With Bushwick streets riddled with litter, a new announcement from the New York Department of Sanitation (DSNY) provides some hope for cleaner streets. The DSNY is bringing on 840 new workers — the most since 2005 for a single class.
Mayor Bill de Blasio made this announcement during a media briefing on Tuesday, Oct. 19, with DSNY Commissioner Ed Grayson by his side.
“We made a major decision, a major investment to bring more Sanitation workers on the job,” said de Blasio. . . . This is going to be a big, big moment, inducting a new class of Sanitation workers.”
“It is a great time to start with the Department right now, as we expand new programs,” said Commissioner Grayson. “Our precision cleaning teams are out there addressing quality of life concerns. We are expanding organics programs to go back to some curbside collection. We are training for snow season . . . Internally, we are looking towards the future on electrification on the fleet and doing all we can to prepare and train and be what the public expects of us, their dedicated workforce.”
The additional 840 workers brings the total DSNY staff up to 9,500 Sanitation employees total, something that, for good reason, is exciting to many locals, including City Council District 34 representative and candidate for Brooklyn borough president Antonio Reynoso, who are fed up with the amount of litter lining our streets and stuffing our storm drains.
“Great news! Cleaner streets and sidewalks are on the way thanks to the addition of 800 new workers to @NYCSanitation! Grateful for these workers and looking forward to their service making our communities cleaner and healthier!” Reynoso Tweeted following the announcement.
In terms of distribution, the new hires are broken up into six classes of new Sanitation workers, with approximately 140 new workers in each class, DSNY Press Secretary Vincent Gragnani told Bushwick Daily. These 840 Sanitation workers are being distributed across all Sanitation districts across the city.
Those who want to do their part to help keep the streets clean can volunteer with a number of local organizations, including the Clean Bushwick Initiative.
Gragnani has also suggested that individuals can volunteer with the city’s Adopt-a-Basket Program to help keep litter baskets from overflowing. “With this program, Sanitation provides a regular supply of free plastic liners, a collection schedule, work gloves, a dust bin and broom, Gragnani previously told Bushwick Daily. “We ask that volunteers monitor their litter baskets; when they’re three-quarters full, volunteers remove the used plastic liners, tie them, leave them next to the basket and insert a new liner.”
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