat Services Corporation, and its capabilities have broadened in that same time. Increasing funding for this initiative to one-hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) per member will only help to employ more men and women to aid in the beautification of our city. I echo Councilman Greenfield’s call for the renewal of the NYC Cleanup Initiative as well as enhanced funding for each Member.” – Councilmember Ruben Wills.

(YWN Desk – NYC)